"Chromatica" by Lady Gaga has glittering production and prominent personal songwriting
- MySweeterPlace
- 31 de mai. de 2020
- 5 min de leitura
Atualizado: 17 de abr.
Lady Gaga: "Chromatica"
Released: May 29, 2020
Label: Interscope
Genre: Pop,Vocal,Pop/Rock
Producers:
Axwell,BloodPop®,BURNS,Ellis,Klahr,Lady Gaga,LIOHN,Madeon,Max Martin,Skrillex,Tchami,Vitaclub and White Sea
Writers:
Ariana Grande, Axwell, Benjamin Rice, BloodPop®, Boys Noize, BURNS, Elton John, Ely Rise, Jacob Kasher, Justin Tranter, Klahr, Lady Gaga, Madeon, Madison Love, Max Martin, Morgan Kibby, Nija, Rami, Ryan Tedder, Salem Al Fakir, Skrillex, Tchami, Teddy Park, Vincent Pontare and White Sea
We are officially into "Chromatica's" world. As Lady Gaga explained, the sixth album, meaning title, can be a planet where all sounds and colors mix, but it's also an inclusive frame of mind, she told Zane Lowe in a recent interview. "I don't know that I've ever made an album that wasn't on Chromatica in some type of way, meaning like my frame of mind is always a part of my music, and this is just my way of kind of expressing, even in a both literal and abstract way."
Lyrically, the album's themes turn around mental health, healing, finding love through hardship, and self-empowerment. During an interview with Zane on what she wants the record to accomplish, she says, "I want to put out a record that forces people to rejoice even in their saddest moments. (...) Yeah, I live in Chromatica, it took a minute to get here, but that doesn't mean I don't remember what happened. So if you're in pain and listening to this music, just know that I know what it's like to be in pain. And I know what it's like to also not let it ruin your life."
On "Chromatica," there are three interludes that serve like friendly act breaks, announcing a new musical movement of the album. There are three collaborations, with Ariana Grande, Blackpink, and Elton John.
"Chromatica I" is the first interlude and the opener for the album and is played during the introduction to the "Stupid Love" music video.
"Take me on a trip, DJ, free my mind," she sings on "Alice." The title track pays tribute to the 1865 novel "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." During the song, Gaga connects her incapacity to find peace in her life to Alice's need to survive the difficulties of growing up and maintaining peace of mind. As she states, while her name may not be "Alice," she is going to "keep looking for Wonderland."
"Stupid Love" is a high-spirited electropop track where the singer can talk about falling for someone and wanting their love. "Stupid Love" is the lead single from "Chromatica." The music video, directed by Daniel Askill, was shot in Trona Pinnacles, California, using Apple's iPhone 11 Pro triple camera system.
The first collaboration appears on "Rain On Me," a song about "an analog of tears being the rain. And you know what it's also a metaphor for, is the amount of drinking that I was doing to numb myself. I'd rather be dry", she explained at "Vulture." The song marks the first collaboration between Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande and serves as an example of what an incredible duo should sound like. The accompanying music video, directed by Robert Rodriguez, features the two singers dancing inside a giant arena during a rainstorm, with daggers falling from the sky.
The sparkling "Free Woman" sees Gaga victoriously move forward after being sexually assaulted by a music producer, preaching: "This is my dancefloor I fought for / A heart, that's what I'm livin' for."
"Fun Tonight" is a breakup anthem about fighting against a negative mindset. Gaga sings about her anxiety and how it doesn't let her be positive in the song. She mentions fame and paparazzi in an emotional vocal.
Keeping in theme with the opener, "Chromatica II" is a sequence instrumental interlude that guides us to the fantastic "911". This track explores the role of antipsychotic medication and the effect it has had on her life. Who knew that a song about antipsychotics could be so profoundly great? Gaga turns it into a thoroughly satisfying production, BloodPop, and Madeon service. It's, undoubtedly, one of the highlights on the record.
In "Plastic Doll," the American singer confronts how she is objectified, comparing herself to a barbie by how others have treated her. Gaga's vocals shine through on this fun, deep cut.
"Sour Candy" marks the first collaboration between Lady Gaga and South Korean girl group BLACKPINK. Over a House beat, this sassy pop song is multilingual, containing English, and Korean and sour candy is a metaphor for how the singers function in a relationship. Jisoo, Lisa, Rosé, and Jennie shine, with Gaga only appearing in the song's middle to sing one pre-chorus and a verse.
The electropop track, "Enigma," emphasizes Gaga's desire for mystery. It sees Gaga telling a lover she can be anything they desire. "We could be lovers, even just tonight/ We could be anything you want/ We could be jokers, brought to the daylight/ We could break all of our stigma/ I'll, I'll be your enigma."
"Replay" is fun and one of the most danceable music on the album, even when its lyrics are about being stuck in a weak relationship with yourself. "Am I still alive? Where am I? I cry/ Who was it that pulled the trigger, was it you or I?/ I'm completely numb, why you acting dumb?/ I won't blame myself 'cause we both know you were the one." In Gaga's Spotify storyline, she clarifies how she sees a trauma that tormented her as a driving force for being braver.
The final interlude, "Chromatica III," introduces the last part of the album. This string instrumental alludes to the "calm" that precedes all storms and conducts us to "Sine from Above," a lovely dancefloor ballad. The track marks the second collaboration between Sir Elton John and Lady Gaga. Here, she talks about the healing power of music.
There's also something delightful on "1000 Doves," especially the chorus, when she shouts lyrics like, "I've been flying with some broken arms/ Lift me up, just a small nudge/And I'll be flying like a thousand doves."
"Babylon" is the closing track from the standard edition. The song incorporates samples of "Los" by Ozio and the bassline of "Confusion" by New Order.
A deluxe version of the album was released alongside "Chromatica," featuring "Love Me Right" and some tracks' remixes.
It's safe to say that "Chromatica" will be the soundtrack for many quarantine parties in the coming weeks, right?. The record has memorable choruses and shining production – but it goes deeper. You know what they said: "When you're happy, you enjoy the music. When you're sad, you understand the lyrics."
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