It's unfair to just say "The music has dropped in quality"

[umaru 155]

I think visually the ARTPOP era lacked with consistency and proper execution, but I don't think that the album itself is a total drop in quality. There are a handful of songs on ARTPOP that are amazing, though I can also say there are a handful of songs I think she could have done without or improved lyrically. 

[djBuffoon 12,115]

I agree that Aura is experimental, it's the one song that breaks her traditional structure and it's really great, but the fact that she toned it down for the album version is an example of her compromising. Or the fact that she toned down Swine from the crazy 6-minute version that leaked. I just want her to fully commit to whatever she does, so if she put out Act 2 and it was full of songs like the Aura demo, or Partynauseous (which sounds more out there than anything on the album) I think it could be amazing

I guess I don't hear any compromises, really. lol And I thought that the version of "Swine" that leaked was a dance remix or something. I'm glad it wasn't real though, because you could barely hear her voice or any other elements besides the bass. 

[XoXoJoanneGaga 629]

I guess I don't hear any compromises, really. lol And I thought that the version of "Swine" that leaked was a dance remix or something. I'm glad it wasn't real though, because you could barely hear her voice or any other elements besides the bass. 

I'm talking about this one, I think it's real cause it's the same song just with extended build-up's and a longer outro

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1f-H9bfqkM (not sure how to embed videos on this forum)

[DMTT 160]

Ok, an extended version of swine (with no extra lyrics, just a repeated instrumental) does not count as losing any artistic integrity, that's such a stupid idea to insinuate. Or, because she changed the way she sang two lines in Aura, she compromised? No, that's such a messy argument.

Not trying to **** on your opinion, but it just sort of makes no sense.

[Computer 10,973]

This thread touched a nerve with many and that's cool.

My opinions are:

ARTPOP is judged by the media and public by its name, which was declared pretentious, and not always judged on its music.

Some songs aren't as good as others. Just like some songs on TF or BTW aren't as good as those albums' best tracks. That's how albums work and it's fine.

The production on ARTPOP is excellent, modern, newer, polished, I see no drop in quality there whatsoever.

I wish a lot of lyrics were different. Applause is like my favorite song, I love it for what it is, what it means, and it's a flawless bop. But it was so esoteric to me at first. I was like "omg no, everyone will hate this concept and ignore how good the song is." Aura is sooo good. Sonically it blew my mind. But why sing about burqas? Why? And why a 1 minute intro on a three minute song? Why the words "Sexxx Dreams" such a perfect song but then too risky for radio. Kind of like my other fave Work Bitch, killed off by it's own lyrics. Is she aware Gypsy can be a racial slur? The list goes on. I guess you can't accuse her of playing it safe and I wouldn't want her to but so many of these songs could have been hits if they had a touch of normal sprinkled in. They are so amazing musically and production wise. It's just like... she is risky and random with her lyrics and it's good and it's bad.

Finally firing Troy is a huge deal and created messiness and she had to work through all that and there's so much we don't know. I'm amazed an album as wonderful as ARTPOP happened at all :legend:

[xKorix 156]

This is my opinion and its kind of a rant but I do feel her music has changed. I feel the emotional quality and intimacy of her music has been changing/decreasing. Her songs used to be very accessible, emotional and relate-able now they're becoming more abstract and conceptual. I honestly don't know if I like it or not. The reason I started liking her was her relate-ability and the emotions on display in her music; Paparazzi, Bad Romance, Dance in the Dark, Speechless, Monster, etc. I really felt a lot listening to her songs. It's really different now though, she doesn't sing so much personal confessional type songs. They're becoming all very conceptual; songs like Born This Way, Government Hooker, Heavy Metal Lover, Highway Unicorn, Americano, Venus, ARTPOP, MANiCURE, Applause, etc. 

 

When over half the album is conceptual songs it just feels too much for me. Her music doesn't give me the feels as much as it used too. It feels less intimate, less of her feelings in it and more her thoughts and abstract ideas, I wish there was more of that emotional quality. But it could be that's more who she is, a lot of the songs on the second half of The Fame were very conceptual.

[XoXoJoanneGaga 629]

Ok, an extended version of swine (with no extra lyrics, just a repeated instrumental) does not count as losing any artistic integrity, that's such a stupid idea to insinuate. Or, because she changed the way she sang two lines in Aura, she compromised? No, that's such a messy argument.

Not trying to **** on your opinion, but it just sort of makes no sense.

I know it seems silly to focus on a couple of small details, all I'm trying to say is that the album isn't really experimental, and I was just pointing out areas where the songs were originally bolder and then she changed them. I really like the final version of Swine but I feel like it's an example of a song that could have been more experimental but was stunted by having to fit the standard 4-minute pop song structure, that's all. 

[tokyodisko 0]

Granted, her offstage behavior is a little erratic, but we only see 1/10 of the picture, if that. But, musically and lyrically, AP sounds like Gaga at her most invigorated, refreshed, and free.

 

Amazing how two equally a--lytical sets of ears can hear something so completely at odds.  

 Well played. 

It is interesting, I just feel like even CLLG and BDKMV are more Gaga than a lot of AP- and that's not something I'd have expected to say when I heard them. haha I don't think she needs the huge productions or artistry to shine, but I feel like she thinks she does sometimes, because of the BTW and now ARTPOP backlash. But whatever, now she's having what looks like an amazingly happy time on tour, so I feel like we might get her best music yet. I kind of hope she ditches Act II, perhaps releases an EP with no promo, maybe a videoless single and just jives onto her new album. :D She doesn't need to drag her discouragement with her. I don't like ARTPOP a lot, but it's not nearly as awful as some are saying. Maybe my least favorite, but that's solely on personal taste. 

[blahblahblahhhh 15]

IN MY OPINION:

 

Born This Way is amazing.

 

ARTPOP is fun. But it's not a stand-out, it's pretty watered down in comparison with TFM/BTW.

[Cody Draco 2,531]

I love ARTPOP. I think Gaga is evolving as an artist and I support her 100%!

[tokyodisko 0]

This is my opinion and its kind of a rant but I do feel her music has changed. I feel the emotional quality and intimacy of her music has been changing/decreasing. Her songs used to be very accessible, emotional and relate-able now they're becoming more abstract and conceptual. I honestly don't know if I like it or not. The reason I started liking her was her relate-ability and the emotions on display in her music; Paparazzi, Bad Romance, Dance in the Dark, Speechless, Monster, etc. I really felt a lot listening to her songs. It's really different now though, she doesn't sing so much personal confessional type songs. They're becoming all very conceptual; songs like Born This Way, Government Hooker, Heavy Metal Lover, Highway Unicorn, Americano, Venus, ARTPOP, MANiCURE, Applause, etc. 

 

When over half the album is conceptual songs it just feels too much for me. Her music doesn't give me the feels as much as it used too. It feels less intimate, less of her feelings in it and more her thoughts and abstract ideas, I wish there was more of that emotional quality. But it could be that's more who she is, a lot of the songs on the second half of The Fame were very conceptual.

This! I like it, but she can use the imagery without going overboard on concepts. I think she loses her raw emotions when she gets too heavily into it. 

[MMXIX 51]

ARTPOP is a great pop album, end of story.

:kisses:

[djBuffoon 12,115]

Well played.

It is interesting, I just feel like even CLLG and BDKMV are more Gaga than a lot of AP- and that's not something I'd have expected to say when I heard them. haha I don't think she needs the huge productions or artistry to shine, but I feel like she thinks she does sometimes, because of the BTW and now ARTPOP backlash. But whatever, now she's having what looks like an amazingly happy time on tour, so I feel like we might get her best music yet. I kind of hope she ditches Act II, perhaps releases an EP with no promo, maybe a videoless single and just jives onto her new album. :D She doesn't need to drag her discouragement with her. I don't like ARTPOP a lot, but it's not nearly as awful as some are saying. Maybe my least favorite, but that's solely on personal taste.

I mean, I totally get what you're saying. But here's the main reason why I think the album comes straight from her: When I listen to the album, and I scan across the various influences and sounds she was drawing from, I can't help but that think that no one (critics or fans) could have really expected or asked for music like this from her, for the most part.

In other words, if she was really going out of her way to please everyone, like you're suggesting, this isn't close to what the finished product would have sounded like. And if she really only had "chart-topping hit!!" in mind, half of these tracks wouldn't have made it past stage one.

[Orly D 322]

TF and TFM were sonically more musical than BTW and ARTPOP. E.g. the intro/build-up chords to the first verse of Monster, very long and diverse synth riffs in DITD's intro, the guitars from The Fame etc.

[Saint Laurent 4,862]

people say the quality dropped, i believe because of the lyrics. there is no way you can justify the lyrics on ARTPOP; they are horrible and terribly written.

 

TF had clever, witty, interesting lyrics.

TFM had deeper, more consistent lyrics.

BTW had some of her best lyrics (and some of her worst).

AP just had truly horrendous lyrics, you can't deny it! even though all the songs are really catchy, you can't deny that Venus, GUY, J&D, MANiCURE, Swine, Donatella, Fashion!, and Applause have really, really bad lyrics. and the rest of the songs aren't as bad, but certainly aren't up-to-par with TFM or the best of BTW. 

 

you know what i mean? the quality HAS declined. idk what she did with the lyrics. i don't think gaga has ever been a brilliant lyricist, but you used to be able to see SOME effort in them at least :/

 

Venus, alone, though.... when you list the planets in your song and include: "Aphrodite lady, seashell bikini, garden panty"...what?! lol

 

Absolute bull****. The lyrics on ARTPOP are some of Gaga's best lyrics.