Musically I Feel Like Gaga Gave Up on Mayhem

[LGAte 394]

I have some feelings about Mayhem that are not popular, full disclosure. But, ironically, I feel like these could have been soothed a bit if she had, (or maybe still can) push one more Mayhem single. (I'll get to that later.  )

It's not my favorite album, but I think not giving it more singles is a genuine mistake. Even if they don't chart top ten everytime, I think with this era the songs would have had slow-burn success. I think promoting Vanish Into You in the Spring after Abracadabra had been out a few months could have been a moderate-fairly large summer hit for her that could have grown in the long run as a re-performable hit for her. I think if not that, How Bad Do U Want Me would have made sense for a summer sleeper hit, especially if she somehow could have pulled in Taylor to feature on it as a surprise re-release. And I also think even Zombieboy during September/October before Halloween would have made a huge viral impact had she pulled something at VMAs like she did at the Grammys, with a surprise single release.

All of these strategies could have worked. But like....look what we got. 

The Dead Dance.

I feel like this is what we go through as fans often with her team- an exceptional world being built and then the buildings in the world sitting half-empty...not because the demand isn't there...but because the proper promotional channels weren't explored. Gaga IS a visual artist, despite the popularity of the music video, it is who she is. And even the newer pop stars are still releasing videos so the narrative that the music video is dead is a bit of an exxageration there. There 100% is a demand for visuals. And the idea that it looks desperate and cheap- who cares? It should be about art. If you're really an artist. 

People pick up on vibes more than ever and it came off to me that she didn't believe in her own hype and this is something Michael Jackson or Madonna never fell for. At the end of the day, all commercialness aside- they had a vision- they artistically executed it- and they finished it. Everytime. They didn't bail out mid-era (like everyone does nowadays) because something didn't work out commercially. 

To me it ironically cheapens the brand of an artist when they do this.

 

One last note....I will say I do believe there is still one secret gold mine left on this album/era that most would doubt me on but I think they are wrong and I think it would work: LoveDrug Summer. 

Think about it. It's a very very very good polished track. It's her "Style". It's her "Love on the Brain". It's her "Criminal". It's a late era song that screams relatable, catchy, ear-itchy gold.

[Blackout19 13,987]

maybe she is ready to go back to chromatica

[InsomniaMonster69 3,573]

8 minutes ago, LGAte said:

especially if she somehow could have pulled in Taylor to feature on it as a surprise re-release.

I’m so glad that this never happened!!! I would’ve lost all my respect for her. 
 

8 minutes ago, LGAte said:

Gaga IS a visual artist

Yes but since ARTPOP she never released more than 3 MVs for an era! (Edit: I forgot Joanne had 4 MVs - so 4 MVs for an era is her standard)
so we can call ourselves happy that we got 4 for MAYHEM

 

Edited 10 hours ago by InsomniaMonster69

[apollorowling 643]

Girl...

[Starmie25 21,002]

The MAYHEM era has been absolutely incredible! It's a VISUAL feast already.

The tour and Copacabana alone was everything and more. This whole ART OF PERSONAL CHAOS show was like 14 gothic mvs on broadway.

Traditional singles aren't what they used to be. Some fans need to realise that tbh.

I do feel had "Disease" performed better, the label may switched things around. However they were clearly satisfied with "Abracadabra" and "DWAS" doing the heavy lifting overall.

Anyways let's prepare for GOE to smash on tiktok in 2027. 

Edited 10 hours ago by Starmie25

[apollorowling 643]

Just now, Starmie25 said:

The era has been absolutely incredible. The tour and Copacabana alone was everything and more.

Mvs and traditional singles aren't what they used to be. Some fans need to realise that tbh.

I do feel had "Disease" performed better, the label may switched things around. However they were clearly satisfied with "Abracadabra" and "DWAS" doing the heavy lifting.

Yeah, It's not 2011 anymore 😂

[Lord Mayhem 2,886]

Unfortunately, we've been underserved singles and videos since the ARTPOP era...

What used to be like 5 or 6 videos per album now barely cracks 2-3. 

With this in mind, lets just imagine this isn't fully Gaga's control. Ok...then the single choices need to be SUPER intentional and the absolute best songs to promote the album.

I've always felt that Interscope, Gaga, or both truly are hit and miss (mostly miss) when it comes to choosing her singles. Some songs received videos and were never even real singles (John Wayne).

On Mayhem...Garden of Eden, Perfect Celebrity, Shadow of a Man, Vanish Into You, HBDUWM all had gp appeal and were objectively great songs. 

I just dont understand why they can't release more singles and videos ESPECIALLY foe their top major artists who earn way more than others and could easily afford to promote 2-3 more songs to really flesh out the era more. 

I feel Gaga may not want to dance as much these days...Abracadabra is probably all we are gonna get for a long time.

Maybe LG8 can be a visual album? She still hasn't done that...make it a full cinematic storyline...she can incorporate her acting skills...bring in some celeb features like Beyoncé or Bruno lol. Imagine a long ass visual album replacing a mere sequel to Telephone. That would be sick

Edited 10 hours ago by Lord Mayhem

[River 122,291]

1. The fact that she needed to make a promo deal with both Mastercard and Netflix to release 2 music videos and singles, tell u that after Disease didn't perform well, her promo budget has been cut by interscope.

2. Gagacabana and Coachella are costy, she got paid of course, but for the basics.. so any promo, outfits, dancers + outfits for them, staging, band etc. was on her and on her promo budget from interscope.

3. the tour, everything costs money.

She basically from budget pov, she can't release new singles and new videos. there's no money for that.

[LGAte 394]

2 minutes ago, InsomniaMonster69 said:

I’m so glad that this never happened!!! I would’ve lost all my respect for her. 

no you wouldn't have.  I am not a taylor fan either but it would have been a funny pop culture moment. If she can work with R. Kelly and you forgive her, I'm sure you can tolerate billionaire Swifty. 

 

3 minutes ago, InsomniaMonster69 said:

Yes but since ARTPOP she never released more than 3 MVs for an era! 
so we can call ourselves happy that we got 4 for MAYHEM

 

The Dead Dance HARDLY counts. Die With A Smile does not either.

We got two proper CANON Mayhem mood-boarded videos for this era.

When the album was musically and sonically planned out The Dead Dance and Die With A Smile were conditional attachments. 

[Starmie25 21,002]

20 minutes ago, Lord Mayhem said:

On Mayhem...Garden of Eden, Perfect Celebrity, Shadow of a Man, Vanish Into You, HBDUWM all had gp appeal and were objectively great songs. 

VIY, yes. 

The others sadly "no".

HBDYWM was a region exclusive single and it didn't exactly catch on. The fan faves like "Zombieboy" and "Perfect Celebrity" also struggle in streams at this current moment. Shame.

[apollorowling 643]

Most artists don't release so much singles since streaming... Unless you're that one blonde girl that I won't say her name cause It's like calling Lord Voldemort in here 😂😂😂

[LGAte 394]

1 minute ago, River said:

1. The fact that she needed to make a promo deal with both Mastercard and Netflix to release 2 music videos and singles, tell u that after Disease didn't perform well, her promo budget has been cut by interscope.

2. Gagacabana and Coachella are costy, she got paid of course, but for the basics.. so any promo, outfits, dancers + outfits for them, staging, band etc. was on her and on her promo budget from interscope.

3. the tour, everything costs money.

She basically from budget pov, she can't release new singles and new videos. there's no money for that.

she's worth 900M and is engaged to a tech billionaire.

I think she could have afforded a set, a weho gay that knew how to edit, and a twink with a tiktok account who knew how to call the influencers for at least one more single  She owns a friggin makeup brand and MJs entire clothing collection. It's not like she has her Lexus parked in the Khia Asylum. 

[apollorowling 643]

Just now, LGAte said:

she's worth 900M and is engaged to a tech billionaire.

I think she could have afforded a set, a weho gay that knew how to edit, and a twink with a tiktok account who knew how to call the influencers for at least one more single  She owns a friggin makeup brand and MJs entire clothing collection. It's not like she has her Lexus parked in the Khia Asylum. 

Or maybe people are never satisfied 👀

[LGAte 394]

10 minutes ago, Blackout19 said:

maybe she is ready to go back to chromatica

I'd love Babylon getting the Cruel Summer treatment. 

[LGAte 394]

2 minutes ago, apollorowling said:

Or maybe people are never satisfied 👀

I mean. Nah. I think people just want to enjoy more of what they already liked. That's it. It's actually not that personal in that sense. If someone likes something- they want more of it. That is human nature.