Gaga's album formula

[PartySick 153,095]

I noticed Gaga's albums (aside from TFM) tend to hit some of the same points with openers and closers  

You've got the song that introduces you to the album's aesthetic. These songs do a perfect job of setting the tone for their respective albums and I think if someone were to ask "what kind of music is on *insert album here*" they're usually the best answers.

Just Dance, Marry the Night, Aura, Diamond Heart, Alice, Disease

Then you've got the bops  these are the ones you swing your hips to, jump around the room, "yasss" at the top of your lungs, just lose it. All of them are singles or meant to be singles.

Poker Face, Born This Way, Venus, A-Yo, Stupid Love, Abracadabra

The second to last song always feels like a wrap up song. Spiritually the last real entry on the album. They tend to be a little more laid back and built for just nodding your head or putting up a drink.

Summerboy (depends on the version), Yoü and I, Gypsy, Grigio Girls, 1000 Doves, The Beast

Then the final song that feels less like part of the album and more like a send off to the experience you just had listening to the album. The bow on top, if you will. Especially true of Applause which could literally be the closing credits song for ARTPOP  

Disco Heaven (again, depends on your version), The Edge of Glory, Applause, Just Another Day, Babylon, Blade of Grass

Also, this isn't part of it but it's interesting how often track 9 is my favorite or second favorite from the albums. Black Jesus, Swine, Come to Mama, Enigma, LoveDrug (if you include CSTH). I think 9 is my lucky number  

Thank you for coming to my TedTalk, enjoy Gagachella week dos

[Ladle Ghoulash 19,430]

7 minutes ago, PartySick said:

Then the final song that feels less like part of the album and more like a send off to the experience you just had listening to the album. 

Disco Heaven (again, depends on your version), The Edge of Glory, Applause, Just Another Day, Babylon, Blade of Grass

Oh the pettiness of it all 

[PartySick 153,095]

10 minutes ago, Ladle Ghoulash said:

Oh the pettiness of it all 

Listen  

It works with DWAS too kinda but Blade of Grass doesn't hit the same way The Beast does so...adding that single to Mayhem throws off the whole groove she's had since 2008  

[Ladle Ghoulash 19,430]

4 minutes ago, PartySick said:

Listen  

It works with DWAS too kinda but Blade of Grass doesn't hit the same way The Beast does so...adding that single to Mayhem throws off the whole groove she's had since 2008  

See, I actually think DWAS is much more of a “end credits/cherry on top” song than BOG, but I respect the commitment to the hateration of it all 🫡

[Anderson123 37,457]

Joanne has a double end song depends on the mood you're in. Angel Down has the depressing side while Just Another Day goes for a more "It's going to be ok in the end" Applause/Babylon type of ending.

I've noticed this formula too and absolutely love when she opens an album with a strong song which doesn't always have to be the lead single but she knows how to set the mood in. She also has some amazing 4-5 track run that go HARD.

[Anderson123 37,457]

18 minutes ago, Ladle Ghoulash said:

See, I actually think DWAS is much more of a “end credits/cherry on top” song than BOG, but I respect the commitment to the hateration of it all 🫡

Blade of Grass feels like a good ending song with that sound at the end while Die With A Smile serves as an Encore with that guitar. 

[PartySick 153,095]

22 minutes ago, Anderson123 said:

Joanne has a double end song depends on the mood you're in. Angel Down has the depressing side while Just Another Day goes for a more "It's going to be ok in the end" Applause/Babylon type of ending.

I've noticed this formula too and absolutely love when she opens an album with a strong song which doesn't always have to be the lead single but she knows how to set the mood in. She also has some amazing 4-5 track run that go HARD.

Maybe it's a bit of the theater coming through but she really knows how to build an album  

Any alterations I've ever made to her tracklists have been switching songs in the middle for a slightly different flow (like having Zombieboy go into Shadow of a Man)

Openers, closers, and the songs closest to them are always spot on

[Anderson123 37,457]

32 minutes ago, PartySick said:

Maybe it's a bit of the theater coming through but she really knows how to build an album  

Any alterations I've ever made to her tracklists have been switching songs in the middle for a slightly different flow (like having Zombieboy go into Shadow of a Man)

Openers, closers, and the songs closest to them are always spot on

All of her albums have had a great tracklist order. The only one that I keep changing stuff to is The Fame because it starts really good, middle part is fine but doesn’t really build up to a great end like the others. I’d have liked something like Again Again and Brown Eyes to close but now that I think about it Disco Heaven kinda works too. Summerboy just thrown in there to me is like  but have to understand that it was her debut. 

[PartySick 153,095]

20 minutes ago, Anderson123 said:

All of her albums have had a great tracklist order. The only one that I keep changing stuff to is The Fame because it starts really good, middle part is fine but doesn’t really build up to a great end like the others. I’d have liked something like Again Again and Brown Eyes to close but now that I think about it Disco Heaven kinda works too. Summerboy just thrown in there to me is like  but have to understand that it was her debut. 

I'm just sitting here wanting Retro Dance Freak to be officially available  

The Fame has always struck me more as a compilation of powerful debut jams while every other album follows their own respective theatrical themes but you can see the seeds of it in Fame

[Nagini 699]

6 minutes ago, PartySick said:

I'm just sitting here wanting Retro Dance Freak to be officially available  

The Fame has always struck me more as a compilation of powerful debut jams while every other album follows their own respective theatrical themes but you can see the seeds of it in Fame

Completely agree. The Fame is a top to bottom perfect album, no skips.

Disco Heaven & Retro Dance Freak>>>> 

The balance of the album (outside of singles)...... Vanity (still counts), Brown Eyes, BDR, Money Honey, Starstruck, Brown Eyes, I Like It Rough.. like this is a synth pop music lover's dream album lol 

Edited yesterday at 03:53 AM by Nagini

[PartySick 153,095]

3 minutes ago, Nagini said:

Completely agree. The Fame is a top to bottom perfect album, no skips.

Disco Heaven & Retro Dance Freak>>>> 

The balance of the album (outside of singles)...... Vanity (still counts), Brown Eyes, BDR, Money Honey, Starstruck, Brown Eyes, I Like It Rough.. like this is a synth pop music lover's dream album lol 

I remember one reaction video where the dude said it felt like the album was crafted so that no matter what singles they picked, she was bound to strike it big  

It ranks near the bottom in my personal listing but I have no trouble admitting it's easily, objectively, one of the top 20, maybe top 10 pop albums ever made

[Nagini 699]

2 minutes ago, PartySick said:

I remember one reaction video where the dude said it felt like the album was crafted so that no matter what singles they picked, she was bound to strike it big  

It ranks near the bottom in my personal listing but I have no trouble admitting it's easily, objectively, one of the top 20, maybe top 10 pop albums ever made

Friendly reminder to please report to your Spotify and stream Mayhem. Thanks.

[zevthepaparazzo 140]

43 minutes ago, PartySick said:

I'm just sitting here wanting Retro Dance Freak to be officially available  

*laughs in australian*

[Oriane 20,480]

Mostly agree but Disease doesn't fit the vibe of the rest of the album to me 

[PartySick 153,095]

1 hour ago, Oriane said:

Mostly agree but Disease doesn't fit the vibe of the rest of the album to me 

It definitely sets the tone imo

If the whole album is about the mayhem inside of herself then imagining Disease as a song she's singing to herself is spot on