Why does Perfect Illusion have mixed reactions among the fan base?

[Van Vogue 74]

8 hours ago, EvilBunny said:

Hahaha the dive bar tour was so fun, I remember being so stoked to see the livestreams. I love these special moments she creates in every era. The beginning of Chromatica era was also super exciting, I was hyperventilating when she posted new Gagavisions and was posting a lot of crazy videos on her socials (like that one with her high at the fast food hahaha). I’m really curious to see what she have in store for LG7 

which video high at fastfood? 

[Decodekid 26,743]

Expectations and misleading promotion (sort of) 

What’s funny is Perfect Illusion itself was a misleading lead as well. When we were used to the song and style, it got even worse when she previewed Million Reasons and Sinner’s Prayer 

But I love and appreciate the album more nowadays, always loved PI though 

Edited November 3 by Decodekid

[IWantYourLove 1,098]

I enjoy singing along to it a lot, but I never have the urge to just sit and listen to it. It’s not really the kind of ‘sound’ I like - vocally I love it, but in terms of instrumentation… no thanks 

[ARTPOPKISS 3,377]

@PartySick

[RochestrMonstr 2,470]

I love Perfect Illusion. Didn’t seem like it needed to be the lead single though, because that set it up to have the word “flop” attached to it. She probably could have just started with Million Reasons and used that the whole time, which is basically what happened anyway. PI could have been one of the Promo Singles. 

[Monster647 402]

Because most pop fans are pedantic slaves to the paradigm, and they mostly can't see or think or feel beyond the lame stuff like the charts, public perception, celeb rivalries, what they expected the music should be like rather than enjoying what it turned out to be yadi yada 

So they actually don't consider the music much when they form their opinions. I probably sound very condescending now but as I grew older, I just developed a strong antipathy towards pop stanning and how they approach art. Probably a weird place to express that opinion but whatever. 

Anyways. Musically, it's very Tame Impala x Currents but higher BPM. I wouldn't expect Neo-Psychedelia to be everyone's thing but it definitely is bold artistically which is authentically Gaga. Love that song. 

 

 

Edited November 3 by Monster647

[Joshie S 5,866]

The song is about the fans/old management. That's why they didn't like it.

She clapped back at everyone who left her.

[chromaticainmyhead 6,350]

she was just a regular girl
 

 

[Delulu Rogers 6,934]

It had nothing to do with fan expectations. The song is good until the chorus. She’s screaming at you and pronouncing “love” weirdly.

Then the bridge comes and again she’s shouting over the soft spoken singing part, and the outro is so loud and chaotic but not in the good way.

It boils down to her shouting the same 2 lines throughout the whole song. It’s just…not it.  

[Mirrion Rizzons 10,280]

It's kinda sentimental for me, as it was the first time I experienced an album roll out from her as a LM. 

BUT...

It's one of those songs that I just have to be in the mood to listen to it.

When I am in the mood, I really appreciate it for what it is - it's catchy, energetic, and features amazing vocals.

On the other hand, sometimes, it's kinda abrasive - it's a very LOUD song, like Born This Way, and sometimes I find it to be a bit too repetitive. Her enunciation (?) as well sometimes irks me, the way she sings 'Larv'. 

It ranks second to last overall in terms of my personal ranking of gagz leads, only beating stupid love, which again is catchy and danceable, but also kinda reminds me of an AI generated song based on what it thinks a gaga song should be like - or kinda like a song made for a movie featuring a pop star (Ashley 0, Skye from smile 2)

[KennyRichie 1,766]

I loved Perfect Illusion since first listen and I love it till this day 

Edited November 4 by KennyRichie

[JustTea 4,214]

Its chorus was so weird first listen, I thought it was pre-chorus at first and felt so disappointing, too noisy loud vocals... 

[ReplayBoss 171]

PI is a good song it's just so out of place for the album. I don't even know if Gaga even likes it anymore or something because after Million Reasons. that was her main focus. She didn't perform it during the Super Bowl, and barely any collabs with her use PI as featured songs like in Beat Saber or Fortnite. Heck the Just Dance series choose John Wayne, a non-single, over PI as their Gaga song. It feels like PI was just an illusion all this time.

[ceminay 539]

It’s too loud. If it weren’t a single, it would be a fan favorite.

[princedeeblebleble 581]

There's a... Million reasons  jk

Personally I listen to this version when listening to my personal Joanne playlist, 

its more interesting than the kinda flat original. Considering how much they pushed it, millions reasons should have been the lead, or Diamond heart/Ayo, cause PI is really a specific listen.