Loving the commentary! Knew you would be able to pour so much of yourself into as you get so much back from Gaga! Checked out No Floods for the first time - I can take it or leave it really but it does show how far she's progressed in terms of production value! You can still hear the vocal talent at least :heart: Favourite so far is Speechless although that is the weakest The Fame Monster track. Looking forward to where this goes!

I didn't know about the background to 'Speechless', I had assumed it was about a lover so the lyrics take on a new meaning with that context in mind. It does have a strong 70s rock ballad influence to it so performing it live with Elton John makes a lot of sense. The performance I remember is the one for VEVO and I think was the first time I first properly realised how good a vocalist she is.

 

'Artpop' was always one of my favourites from the album, mainly for being more melodic and accessible than its peers. The message of pop music having the power to move you with a lyric or a melody or a note is so true.

 

'Boys Boys Boys' is gloriously 80s, so much fun!

I'm so here for the commentary!!!!

 

Boys Boys Boys is super basic but it has a great melody. But as her discography is SO STRONG, it's probably in the lower half for me which means it's still good.

Ooh 'Artpop' is my favourite album track from that era so I'm glad it's made an appearance! So dreamy and indeed a welcome stop-gap in amongst the chaos :heart:

Artpop the song is definitely one of the stronger tracks from that era. The instrumental is also heavenly.

 

It’s quite dreamy and ethereal to listen too :wub:

 

Boys Boys Boys is a great solid fun pop track too. Can definitely see how it was almost a single and that “in the morning buy me eggs” line is something I’ve always loved.

People haven't heard No Floods?!? omg

 

The Columbus Day Parade performance of it is absolutely magical. :wub:

Loving the commentary! Knew you would be able to pour so much of yourself into as you get so much back from Gaga! Checked out No Floods for the first time - I can take it or leave it really but it does show how far she's progressed in terms of production value! You can still hear the vocal talent at least :heart: Favourite so far is Speechless although that is the weakest The Fame Monster track. Looking forward to where this goes!

She's definitely come a long way! No Floods to something like Shallow? The growth *.*

 

I didn't know about the background to 'Speechless', I had assumed it was about a lover so the lyrics take on a new meaning with that context in mind. It does have a strong 70s rock ballad influence to it so performing it live with Elton John makes a lot of sense. The performance I remember is the one for VEVO and I think was the first time I first properly realised how good a vocalist she is.

 

'Artpop' was always one of my favourites from the album, mainly for being more melodic and accessible than its peers. The message of pop music having the power to move you with a lyric or a melody or a note is so true.

 

'Boys Boys Boys' is gloriously 80s, so much fun!

I still take the meaning of Speechless to be about a lover but it's great when a song can mean different things for different people, including the artist herself. The VEVO performance is also a stunner, I agree <3

 

I'm so here for the commentary!!!!

 

Boys Boys Boys is super basic but it has a great melody. But as her discography is SO STRONG, it's probably in the lower half for me which means it's still good.

It was always really low for me, but hearing it out made it rise in my affections :') Now I have such happy memories associated with it :D

 

Ooh 'Artpop' is my favourite album track from that era so I'm glad it's made an appearance! So dreamy and indeed a welcome stop-gap in amongst the chaos :heart:

It's a vibe ~*.*~

 

Artpop the song is definitely one of the stronger tracks from that era. The instrumental is also heavenly.

 

It’s quite dreamy and ethereal to listen too :wub:

 

Boys Boys Boys is a great solid fun pop track too. Can definitely see how it was almost a single and that “in the morning buy me eggs” line is something I’ve always loved.

I think it actually could've done decently as a single too? :lol: Especially back then when she was near-untouchable!

 

People haven't heard No Floods?!? omg

 

The Columbus Day Parade performance of it is absolutely magical. :wub:

Y E S omg. It's such an underrated song.

 

| 45 // Aura // ARTPOP // Enigma pop star is fun

| 46 // Dancin' In Circles // Joanne // feels good to be lonely

 

Joanne's first song in the countdown is Dancin' In Circles, the loneliness power anthem. This was an instant favourite on the album, and it's clear to see why given how loud and in your face it is. It is country Gaga with just the right mix of crazy Gaga. Multi-layered with meaning, including female masterbation, not needing a partner to have fun and most interestingly a theory that was made clear to me some time after first hearing the song: as Gaga battled with a variety of illnesses, perhaps the song is a reflection of this pain coming full circle. She will keep on dancing through the pain and trying to rub it all away. While I don't return to the song as much now, it was a fun moment on the Joanne tour and represents the era well in which she experimented with new styles but still remained true to her original sound. A fun song that could mean any number of different things depending on the mood and I think a great lockdown/quarantine anthem too!

 

Returning to ARTPOP now, this was not only the first song we heard from the era but it also opens the album. Aura, or Burqa as it was called in its infancy is a controversial song about female empowerment, religious opression, her celebrity status, and stardom. Produced by Zedd, it features a range of instruments cascaded in a cacophony of sounds and beats. The song in itself is an experience, from Gaga's possessed vocals to the electric beat and the crazed lyrics. Gaga spoke about the song's meaning in an interview. She stated "just because all of those things are there, it doesn't mean that there is not sort of the same person underneath. And then, also that these veils, they are really just protecting me from the thing that I held the most sacred, which is my creativity". The barrier between artist and person behind it is an interesting one and I think moreso with someone like Gaga who pours her soul into her music and who has such a close bond with the creation of her songs and albums. We learn so much about her, but at the same time, is this a barrier to protect her own personal identity? She also comments on how it represents her "insanity" which explains the hyper-intense production and vocal arrangement. The song was used in a trailer for the film Machete Kills, which Gaga herself starred in. I remember exactly where I was when I first heard the demo - it filled me with such a rush of excitement for the new era ahead! Still to this day, a listen through of Aura, is exhilerating, unique and maddening!

 

Live performance:

 

 

The Joanne Tour was such a favourite for me. It was like a greatest hits tour! This performance was a lot of fun and made it clear that the song fitted in nicely amongst her back catalogue. The literal dancing in a circle was the stuff of geniuses!1

A great pairing there! 'Dancin' In Circles' remains my favourite to come out of the 'Joanne' project, so fun :wub: and omg the memories of obsessing over 'Burqa' when that was its working title, I'm glad that I was satisfied with the final version, as I went off a couple of songs from Swinefest to their studio forms (e.g. 'Swine' and 'Dope' under a different name). Re-listening to all these songs one-by-one as you announce them *.*

Aura is an absolute BEAST. Anthem!!

 

| 43 // John Wayne // Joanne // I crave a real wild man

| 44 // I Don't Know What Love Is // A Star Is Born // everyday I fall, trying just to stand by youl

 

A Star is Born makes its first appearance here with the beautiful duet I Don't Know What Love Is. This is the first of a few songs from this era, an era that hit me harder than I ever thought it would. The film's release a few months after I fell in love couldn't have come at a more opportune moment. This song, being a favourite of my partner's is featured during the moment when Ally and Jackson truly cement their love for each other and tie the know. There is so much confusion in the song as the loving pair try to put to words their feelings for each other and this sense of bewilderment is so true when you fall in love. There was a period of time when I felt confused and didn't know if feelings were being reciprocated but deep down knowing that there was something special brewing. It's a similar matter in this song whereby even after seeing an angel, love is such a mystery. The song is a beauty and the wedding scene is definitely one of my favourites in the film. There is so much light and happiness and love between the pair and this song reflects that beautifully. It's underrated, but I'm also very biased towards it due to personal reasons.

 

John Wayne drops out now too, a rip-roaring joyride of a song. Gaga has often sung about falling in love with the wrong guy and she was no different here, this time falling in love with the wild and daring Wayne. Rumoured to be written about her relationship with Taylor Kinney, she is here tired of the games of her run-of-the-mill guys and craving something a lot more ferocious. The music video is my favourite of the Joanne era videos and was directed by Jonas Åkerlund. It's classic Gaga with its vibrant colours and a dose of humour added in too. I heard this song once on a night out and it was every bit as messy as you can imagine! The production pops throughout, especially during the chorus and you really feel the thrill of the lyrics in true wild west cinematic fashion.

 

Live performance:

 

 

This MOMENT OF LIFE. The transition into John Wayne :cheeseblock: The HEELS :cheeseblock: The energy and vocals :cheeseblock: The W A L K :cheeseblock: That's how you make a statement. :clap:

'John Wayne' is my favourite from the countdown so far! :wub: I was thrilled we received a video and that it gave us the eccentric, vibrant, classic visual we love from Gaga. Wish it was pushed as a single. Also, that Victoria Secret Fashion Show performance is one of my favourites. Those HEELS! *.* Why did it get taken off YouTube officially? :(

Yeh I wish John Wayne got a push as well, the video is iconic and that drop really get's in your head. Can imagine it would have become a classic by now.

Aww that commentary for 'I Don't Know What Love Is' was so lovely to read :heart: and pretty relatable to me too. I haven't listened to that song in a while but just re-familiarised myself and yes, it is rather beautiful. 'John Wayne' is easily my second favourite on 'Joanne' after 'Dancin' In Circles', I agree that the music video was definitely the best from that era, in fact her best since the 'Born This Way' days. Not that we got many videos from 'ARTPOP' :kink:

Loving the commentary.

 

And your song choices are pretty solid too!

 

For me I’d probably put Dancin In Circles ahead of John Wayne but I like both tracks and that performance of John Wayne was everything and the music video was almost a return to pop Gaga form!

 

I Don’t Know What Love is was a huge creeper / grower for me but once it hit me I got it. Took about four watches of the film or so for it to happen. It’s like mid tier table on the soundtrack for me so intrigued to see the divide between albums as this countdown continues!

 

Born This Way era I’m thinking could heavily feature as we get closer to #1.

AURA really is THAT moment...I remember listening to ARTPOP for the first time and opening the booklet and reading the lyrics... I was like YAAASSSSS

 

From that moment on it was OBVIOUS that she is not the basic pop bitch (not that it wasn't obvious earlier but that album really is a defining moment of her artistry).

'John Wayne' is my favourite from the countdown so far! :wub: I was thrilled we received a video and that it gave us the eccentric, vibrant, classic visual we love from Gaga. Wish it was pushed as a single. Also, that Victoria Secret Fashion Show performance is one of my favourites. Those HEELS! *.* Why did it get taken off YouTube officially? :(

Yeah I do wish it received full single treatment. I think by then though they wanted the Joanne acoustic and to wrap up the era fairly quickly. The VSF show performance is life affirming. <3

 

Yeh I wish John Wayne got a push as well, the video is iconic and that drop really get's in your head. Can imagine it would have become a classic by now.

It's so catchy! If radio were fully on board with her at that point and it was serviced as a single, who knows how it would have done *.*

 

Aww that commentary for 'I Don't Know What Love Is' was so lovely to read :heart: and pretty relatable to me too. I haven't listened to that song in a while but just re-familiarised myself and yes, it is rather beautiful. 'John Wayne' is easily my second favourite on 'Joanne' after 'Dancin' In Circles', I agree that the music video was definitely the best from that era, in fact her best since the 'Born This Way' days. Not that we got many videos from 'ARTPOP' :kink:

:heart: my favourites from Joanne haven't all been revealed yet, but these two are definite highlights. I love that she still gave us some crazy pop moments in an otherwise stripped back album!

 

For me I’d probably put Dancin In Circles ahead of John Wayne but I like both tracks and that performance of John Wayne was everything and the music video was almost a return to pop Gaga form!

 

I Don’t Know What Love is was a huge creeper / grower for me but once it hit me I got it. Took about four watches of the film or so for it to happen. It’s like mid tier table on the soundtrack for me so intrigued to see the divide between albums as this countdown continues!

 

Born This Way era I’m thinking could heavily feature as we get closer to #1.

I'm glad IDKWLI has grown on you. I think it's beautiful and I adore the scene in the film when she arrives in her wedding outfit :cry:

 

AURA really is THAT moment...I remember listening to ARTPOP for the first time and opening the booklet and reading the lyrics... I was like YAAASSSSS

 

From that moment on it was OBVIOUS that she is not the basic pop bitch (not that it wasn't obvious earlier but that album really is a defining moment of her artistry).

YES what a song. When the demo leaked I lost my SHIT thinking about how crazy the upcoming era would be :cheeseblock:

 

| 41 // Bloody Mary // Born This Way // We are not just art for Michelangelo to carve

| 42 // Eh Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say) // The Fame // There's nothing else I can say

 

The first song here is mainly due to nostalgia. One of Gaga's most uplifting tracks, Eh Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say) is the most bubblegum we've ever had from her. It was the third single in some regions during The Fame's run and it's clear to see why: extremely radio friendly, accessible and cute and showcased a different side to her against the more thunderous singles that came before it. For me, it represents a bit of a breather on The Fame album - a chance to collect thoughts and go with the motions. The music video is delectably sweet too, as Gaga celebrates her Italian roots. Overall, the song isn't the most daring but it is nice enough and never fails to put me in a good mood!

 

And from the bright and cheery to the dark, serious and ghostly. Gaga does the macabre so well, and this is a perfect example. Bloody Mary as the title suggests has Gaga taking the place of Mary Magdalene as she lives her life as a normal woman and the superstar that everybody expects her to be. Here, the Mary of the song is battling with all sorts of conflicting thoughts and emotions and the song perfectly conveys the struggle in ghoulish style. It is an atmospheric, spooky "rave ballad" complete with chants and wails and all sorts of over-the-top spooky moments. The song came alive for me at the Born This Way Ball - it was every bit as ghastly as you'd imagine. In the early days of the album being released, this was a huge talking point among the fans and I think it has remained a highlight for many on the album all these years since. The Gaga chants are one of the most self-indulgant, iconic moments of the album as she demands we say her name over and over again - of course I do so loud and proud every time *.*! As a little monster, I am always here for Gaga tapping into her dark side and embracing it; it's what makes me proud to be who I am unashamedly as no matter how freakish or crazy I may be, I know I always have a place in her presence.

 

Live performance:

 

 

This is my favourite tour from Gaga, and the performance of 'Bloody Mary' was sublime. The way she was transported around the stage, "put your f***ing paws up", the crazed vocals and screams, the sheer absurdity of what was happening on stage - it's the perfect representation of an other-wordly macabre song. "Will you say my name - I can't live without the fame" *.* *says her name and cries uncontrollably for the 1000th time of the night*

Bloody Mary is brilliant with the Gaga chants and divine melodies. I actually prefer the Joanne tour performance to BTWB but both are brilliant.

 

 

I've never really got into 'Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)' as a song but I agree that the video is cute! 'Bloody Mary' on the other hand... :wub: that was one of many extremely striking moments on 'Born This Way' from the word go and has indeed held up very well over the years :clap: