What about ARTPOP makes you think the label "watered it down?"

[eifulien 2,969]

Sure. I think what a lot of members forget, even the ones who've been here for years, is the fact that the album was actually done in the summer of 2012. Throughout the first half of 2012, she was constantly referring to the 'decay of the superstar' and the media. She said this in an interview in early 2012:

 

"I'm fascinated with the decay of the blonde pop icon and how culture loves to build and give birth to fantasies and then destroy them and what that means, it's something I want to explore on my next album.â€

 

She seemed to be exploring these themes visually, by going brunette for pretty much the entire year and smoking a lot. It seemed like she was acting out the part of a decaying superstar.

 

She announced that she played the album for the label in June 2012 (https://twitter.com/ladygaga/status/211001922537271297), then a few weeks later she performed Princess Die. Then in July, her sound engineer announced that they were putting the finishing touches on the lead single. 

 

Then we didn't hear anything about the album for the rest of the year, and she broke her hip in early 2013. When she came back from the injury she started describing the album as a fun rave record, "The Fame Monster's techno rave little sister". But then she kept working on the album during the summer and it seemed to get downgraded again, from a rave album to just a "long night at the club". 

 

So clearly the album went through many iterations and was very different in the summer of 2012. I think she was originally going for a darker, more Michael Jackson-esque album about the decay of the superstar and paranoia over the media. And then when it was changed to a full-on rave record, I think it was supposed to be a lot crazier (with songs like Partynauseous).

Thank youu for this lenghty post. I really appreciate you spent time on clarifying this for me!!!!     

[Jesse Pinkman 4,660]

If you've been following ARTPOP since the very beginning then you would know that this was not supposed to be the original album. I'm not saying its bad, but it's quite evident that a lot went on behind the scenes that molded ARTPOP into what it is.

[pachinko 10,403]

This shows how tastes and opinions vary. As much as I like TF, TFM, and BTW, I think AP is her best album.

Never! Sexxx Dreams was butchered.

[Psychedelic 1,098]

I don't really think there's anything 'watered down' about the album. The music just wasn't as good as expected, and didn't deliver. I'm a little disappointed that Gaga calls AP her "best work to date" when TF, TFM, and BTW are masterpieces and pure genius and miles ahead of AP. If the GP liked her music, they would care enough to seek her music out and not just rely on radio to play it. It's 2014. People can go onto youtube, spotify, etc. and other places to find music they really like. 

 

Although I wouldn't say 'miles ahead', ARTPOP is still a very good record but her previous works are better imo, and she didn't even use to brag about them like she did with ARTPOP!

[mic 1,415]

Including commercial weaker songs like MANiCURE or donatella

Lack of proper promo for each single

Letting gaga not release DWUW video

Not accepting for aura as lead single

Choosing guy as single

Lack of consistence in fashion (it was Gagas choice but they could suggest it to her)

[Ronk 14,762]

Never! Sexxx Dreams was butchered.

Because you don't like how a particular song was produced you dislike the album?

[PopBitch 1,218]

Sure. I think what a lot of members forget, even the ones who've been here for years, is the fact that the album was actually done in the summer of 2012. Throughout the first half of 2012, she was constantly referring to the 'decay of the superstar' and the media. She said this in an interview in early 2012:

 

"I'm fascinated with the decay of the blonde pop icon and how culture loves to build and give birth to fantasies and then destroy them and what that means, it's something I want to explore on my next album.â€

 

She seemed to be exploring these themes visually, by going brunette for pretty much the entire year and smoking a lot. It seemed like she was acting out the part of a decaying superstar.

 

She announced that she played the album for the label in June 2012 (https://twitter.com/ladygaga/status/211001922537271297), then a few weeks later she performed Princess Die. Then in July, her sound engineer announced that they were putting the finishing touches on the lead single. 

 

Then we didn't hear anything about the album for the rest of the year, and she broke her hip in early 2013. When she came back from the injury she started describing the album as a fun rave record, "The Fame Monster's techno rave little sister". But then she kept working on the album during the summer and it seemed to get downgraded again, from a rave album to just a "long night at the club". 

 

So clearly the album went through many iterations and was very different in the summer of 2012. I think she was originally going for a darker, more Michael Jackson-esque album about the decay of the superstar and paranoia over the media. And then when it was changed to a full-on rave record, I think it was supposed to be a lot crazier (with songs like Partynauseous).

Well, she said making this album during her dark period after the hip fracture was everything to her and she was proud of it  So the direction obviously had to do with her.  She was in pain, recuperating, d--g addicted.  It sounds like she needed some light in her life musically.

 

And, for the record, I think Partynauseous is crap and am glad it's not on the album.

[thefamebitch 834]

MANiCURE

[Darcklighter22 2,358]

Applause as first single instead of AURA

 

+

 

songs like MANiCURE

I go back and forth on MANiCURE actually because I love the song but sometimes I listen to it and feel the production is missing elements to make it.

 

Swine feels like it got watered down a bit in terms of sonical longevity. I would of loved a genre coherence to the production of Aura mind you she would of had to work more with Infected Mushroom. I feel after her longest break between album cycle she was rushed in a way by the label to finish it for release for 2013. I love Applause....If she released Act II it would really give a closure to the ARTPOP era I feel to what she could of possibly have made experimental wise with the venture to an EDM output 

[Guest]

Never! Sexxx Dreams was butchered.

The final version of Sexxx Dreams is flawless, and you will deal. :ARTPOP:

[PinkBalloons 0]

It's commercial/watered down for two reasons, lack of mature concepts as with TF/TFM, electropop is the most commercial EDM sound out there, which is why teens are into it, targeted marketing :D

[TheAlienatedNYC 619]

i think SHE herself watered the album down.
Applause as single, Venus canceled, Gypsy forgotten, the performances, DWUW as single, G.U.Y. without promotion, the artRAVE Ball...   btw G.U.Y. is my favorite song by her and my favorite video, i knew it was single in my birthday sooooooo that was an amazing gift!!

[Little7Monster 0]

I feel the album was full of "safe" songs. They all had single-potential, and were relatively radio friendly, making it an album for the public. There was promotion for other songs that seemed odd (TEA), and even talk about songs not obeying the standards set for a song to be a single (Zedd mentioned songs being long), yet none of these products came to fruition. 

 

Regardless of whose idea it was, ARTPOP was changed drastically by the time they printed the final product. 

[ChicaSkas 23,210]

I think she over produced it while on break. She thought and thought and just tried to have it PERFECT , which made it worse. Shes a workaholic. tbh. She does her best work when rushed ala FAME MONSTER .

Anyone remember her tweet in Aug 2012 saying "I played the record for Interscope and they loved it" 

So What HAPPENED :dead: did she trash the blonde decay theme or what??? @chica @zilla thoughts? I think that deserves its own thread tbh. Somethings UP! @slade

 

 

you mentioned me, but I was never in Minneapolis either the first time or the second so honestly I have no idea.

Zilla would be the one to confirm or deny or not answer altogether due to confidentiality.

 

If you read their stories from that day, she mentioned the theme of the new album (ARTPOP) was never about decay at all.

[zaza04 15]

you mentioned me, but I was never in Minneapolis either the first time or the second so honestly I have no idea.

Zilla would be the one to confirm or deny or not answer altogether due to confidentiality.

 

If you read their stories from that day, she mentioned the theme of the new album (ARTPOP) was never about decay at all.

Thank You I wonder why she said the record was done in 2012 tho? Who knows, stuff prly changed and tracks etc. I mentioned you just cause I figured you know alot :)