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Posted by: HausofWillow 15th November 2021, 07:48 PM

To celebrate 5 years since the release of Joanne, you have rated the album. Let's have a look at the results to see what Buzzjack thinks about Gaga's 5th studio album, 5 years on!

Diamond Heart
A-YO
Joanne
John Wayne
Dancin' In Circles
Perfect Illusion
Million Reasons
Sinner's Prayer
Come to Mama
Hey Girl (feat. Florence Welch)
Angel Down

Grigio Girls
Just Another Day
Angel Down - Work Tape

Comment, predict and debate as the results are revealed!

Posted by: Sour Candy 15th November 2021, 08:07 PM

JAD is the favourite to be the least favourite!

Posted by: Jαsє 15th November 2021, 08:18 PM

I'd be gobsmacked if it isn't. That or Angel Down are her two worst songs x

Posted by: HausofWillow 15th November 2021, 09:36 PM

Just Another Day for last place and Diamond Heart to win x

Posted by: Jαsє 15th November 2021, 09:59 PM

Million Reasons or Diamond Heart are the only acceptable winners x

Posted by: HausofWillow 16th November 2021, 07:21 PM

LET'S BEGIN WITH THE MOST UNEXPECTED SHOCKING LAST PLACE SONG IN A RATE EVER

Posted by: Sour Candy 16th November 2021, 07:24 PM

John Wayne!

Posted by: HausofWillow 16th November 2021, 07:59 PM

| 14. Just Another Day 4.50

The only song on the album that Gaga wrote completely on her own and.. that doesn't seem to have done it any favours as it falls out in last place with a very measly average score. Gaga describes the song as a "New York-glam-pop" song inspired by David Bowie right up to The Beatles. She claims that the song is about her friendship with Mark Ronson and is an imagining of what life may have been like had the pair been friends as children. Brian Newman plays saxophone on the song and has a solo towards the end of it. Does this song deserve last place on the album? What are your thoughts on it 5 years later?

Posted by: HausofWillow 16th November 2021, 07:59 PM

In Gaga's worst ever songs list~ bottom 3 in her discography for sure maybe even bottom x

Posted by: Sour Candy 16th November 2021, 08:27 PM

Pretty expected lol

Still, even that got 4.5

Posted by: Jαsє 16th November 2021, 08:37 PM

DESERVED.

Sorry Gaga, I love you and 99.9% of your discography...but just no.

Posted by: HausofWillow 16th November 2021, 08:46 PM

4.5 is very generous I'd say for it

Posted by: Jαsє 17th November 2021, 12:47 AM

It feels weird that we're being so mean about her music

Posted by: Sour Candy 17th November 2021, 06:30 AM

It's been 5 years not 10 years, Bal but we are not gonna love JAD in 2026 either.

Posted by: HausofWillow 17th November 2021, 07:09 AM

Oops edited I'm still celebrating 10 years of Born This Way it seems

Posted by: Jαsє 17th November 2021, 02:26 PM

Posted by: HausofGucci 17th November 2021, 08:55 PM

| 13. Hey Girl (feat. Florence Welch) 5.38

Next out it's the only collaboration on the album. Gaga chose Florence for the song as she wanted a female and believed that Florence was one of the "greatest vocalists in the world". The song is conversational in nature and represents women coming together through this. The pair exchange lines throughout the song and it hits back at critics that pit females against each other, favouring instead a supportive nature to fight sexism. The recording of the song took place in Mark Ronson's home and was featured on the Netflix Documentary 'Five Foot Two'.

Posted by: HausofGucci 17th November 2021, 08:56 PM

I mean this did not deserve to be second from bottom, especially below the likes of Come to Mama and at least one Angel Down variation!?

Posted by: Jαsє 17th November 2021, 10:41 PM

Yeah, this is way too low! It IS a disappointing song considering the talent involved but there isn't a chance in hell this is worse than the awful Angel Down

Posted by: Sour Candy 17th November 2021, 10:43 PM

I think I like Hey Girl less now than I did in 2017. It hasn't aged that well in the album context and considering Gaga's output since.

Posted by: Jαsє 20th November 2021, 01:44 PM

Listening to Hey Girl and yeah, it hasn't aged well at ALL

Posted by: Sour Candy 20th November 2021, 03:36 PM

The C section is still glorious, as is the arrangement.

Posted by: HausofGucci 20th November 2021, 05:45 PM

| 12. Come To Mama 5.75

Still with fairly pitiful averages, we now lose Come To Mama. The song is about two people in love and discusses how love can help people in troubling times to build a brighter future. It's a glam-rock song as it calls for peace around the world. She advocates that people stop fighting over the same things that they have been for centuries and come together in love instead.

Posted by: HausofGucci 20th November 2021, 05:46 PM

Really don't like this at all either A true dud and my least favourite on the main standard album!

Posted by: Sour Candy 20th November 2021, 06:37 PM

Yeah it's not really a memorable song but pretty experimental among her discography so I can appreciate it to some extent.

Posted by: Sour Candy 21st November 2021, 01:46 PM

It'd be interesting to hear her thoughts on this album later... We know she thinks it was a disappointment on many levels as a whole, but she hasn't really said anything about individual tracks.

Posted by: HausofGucci 22nd November 2021, 06:17 PM

| 11. Angel Down - Work Tape 6.19

Misisng out on the top 10, it's the deluxe album's closing track and a revamped version of the track that closes the original album. It's a more stripped down version of the original song (more to come on that later) and it takes away some of the electronic production that pervades the original. It has a higher key and rawer vocals.

Posted by: Jord 22nd November 2021, 06:41 PM

Hey Girl is one of those duets what on paper sounds amazing but in reality it didn’t really work.

Not too surprised at what’s dropped out so far. Joanne the song to surprise please but feel it may be out next.

Also hoping for Sinners Prayer to do well too but again feel that will exit soon

Posted by: HausofGucci 24th November 2021, 08:44 PM

| 10. Angel Down 7.50

And starting the top 10 is the original version of the previous song. We are into healthy averages now, so it's not like this is hated necessarily. The album's final song is a chilling number that was inspired by the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, who was shot dead by George Zimmerman in 2012. His shooting death launched the Black Lives Matter movement. Gaga said she wrote the track in response to "the epidemic of young African-Americans being murdered in this country." A song that obviously gained further relevance in the years that followed, it's a heartfelt, harrowing closer for the album.

Posted by: HausofGucci 24th November 2021, 08:45 PM

While not my favourite from the album, there's no doubt that this is one of the most important songs of the era. Its relevance continues to live on. Powerful, harrowing stuff.

Posted by: Sour Candy 24th November 2021, 08:56 PM

A decent score! I listened to this another day and still sounds solid and feels important.

Posted by: HausofGucci 29th November 2021, 05:37 PM

| 09. A-Yo 7.75

In 9th place we have what was being lined up as the album's second official single. It was later scrapped in favour of 'Million Reasons' (which is still to come - so maybe the correct choice was made?). Produced by Mark Ronson and Bloodpop, it's a roaring country jam about doing your own thing regardless of what others want from you. Through this is explores sex, cigarettes, haters and more. Gaga performed the song live on several occasions including her Dive Bar tour and her Coachella performance.

Posted by: HausofGucci 29th November 2021, 05:39 PM

Not a huge favourite but it is fun and quintessentially JOANNE-era. Do I enjoy it outside of that era? Not really~

Obviously she made the best decision ever choosing 'Million Reasons' over it. The stress of those few days when we weren't sure what was being pushed

Posted by: Sour Candy 29th November 2021, 06:45 PM

WHAAAT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE

A-Yo is the boppest of bops.

Posted by: HausofGucci 29th November 2021, 07:57 PM

It's about in the right position for me now I think

Posted by: HausofGucci 5th December 2021, 08:34 PM

| 08. Grigio Girls 8.06

A bonus track in 8th place, far out-doing expectations! The song is a deeply personal one, as Gaga sings of the support network that developed for Gaga's friend Sonja as she battled with cancer. It's about womanhood and sticking together in the toughest of times, while reassuring people that it's ok to cry together. Gaga explained that she would cry with her friends away from Sonja because they couldn't face crying in front of her. It features on the deluxe version of the album and has done brilliantly here with an impressive average and outdoing some of the main album's tracks by some distance!

Posted by: HausofGucci 5th December 2021, 08:35 PM

What a song. Forever makes me feel super emotional and it's exactly how a bonus track should be - offers a further insight into the vision of its parent album while holding its own as a track away from it. I totally adore it and am so happy it's done well here! It's better than 90% of the main album tbh

Posted by: Sour Candy 5th December 2021, 08:36 PM

One of her most poignant songs ever

Posted by: HausofGucci 5th December 2021, 08:39 PM

It truly is. I feel like it should've come after Hey Girl on the album because both are similar thematically. Pure love <3

Posted by: Jαsє 5th December 2021, 09:38 PM

I always tear up listening to 'Grigio Girls' - every single time

Posted by: HausofGucci 6th December 2021, 08:53 PM

| 07. John Wayne 8.25

Co-produced alongside Mark Ronson and Bloodpop, John Wayne is pop-rock, country-infused banger. Thematically, it deals with Gaga's desire for a man that goes against the grain and is up for a wild ride. The Jonas Åkerlund directed music video shows Gaga in a series of action-packed scenes taking inspiration from John Wayne's movies himself and harks back to older Gaga music videos after a couple of more muted ones were released for the era. She performed the song live at Coachella and it was part of her set at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Posted by: HausofGucci 6th December 2021, 08:54 PM

I have time for John Wayne! I am glad it got a video (and it became the best music video of the era by far too). I remember hearing it on a night out and it of course popped off *.* A fun song, and about right for this album in terms of the rate - halfway through!

Posted by: Sour Candy 6th December 2021, 08:58 PM

I find JW slightly overrated. It's fun and and everything but pretty throwaway in the album context and not a memorable single. The video is nice and the tight production lifts the song a bit.

Posted by: Run_For_Cover 7th December 2021, 01:20 AM

I completely forgot about this. I think I took part in this?!?

I’ll need to catch up on the results.

Posted by: HausofGucci 8th December 2021, 06:04 PM

| 06. Joanne 8.38

The title track is out next in its original form - the song was given a piano version for its music video release and single release. The song was inspired by the Gaga's late aunt, Joanne Germanotta, and it became a focal point for the direction of the album. Gaga wanted the song to have a healing effect for those dealing with loss and pain. The stripped-back country song talks of Joanne's death from the perspective of Gaga's family. The song won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance at the 61st Grammy Awards.

Posted by: Sour Candy 8th December 2021, 08:03 PM

Not ready for this to go already

Posted by: HausofGucci 12th December 2021, 06:23 PM

The title track is nice but I rarely return to it. I think I prefer this version now to the piano version too

Posted by: HausofGucci 12th December 2021, 06:23 PM

TOP 5 TIME~ predict/wishlist?

Dancin' In Circles
Diamond Heart
Million Reasons
Perfect Illusion
Sinner's Prayer

Posted by: Sour Candy 12th December 2021, 06:25 PM

Hmmm perhaps

1 Million Reasons
2 Diamond Heart
3 Dancin' in Circles
4 Perfect Illusion
5 Sinner's Prayer

Posted by: HausofGucci 12th December 2021, 06:26 PM

Would love Diamond Heart to win tbh. The album highlight, happy it's top 5 <3

Posted by: HausofGucci 16th December 2021, 08:14 PM

| 05. Perfect Illusion 8.75

We start the top 5 with the era's lead single! The dance, rock, pop banger kick-started the era in explosive fashion. It deals with Gaga's highest highs and lowest lows in a relationship but also her career and the media; she refuted claims that it was about her ex-partner Kinney. The song was not a huge commercial hit for Gaga and it divided critics and fans alike. Making a slight dent in opening week but then free-falling, it hasn't lasted as a bonafide classic but it does have its fans and it's managed to reach the top 5 here. One of the biggest talking points of the songs is the key change and the manic crazed video.

Posted by: Sour Candy 16th December 2021, 08:38 PM

So I was wrong right away

Really love PI, it's so raw and explosive.

Posted by: Run_For_Cover 16th December 2021, 08:40 PM

I’m not sure on Perfect Illusion. I wasn’t sold on it then and I’m not now. Though I guess it’s kind of in the right place.

Posted by: HausofGucci 16th December 2021, 09:02 PM

Yeah about the right place tbh. I must say, I do think it would have been a KILLER album track and more loved because of that. As a single, especially lead single, I think some have disdain towards it because of its chart performance.

Posted by: Sour Candy 16th December 2021, 09:10 PM

Top 20 peak in the UK & US is still her lowest for a lead single, but in her position back then, I don't think any of the songs would've done better. It was the Super Bowl that turned the ship around in the end. A key moment in her career!

The album still opened with great sales.

Posted by: Jord 16th December 2021, 09:33 PM

Sinner’s Prayer top 4 so happy yet shocked didn’t recall it being popular on here!!

As for Perfect Illusion, I love it but it’s the biggest single choice disaster of her career to date. It’s a great track but as a lead single it didn’t work so much outside the fanbase. Thankfully we had a strong follow up and the Super Bowl on hand but i remember being nervous for the albums performance based on the performance of Perfect Illusion back in 2016.

Posted by: HausofGucci 19th December 2021, 08:37 PM

| 04. Dancin' In Circles 8.88

Next out, it's another album track. A song that seems to have a multitude of meaning, most notably one of female masterbation - but some fans theorise that it is also about her struggle with fibromyalgia. The dance track morphed from a Beck-inspired song to a classic Gaga, The Fame Monster tinged banger. Gaga invited Beck to jam with her and after the jamming session, the song was born.

Posted by: HausofGucci 19th December 2021, 08:44 PM

Love this and it was a highlight of the Joanne World Tour too! It's in about the right position for me tbh

Posted by: Sour Candy 19th December 2021, 08:47 PM

Wow very surprised to see SP defeating DiC here. The latter is gorgeous, one of her best album tracks EVER

Posted by: Run_For_Cover 20th December 2021, 07:07 AM

Dancing In Circles is good, happy it made the top 5.

Posted by: HausofGucci 20th December 2021, 07:40 PM

| 03. Sinner's Prayer 9.13

In third place (a shock bronze medal winner?), it's Sinner's Prayer that I haven't really seen garner that much love until now! The song is about declaring that one does not wish to break any hearts except for the person they are with. It is confessional, as Gaga claims she is a sinner and owns this and it was the first non-single to be performed live for the era. However, after its premiere at the Dive Bar, it was excluded from the Joanne World Tour and so has only ever been performed live once! In the song, Gaga is vulnerable and lays it all bare as she demands her lover loves her despite her flaws. It's done exceptionally well here, making the top 3 and out-doing songs that always get more vocal support so it's a surprise considering!

Posted by: HausofGucci 20th December 2021, 07:41 PM

I did not see this happening when we first opened the rate. I thought it would come ~6th or so, but it's been a very pleasant surprise to see it smash. I love the lyrics to the song: they are so vulnerable! Also her vocals really shine on the song and the production is great, a complete vibe of a song and total package. Happy it's done this well even if it isn't my personal 3rd favourite, I'm happy to see the over-performance as it's not usually talked about as much as the other songs on the album!

Posted by: Sour Candy 20th December 2021, 08:18 PM

Huge surprise tbh! I love it too but never thought it'd do this well overall. It's probably the most "indie-folk" song she's ever done and an amazing one, she should be proud

Posted by: Run_For_Cover 20th December 2021, 08:43 PM

Yeah this is quite the surprise. I do like it though.

Posted by: HausofGucci 21st December 2021, 09:29 PM

TOP 2 IS DIAMOND HEART VS MILLION REASONS

Posted by: Hard Candy Xmas 21st December 2021, 10:07 PM

MR should win imo!

Posted by: HausofGucci 21st December 2021, 11:18 PM

I am fully team Diamond Heart - my favourite from the Joanne era!

Posted by: HausofGucci 22nd December 2021, 05:44 PM

| 02. Diamond Heart 9.31

In second place, it's the album and tour opener. The stomping anthem about chasing the American dream and not letting anything stand in your way. Charting Gaga's own experience of being a dancer before finding the fame, the title also refers to the engagement ring given to her by Taylor Kinney (a heart-shaped diamond ring). Gaga tells of how the song came from the fire she had in her in the early days of her career: realising she wasn't perfect but knowing she had a heart made of steel and not letting anything take that away from her. Totally empowering and inspiration the song is a bold way of starting the album, setting the scene for the character of Joanne too who she goes on to explore throughout the rest of the album.

Posted by: HausofGucci 22nd December 2021, 05:45 PM

| 01. Million Reasons 10.36

There never was any competition - that average score! With a humongous victory, it seems that Gaga's first real ballad single has won over hearts of practically everyone and has comfortably been named the best song on Joanne. Initially released as a promotional single, but later upgraded to second single after its reception, it went on to become a signature ballad for her: a streaming and download smash. It deals with heartbreak and hope in a relationship and juxtaposes this with religious faith. After being performed at the Superbowl, the song shot into the top 5 in the US and became a commercial hit as a result. It was also critically acclaimed, gaining a Grammy nomination and being hailed as an album highlight by many. The music video continued on from the video for 'Perfect Illusion' and showed the importance of friendship in saving a person. It was performed live multiple times and has become a signature Joanne-era hit, including on here where you have named it the album's #1 song!

Posted by: HausofGucci 22nd December 2021, 05:46 PM

That average... :shakingcheeseblock:

Posted by: Hard Candy Xmas 22nd December 2021, 05:58 PM

Wow over 10 for MR, what a classic

So deserved though. Her best ballad!!

Posted by: Hard Candy Xmas 22nd December 2021, 06:41 PM

Thank you for doing this rate Bal and happy 5th anniversary to Joanne

Posted by: HausofGucci 23rd December 2021, 09:22 PM

Million Reasons is a real beauty but Diamond Heart has my heart and will always be my winner here. Still, a killer top 2! Thanks to everyone that took part.

Happy 5 years Joanne