(This is largely from a text I sent a former Orger, so the language may feel overstating or different than a typical post here. It is edited and finessed a bit.)

When Gaga’s song “Abracadabra” was released, I thought - lemme listen to it.

I’m not a Gaga fan. I think the can sing the phonebook, writes music, and plays instruments very well. Her music doesn’t necessarily appeal to me.

But I listened to this song. I thought, this is pretty good. Interesting lyrics (there’s a story to it). “Mayhem” is her album, and a character - the dark side of her - in her concert. Not a new concept, someone with two sides, battling.

Then I decided to listen to the album. I have to say, I didn’t feel like skipping a song. There is a lot of obvious 80’s nuances there, and many are not subtle. I find a lot of her music is very over-produced. There needs to be about 4 tracks taken out of each song, then they’d be better, probably. There are some vocalizations that I’ve heard way back in her music. (Does she only know one ad-lib? Minor infraction I guess.)

I’ve listened to the album twice, and since then there have been 3 songs that have been found by me and/or released since the album that are included in digital versions. (Not just bonus tracks, but track stuck into the original playlist, pushing any subsequent song down a notch or two.)

It’s almost like she found her pop sensibilities again. I watched her Mayhem at Copacobana Beach, aired a few months ago. It’s a really good show. The stage set is familiar from previous tours she’s done, so it didn’t feel that original. But it kept the focus on the music, her dancers, etc.

I'm not a convert, but frankly, this one record is better than Madonna’s last 4 put together. This - from a big Madonna fan.




Any thoughts on Mayhem from Gaga listeners, here?

Tracklisting: (ones I favor)

1. Disease
2. Abracadabra
3. Garden of Eden
4. Perfect Celebrity
5. Can't Stop The High
6. Vanish Into You
7. Killah
8. Zombieboy
9. The Dead Dance
10. LoveDrug
11. How Bad Do U Want Me
12. Don't Call Tonight
13. Kill For Love
14. Shadow of a Man
15. The Beast
16. Blade of Grass
17. Die with A Smile

I went to see Lady Gaga with my son around 2015, I think. The opener sucked. But I thought Lady Gaga was really good but hadn't yet found her authentic voice or act (although I loved many of her first songs). I think that maybe now she has and is not a Madonna mimic as she was accused of years ago. I would love to see her on this tour locally but the prices are just way too high.

purplethunder3121 said:

I went to see Lady Gaga with my son around 2015, I think. The opener sucked. But I thought Lady Gaga was really good but hadn't yet found her authentic voice or act (although I loved many of her first songs). I think that maybe now she has and is not a Madonna mimic as she was accused of years ago. I would love to see her on this tour locally but the prices are just way too high.

There are great fan videos on YT of the full show.

I think her Madonna mimic was made up. She was certainly her own artist. She grew up in NYC, in the clubs, playing music. Didn't put in that sort of time. And she was never anything like Madonna, to me, other than young and quasi-blond.

The Mayhem on Copacobana was streamed live and the pro-shot is on YT as well. It's about 90% of her current tour, although some songs differ. Either source is a good way to see her current show I would think.

This album does seem more centered, purposeful. It has a sound and a story.