OMonster 14,671 Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 I've seen a lot of confusion and debate around the story Gaga is telling in 'Enigma'. So, if anyone's interested, I thought I'd take a moment to share my own interpretation of this track, since it's one of my favourites on the album Verses 1 + 2: We start the song with "mystery man, woman, phantom" which - in my opinion - is Gaga reflecting on her confused public perception over the years. "Is she a man? Is she a drag queen? Is she a 'devil'?" - who is 'Lady Gaga'? Meanwhile... "Violet light smears the atmosphere I'm so scared, but I'm standing here" ... is Gaga's response to that early confusion. She is who she is... an 'enigma'... an undefinable 'violet light'... and is 'scared' by the public's desperation to define the undefinable. This harks back to Gaga's frequent use of purple as some kind of underlying motif that describes her artistic self. We see this in tracks like 'So Happy I Could Die', where Stefani describes 'Gaga' as a 'lavender blonde' - and we've also seen a physical representation of this in our first look at 'Enigma' the Las Vegas Residency, where Gaga presents herself - or her 'engima' - as an intangible violet mist. In short, then, this opening verse is Gaga conceptualising who she is an artist - an 'enigma' - and dealing with the reactions that has provoked. Similarly, the second verse, opening with... "Can't stop staring, I'm so naked Wrapped in shadows, my heart races" ... is, again, Stefani reflecting on who 'Gaga' really is. She is fascinated with the 'invention' she has 'created' for herself. She sees that 'Gaga' (her enigma) is who she really is. It is a vehicle for her 'naked' truth that both frees her from her 'shadows' and simultaneously turns them into art. And then, just as in the second lines of the first verse... "Dragon's eyes watch, goddess breathing Give me something to believe in" ... is Stefani, again, commenting on all that surrounds her 'creation' - all that 'Gaga' and her 'Enigma' has to withstand. Fame and celebrity culture (the dragon's eyes) prey on Gaga's artistic soul (the goddess) - whilst all she desires is to believe in something real... something true. She doesn't want to be a 'celebrity' - she wants to be an artist. This links into what Gaga told Zane Lowe, too, about wishing to eradicate her 'celebrity' status. Instead, then, what Stefani chooses to believe in is her 'Enigma' - her art, her visions, her truth, her artistic creations... her 'Gaga'... not the superficiality and toxicity of fame. The Chorus: But what is 'Lady Gaga', exactly? And who is 'she' to Stefani? Well, in the chorus of 'Engima', Gaga tells Stefani that they, together, could be anything: "We could be lovers, even just tonight We could be anything you want We could be jokers, brought to the daylight" She could be romantic, she could be fun, she could be light, she could be dark... her 'ARTPOP could mean anything'. To put it simply, then, this chorus is about 'Gaga' telling Stefani that "I'll be your Enigma" - she (Gaga) will be the vehicle for Stefani's art, and she will allow her to "break all of our (Stefani + Gaga's) stigma" by constantly evolving and by being an undefined, enigmatic mystery that cannot have any, one meaning. Stefani cannot be stigmatised (judged, isolated, suffocated and trapped by public commentary) so long as she is 'Gaga' as 'Gaga' is an 'Enigma' and, thus, cannot be held to any, one 'form'. The Pre-Chorus and Bridge: In the pre-chorus, Gaga sings... "Is what I am seeing real, or is it just a sign? Is it all just virtual?" ... which is her questioning whether 'Gaga' is real. Is 'Gaga' a creation... or is it who Stefani really is? In the chorus, as I've covered, this question is answered by 'Gaga' telling 'Stefani' that she is her 'Enigma' - the real, yet intangible force within her that guides her creative soul. Similarly, in the bridge... "Did you hear what I said? (What?) Did you hear what I said? (Yeah) Is it all in my head? Is it all in my head? (Ooh, yeah) Is it all in my head?" Stefani continues to question the 'truth' of Gaga and her Enigma. But, ultimately, she hears what her Enigma is telling her and, as we know, she follows it... since she is, after all, and always will be... Lady Gaga... the physical representation of Stefani Germonotta's enigmatic, ever-changing artistry. So, in a nutshell, what is 'Enigma' about? If you've got this far... thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings I'll finish with a simple overview of what I think 'Enigma' is all about... 'Enigma' - to me - is Stefani grappling with WHO Lady Gaga truly is. And in the song, she concludes that Gaga is an Enigma within that allows her to be the artist she really wants to be - one that is undefinable and one that is true. And that, in my opinion, is what Gaga is telling us in 'Enigma' - sharing who 'Gaga' really is, after a decade of confused speculation... an expressive yet escapist force guise that gives birth to Stefani's visions. subtext / fantasy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damon 10,904 Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 hmm i thought the song was about a couple who likes messing around but suddenly starts developing feelings to each other but don't have a label over their relationship yet, they are an "enigma" ... and now i just sit in silence. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FFXIV WhiteMage 5,906 Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 The lyrics and vocals in Enigma are topnotch! But production wise Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GipJo 2,912 Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 Enigma in Chromatica is ARTPOP in ARTPOP for me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OMonster 14,671 Posted June 1, 2020 Author Share Posted June 1, 2020 3 minutes ago, Antonoff said: hmm i thought the song was about a couple who likes messing around but suddenly starts developing feelings to each other but don't have a label over their relationship yet, they are an "enigma" Well, I think there is a deliberate intention to have the song translate to less intricate meanings, but Gaga herself confirmed: "(1) The genesis of Lady Gaga as how I identify is something I've grappled with ever since I was 19. (2) I don't know why I need this transformation to happen other than that the design of Lady Gaga is decidedly rebellious. (3) I can break any stigmas about me at any time because I will constantly transform to escape them. (4) This process by which I exist is a mystery to me, but I'm starting to understand it. I'm even starting to own it. (5) I will always be misunderstood. Because I want to be." So, the song is definitely about Stefani understanding who Lady Gaga is and why she is an Enigma. subtext / fantasy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepsami 18,684 Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 5 minutes ago, PoCHEMist said: The lyrics and vocals in Enigma are topnotch! But production wise Please elaborate on what's wrong with the production Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElektrikUniCorn 525 Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 I love the way you explained it Come come, unwrapp me! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gumzy3000 7,185 Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 Simply put, I think Enigma is about how she feels when she in on stage. "Open-minded, I'm so blinded Mystery man, woman phantom Violet light smears the atmosphere I'm so scared, but I'm standing here" Violet light means the light on the stage which she is standing on. Mystery man and woman are the crowd. In the pre-chorus, she is wondering if its virtual because it all seems so unreal. In the chorus, "We could be lovers..." part indicates she is talking about her audience and she wants them to totally give them self to her, even if it is just for that one night. I think it is a really great lyric that shows the spirit of performance for her. "Can't stop staring, I'm so naked Wrapped in shadows, my heart races Dragon's eyes watch, goddess breathing Give me something to believe in" First line shows she is being vulnerable on the stage. She cant stop staring at the audience who she reflects upon because they give her the energy and applause which she craves. Her adrenaline is going up, and I think when she says "Dragon's eyes watch, goddess breathing" it can mean that her fans may criticize the things she does but she is willing to give them what they want, but she overcomes this in the last line because she believes in there love for her. This verse is a bit strange all together because it shows she can be a bit anxious on stage being vulnerable but she doesn't mind as long as she believes in her fans and vice versa. In the bridge, she is talking to herself I think. Its whats going on in her head during a show. She cant believe what she just said. I think it could be about anxiety on stage, like she said something she wish she didn't but it can also be that she is just making these negative feelings up because its all in her head and she should carry on the show. This is just a quick analysis of my interpretation on this song. trolly troll troll Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OMonster 14,671 Posted June 1, 2020 Author Share Posted June 1, 2020 29 minutes ago, gumzy3000 said: Simply put, I think Enigma is about how she feels when she in on stage. "Open-minded, I'm so blinded Mystery man, woman phantom Violet light smears the atmosphere I'm so scared, but I'm standing here" Violet light means the light on the stage which she is standing on. Mystery man and woman are the crowd. In the pre-chorus, she is wondering if its virtual because it all seems so unreal. In the chorus, "We could be lovers..." part indicates she is talking about her audience and she wants them to totally give them self to her, even if it is just for that one night. I think it is a really great lyric that shows the spirit of performance for her. "Can't stop staring, I'm so naked Wrapped in shadows, my heart races Dragon's eyes watch, goddess breathing Give me something to believe in" First line shows she is being vulnerable on the stage. She cant stop staring at the audience who she reflects upon because they give her the energy and applause which she craves. Her adrenaline is going up, and I think when she says "Dragon's eyes watch, goddess breathing" it can mean that her fans may criticize the things she does but she is willing to give them what they want, but she overcomes this in the last line because she believes in there love for her. This verse is a bit strange all together because it shows she can be a bit anxious on stage being vulnerable but she doesn't mind as long as she believes in her fans and vice versa. In the bridge, she is talking to herself I think. Its whats going on in her head during a show. She cant believe what she just said. I think it could be about anxiety on stage, like she said something she wish she didn't but it can also be that she is just making these negative feelings up because its all in her head and she should carry on the show. This is just a quick analysis of my interpretation on this song. This is a really wonderful interpretation, thanks for sharing I do think, though, the song is quite specifically about Gaga's understanding of her 'Gaga' identity since she said as much on a Spotify track-by-track analysis - but this could also be translated to her on-stage experience, too, I guess. subtext / fantasy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop ate my heart 2,865 Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 The song is VERY layered. And this is what I could come up with, based on what she said in interviews and what the Vegas show is about 'Enigma', the song is about Lady Gaga the "persona", and her desperately wondering if it's really herself when she's on stage, if it's an alter ego she needed to create for herself when she was young in order to feel more confident with the public, but also about what 'Lady Gaga' has become through the years in her career. She said in interviews it's a complete mystery to her that she cannot wrap her head around to this day. But ALSO, based on what she said in Zane Lowe, it's not just about her (Stefani), Lady Gaga and the struggling relationship between both. It's also about how everyone of us around the world put ourselves out there through social media and show a virtual image of ourselves, creating our own 'Enigmas'. And, in the song, she's wondering if what we show to the world through technology is real and comes from a genuine place, or if it's fake and just a facade to fit in society (which can be toxic at a certain degree and turn on you, as she said with Zane). Or maybe a bit of both? Who knows, it's an enigma after all That's how she percieves that particular part of the world, which is what Chromatica's all about. PS: [I just copy-pasted what I wrote in another thread explaining the song, for those who didn't read it lol] am i-e-i-e-i-e-i-e-i-e-i-p-plastic Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Temptation 11,209 Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 Inb4 it’s about ha residency Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop ate my heart 2,865 Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 7 minutes ago, Lord Temptation said: Inb4 it’s about ha residency But her residency IS about this am i-e-i-e-i-e-i-e-i-e-i-p-plastic Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heygirl22 1,303 Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 1 hour ago, GipJo said: Enigma in Chromatica is ARTPOP in ARTPOP for me. Right!!! I think the album was originally supposed to be called enigma and this was the title track! just a thought I had 💓🕊 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Putang Ina Mo 2,140 Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 I thought the lyrics of Enigma is about a love affair. LMAO my username says it all 🇵🇭 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OMonster 14,671 Posted June 1, 2020 Author Share Posted June 1, 2020 2 hours ago, pop ate my heart said: The song is VERY layered. And this is what I could come up with, based on what she said in interviews and what the Vegas show is about 'Enigma', the song is about Lady Gaga the "persona", and her desperately wondering if it's really herself when she's on stage, if it's an alter ego she needed to create for herself when she was young in order to feel more confident with the public, but also about what 'Lady Gaga' has become through the years in her career. She said in interviews it's a complete mystery to her that she cannot wrap her head around to this day. But ALSO, based on what she said in Zane Lowe, it's not just about her (Stefani), Lady Gaga and the struggling relationship between both. It's also about how everyone of us around the world put ourselves out there through social media and show a virtual image of ourselves, creating our own 'Enigmas'. And, in the song, she's wondering if what we show to the world through technology is real and comes from a genuine place, or if it's fake and just a facade to fit in society (which can be toxic at a certain degree and turn on you, as she said with Zane). Or maybe a bit of both? Who knows, it's an enigma after all That's how she percieves that particular part of the world, which is what Chromatica's all about. PS: [I just copy-pasted what I wrote in another thread explaining the song, for those who didn't read it lol] This is a great interpretation too and is along the same line as what I believe, too Thanks for sharing. subtext / fantasy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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