Oh la la…Gaga is back. Three years after the release of her last solo album, “Artpop,” Lady Gaga has returned with a different taste of music in her new album “Joanne,” receiving mixed reviews since its Oct. 21 release.
Mark Ronson plays a huge role in “Joanne,” producing every song and co-writing some. He is famously known for collaborating with Amy Winehouse, Bruno Mars, Christina Aguilera and etc. His success for collaborations lead him to working with Gaga. While her style changes, he finds a way to make fine music with the American pop artist.
No songs on “Joanne” have the same hype as “Pokerface,” “Just Dance” or “Bad Romance” which may be due to Gaga’s change in style. She is finding a way to diversify herself in pop changing rhythm within the genre. Her most recognizable songs lie within dance-pop and syntho-pop while songs in “Joanne” lean towards the genres of punk rock and pop.
One song different to the rest is, “Perfect Illusion.” It has the quality to join “Bad Romance” and other songs as a Gaga classic. The beat, the chorus and the style match the other big hits on her resume. As of now, “Perfect Illusion” is the only single on the album, and is one of the album’s most purchased songs on “Joanne” on iTunes.
“A-YO” and “Million Reasons” are the most popular titles on the track, but “A-YO” does not appeal as a favorite, nor compete with “Perfect Illusion.”
“Million Reasons” has a depressing vibe. It is about a negative relationship, and Gaga speaks about wanting to keep the love, but needs one good reason to know why the trouble she goes through is worth it. Despite not being a typical Gaga party song, it is sounds good and deserves its spot as the most popular song on the album.
‘40s pop songs are classics and Gaga makes has listeners traveling back in time when listening to “Come to Mama,” classic pop song. Back-up singers in the chorus helps the song feel like an “old-timer.”
Lady Gaga and Florence and the Machine make an excellent combination. Both taking turns at lines in the song “Hey Girl” and keeping rhythm. The song is steady for pop, but it finds its way around to pleasure the fans. It is the best song of the least popular in the album. It deserves more credit than it has. Florence Welch and Lady Gaga are a fantastic duo.
“Angel Down,” “Grigio Girls” and “Just Another Day” also deserve more credit. All three songs are not traditional Gaga work, but for trying something different, she does a great job. Most artists fail when trying another subgenre or even another genre as whole, but Lady Gaga manages to have a successful change.
The album is titled “Joanne” in honor of Lady Gaga’s passed aunt who was a sexual assault survivor, and also of her middle name, Joanne. Her full name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta.
“Joanne” is not Gaga’s best album however it is great work and diversifying her usual music is something the listeners and fans have to respect her.
