Should Gaga's next Lead Single Be A Ballad?

[Creyk 17,817]

The public seemed to really like Million Reasons, Shallow and then Always Remember Us This Way. Would it work for a fourth time?

[Kimmo 80,770]

Yasss, release Plastic Doll as a single, the Ballad Of The Century 

Just imagine the impact 

[FfFfFfFF 55,940]

All her lead singles are energetic and upbeat pop songs (and even Shallow isn't a straight up ballad and is actually pretty anthemic) and I feel like this fits Gaga. I wouldn't want that changed. 

[dynamite 59,372]

1 minute ago, Kimmo said:

Yasss, release Plastic Doll as a single, the Ballad Of The Century 

Just imagine the impact 

[LittleMonster20 9,858]

At some point, sure.

But not the next. I think it’d be good to do something completely experimental yet still dance and ‘Gaga’ for LG7 since she’s pretty much ... back and with all her movie roles and side projects it would be ‘unnecessary’ to go back to the whole Joanne/ASIB style so soon. 

[socotra 3,310]

if it is, i'd want it to be an R&B ballad like We Belong Together

something sexy, sultry, fresh-sounding. she should use her lower register more (like the first verse of Replay, Starstruck, etc.) it sounds so good.

[Chromatican 4,046]

Absolutely not. Aside from Shallow (a song from a soundtrack) all of Gaga's lead singles have been pop music bangers, and for the most part Gaga's pop music has been more successful than her more country and rock inspired music. She is also still young and should continue in the pop direction for the rest of her 30s in my opinion.

[Creyk 17,817]

21 minutes ago, FfFfFfFF said:

All her lead singles are energetic and upbeat pop songs (and even Shallow isn't a straight up ballad and is actually pretty anthemic) and I feel like this fits Gaga. I wouldn't want that changed. 

Plastic Doll is absolutely amazing. I would have loved it as a single.

[LOVEDRUG 10,674]

a power ballad perhaps, similar to shallow or we belong together or a celine dion song. something classy yet powerful, with a very memorable chorus

[G U C C I 5,469]

A properly produced power ballad sure but where she is at her most powerful is when it is just her and a piano personally. I wish she would work with new songwriters and knock us out of the park like she did with ASIB, You and I, The Edge of Glory, Speechless, etc.

An original jazz song would be incredible!

[REALITY 76,656]

25 minutes ago, Chromatican said:

Absolutely not. Aside from Shallow (a song from a soundtrack) all of Gaga's lead singles have been pop music bangers, and for the most part Gaga's pop music has been more successful than her more country and rock inspired music. She is also still young and should continue in the pop direction for the rest of her 30s in my opinion.

Except in recent years, it's her ballads that have been the most well-received.

Gaga's pop music has been more successful than her "country and rock" inspired music up until ARTPOP. Since then, she's had a ton of success with her more stripped down songs. 

[REALITY 76,656]

Yes.

I'd love a ballad album from Gaga. Something like INLA, Shallow, ARUTW, ITA?, etc. In my opinion, ASIB has some of her best songs. While the GP liked old Gaga's electronic dance hits, they also really like her ballads and slow songs. She should capitalize on that and have an era with mostly ballads IMO. 

And, monsters will complain about not having "bussy bopping bops," but let's be real, a lot of monsters like her slow stuff too. IDK why some people have a hard time admitting that. Like, 90% of this forum prefers the 1000 Doves piano version over the one on the album, and y'all are trying to tell me all you want are electronic dance songs?  

[Chromatican 4,046]

1 minute ago, Reality said:

Except in recent years, it's her ballads that have been the most well-received.

Gaga's pop music has been more successful than her "country and rock" inspired music up until ARTPOP. Since then, she's had a ton of success with her more stripped down songs. 

In total though she is recognized as a pop artist. I don't see what going to do a HAC or ballad heavy album will do for her. The majority of her fandom is comprised of pop music listeners, and recording another Joanne-esque album following Chromatica would feel like another creative u-turn.

[Lucas 27,045]

I'd love that for a future album but I just wish that LG7 will be another pure pop record but way more experimental

[REALITY 76,656]

Just now, Chromatican said:

In total though she is recognized as a pop artist. I don't see what going to do a HAC or ballad heavy album will do for her. The majority of her fandom is comprised of pop music listeners, and recording another Joanne-esque album following Chromatica would feel like another creative u-turn.

First of all, the only difference between Joanne and the rest of her albums is that it's more country, folk, and rock inspired. It's not even a "ballad" album. The OP talked about songs like Shallow, MR, and ARUTW, which sound absolutely nothing like Joanne.

Also, Joanne helped Gaga a lot, PR-wise. Without Joanne, we wouldn't have ASIB or her return to electronic dance music with Chromatica. Joanne also allowed Gaga to do the Super Bowl.

The GP recognizes her as a pop artist, sure, but that shouldn't limit her to only doing electronic dance music. That's a very narrow-minded point of view. We know that Gaga's a very eclectic artist; why shouldn't she do a ballad album? 

Finally, the majority of her hardcore fandom is pop music listeners, yes, but Gaga has a pretty diverse fanbase. There are a lot of casual listeners too. And to be honest, it's those listeners that made Shallow one of Gaga's most popular songs.