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Posted by: Jordan Lee 21st October 2019, 03:40 PM

Listening to Joanne the album today as it turns 3 and I’m thinking this really isn’t that different to the A Star Is Born soundtrack in places.

A lot of the songs are like pre Fame Ally and some would’ve fitted in the film too.

Would it have done better had this been her album after the movie? Or in hindsight would the soundtrack not have done as well had it become before Joanne?

Discuss...

Posted by: SKOB 21st October 2019, 06:07 PM

It's an interesting thought... They were written at the same time but I think Gaga had the idea of Joanne way before she started working on ASIB so technically that scenario could have never happened.

However, I think Joanne would've sold a bit more compared to what it did now (platinum in the US, gold in the UK which is not bad by any means) but I don't think there would've been any more big hits from it in the US. Perfect Illusion would've reached top ten in the UK for sure if released after all the ASIB hype.

Posted by: HauntedHaus 21st October 2019, 06:10 PM

A very interesting question. It's one of those ones you can never really tell - maybe ASIB was only as huge as it was because of Joanne before it? Maybe Joanne would have been MASSIVE post-ASIB? Either way, both work really well together to showcase the warm, soft side to Gaga that her fans have always known have existed. Joanne coming before shows how brave she was to release something like it without any inkling of whether people would be here for it or not.

A fascinating question and one that makes me excited to see what is next.

Posted by: Trick Or Queef! 21st October 2019, 06:44 PM

Joanne launchdd on Million Reasons would have been so much bigger. No one bought Joanne, so it has nothing to do with ASIB success.

Posted by: Jordan Lee 22nd October 2019, 01:24 AM

I find it a bit odd though how a lot of people who didn’t like Joanne seem to like ASIB when they’re not that different tbh.

Million Reasons would’ve worked perfectly in the film in the scene where they have a fight where he calls her ugly.

Dancin In Circles would’ve worked as the more poppy like number (Why Did You Do That).

I personally feel like the ASIB tracks are a bit stronger but they’re not too different.

I do feel in the UK at least Joanne could’ve potentially sold an extra 100K if ASIB come first.

Joanne as an era though could’ve been extended. It was the same with ARTPOP too tbh.

They both went big gaps between single 2 and 3.

Million Reasons I think would’ve peaked much higher here in the UK had it come after the soundtrack though.

It already feels way bigger than #39.

Posted by: SKOB 22nd October 2019, 06:23 AM

Yes, I too think that at least singles wise the era could've been bigger if it followed ASIB. Album sales are a bit trickier because, let's face it, it's very tough for international act to sell platinum in the UK these days. I think only Scorpion and Beerbongs and Bentleys managed that last year, and then a couple of soundtracks.

Posted by: HauntedHaus 22nd October 2019, 06:37 AM

No. It's not necessarily about sales (not everything is).

Perhaps recording Joanne, performing songs from it and touring the album is what gave Gaga the confidence and fight to tackle a character like Ally. Maybe it's her healing through the Joanne era that even allowed her to deliver the strength she does in ASIB. Could you imagine Ally's character coming straight after ARTPOP? Nothing to do with the general public buying Joanne, maybe it was needed for Gaga herself to take on ASIB.

Posted by: SKOB 22nd October 2019, 06:49 AM

^Yess, preach!!

Posted by: Jord 19th September 2021, 08:33 PM

Bumping this again as I’ve been thinking about this again today

I really feel like Joanne would’ve been bigger had it been the follow up to A Star Is Born.

That sound suits her so well

Posted by: dannjohn 20th September 2021, 09:13 AM

i always think 'perfect illusion' is such an underrated gagz song.

Posted by: Sour Candy 20th September 2021, 10:09 AM

Me too, the explosiveness is everything

Posted by: Adelita 20th September 2021, 10:58 AM

It’s a mess

Posted by: dannjohn 20th September 2021, 11:09 AM

i think you meant to contribute this in either of the 'chromatica' threads

Posted by: Adelita 20th September 2021, 11:34 AM

One mess doesn't cancel out another