I just love a cowboy

 

 

| 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.

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!

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.

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

 

I’ll need to catch up on the results.

Heaven's not ready for you

 

 

| 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.

Not ready for this to go already

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

TOP 5 TIME~ predict/wishlist?

 

Dancin' In Circles

Diamond Heart

Million Reasons

Perfect Illusion

Sinner's Prayer

Hmmm perhaps

 

1 Million Reasons

2 Diamond Heart

3 Dancin' in Circles

4 Perfect Illusion

5 Sinner's Prayer

 

 

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

Pressure's taking its toll

 

 

| 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.

So I was wrong right away :o

 

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tap down those boots while I beat around

 

 

| 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.

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

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

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