Why MAYHEM special?

[ANVEEROY 61,890]

Here are some questions for all of you: What makes MAYHEM so special to you, and why do you think it has a universal appeal since Born This Way? Why do Little Monsters and others feel that MAYHEM is an album you can listen to from beginning to end? Why doesn't it make you exhausted? What is the "IT" factor?

[NUTELLA 14,193]

6 minutes ago, ANVEEROY said:

why do you think it has a universal appeal since Born This Way

Because it's her first solid album since then

[ANVEEROY 61,890]

Just now, NUTELLA said:

Because it's her first solid album since then

Why didn't Chromatica succeed? People say it's a very safe and generalized route... ok, it didn't connect with LMs; why not with the general public?

[NUTELLA 14,193]

Just now, ANVEEROY said:

Why didn't Chromatica succeed? People say it's a very safe and generalized route... ok, it didn't connect with LMs; why not with the general public?

Because it was the flat soda of music

[bylukapekic 1,022]

Because she delivered the most amazing sound since BTW, a lot of different genres, and it’s not like any other album she ever did. 

Same goes for the era promo.

[Ladle Ghoulash 30,429]

While I think she’s made great music since BTW, I think MAYHEM feels like the first time since then that she’s been firing on all cylinders (if not perhaps performing at a higher level than before). It’s hooks on hooks, grooves on grooves, phenomenal vocals, stellar instrumental work, excellent visuals + concepts for the live performances. Perhaps my fave era (or at least neck and neck with BTW). 

[ANVEEROY 61,890]

9 minutes ago, NUTELLA said:

Because it was the flat soda of music

but the chart is full of soda of music, why Chroma then failed? 

[ANVEEROY 61,890]

37 minutes ago, bylukapekic said:

Because she delivered the most amazing sound since BTW, a lot of different genres, and it’s not like any other album she ever did. 

Same goes for the era promo.

 

34 minutes ago, Ladle Ghoulash said:

While I think she’s made great music since BTW, I think MAYHEM feels like the first time since then that she’s been firing on all cylinders (if not perhaps performing at a higher level than before). It’s hooks on hooks, grooves on grooves, phenomenal vocals, stellar instrumental work, excellent visuals + concepts for the live performances. Perhaps my fave era (or at least neck and neck with BTW). 

Quality + Promotion = works?

[Ladle Ghoulash 30,429]

Just now, ANVEEROY said:

 

Quality + Promotion = works?

I think it’s quality + promotion, but the era also feels like Gaga’s “getting her flowers” moment, too. I think, leading up to MAYHEM, Gaga’s impact on pop was more heavily appreciated and I think there was a lot of latent appetite for a “return to form” bombastic pop record, so I think timing also played a role. MAYHEM feels like the culmination of so much of the work she’s done building up goodwill among the GP, establishing broader credibility as a musician, exploring different sides of her creator persona, and finally mastering them both functionally and commercially through her commitment to the success and visibility of the album.