Gaga’s Song Structure

[Notorious Bean 8,519]

1 hour ago, MACATL said:

I will say that I get what you’re saying regarding letting songs “breathe.”  Madonna has always been good at sinking into the groove - Justify My Love is a good example.  Im not sure this is in Gaga’s wheelhouse. She’s just too bombastic and on-the-nose with her approach to vocal performance to sit back and relax into a song.  I think this is part of the reason Sexxx Dreams just didn’t hit on record.  I think Madonna would have lost herself in a song like that and the production would have been much more premium.  

That's a really good point about her vocal style. She does love a big moment. Whereas Madonna’s vocals isn’t as strong, but I feel like that sometimes works in Madonna’s favour as she can get the music to do the talking sometimes. I guess it’s just preference 

Do you think if she worked with someone like Stuart Price or Orbit she could be convinced to try this style? Or do you think it would just feel wrong 

37 minutes ago, gagzus said:

I think it’s also down to the fact Madonna lacks the vocal ability that Gaga has, but for a while Gaga felt like she needed to prove she was a great singer so she sort of over sang on records. The original version of Sex Dreams at Swinefest was good BUT it also felt a bit too bare at the same time. 

Gaga is very much in her own groove on her records now, even allowing more vocal editing and experimentation unlike years ago. I mean the fact she did Requiem with vocal modulation when I know for a fact she would’ve shoved it off back in like 2012 as a restriction of her art shows she’s trying to experiment. 

I think you’re bang on and I REALLY hope she she wants to experiment this way, I notice sometimes we complain a lot that the songs are so short, (like sour candy, perfect illusion) so when I heard the Requim version of DWAS I was obsessed with how different it was and how it took its time, it was soooo good

edit:

I actually think that’s why we all loved the Requiem DWAS so much is because it took its time and let the song breathe it hit so much harder!!

Edited 21 hours ago by Notorious Bean

[ManMan 3,815]

1 hour ago, AVeryGagaHolyDick said:

Telephone is probably her most unusual song in structure 

Verse 1

Dance break

Verse 2

Chorus

Post chorus A

Post chorus B

“rap” section

Verse 3 (sounds like a bridge)

Dance buildup

Chorus

Post chorus A

Post Chorus B

Outro

Just Dance structure also chef kiss

[NightcallSmile 99]

I totally get we're you're coming from. She should never entirely forego pop bangers from an album but I think next record she should experiment more, she's in a great position to do so. And Requiem shows she might be interested in doing it...

[Jarvin 1,487]

1 hour ago, Ladle Ghoulash said:

It does start with the post chorus hook, but it’s not even the only song on MAYHEM that does that tbh. DCT, SOAM, ZB, and LD all also start with the post chorus hooks. 

You are right. This topic is a bit odd. The best example is Bad Romance. It literally starts with the hook from the chorus ‘ooh ooooh oooh’. So it doesnt start with a verse, but with the chorus its hook. So no, Gaga does experiment with her schemes a lot. However, the classic Gaga formula is to be found within these hooks;

Juda- Judaaa, p-p-p-poker…., papa, paparazzzi… abracadabra abracadbraaaaaa

Gaga is the Queen of repetition and  hooks. Basically all her biggest hits contain that gibberish;

Judas, Bad Romance, Paparazzi, Pokerface, Abracadabra.

 

icon of music.

[Notorious Bean 8,519]

4 hours ago, Jarvin said:

You are right. This topic is a bit odd. The best example is Bad Romance. It literally starts with the hook from the chorus ‘ooh ooooh oooh’. So it doesnt start with a verse, but with the chorus its hook. So no, Gaga does experiment with her schemes a lot. However, the classic Gaga formula is to be found within these hooks;

Juda- Judaaa, p-p-p-poker…., papa, paparazzzi… abracadabra abracadbraaaaaa

Gaga is the Queen of repetition and  hooks. Basically all her biggest hits contain that gibberish;

Judas, Bad Romance, Paparazzi, Pokerface, Abracadabra.

 

icon of music.

I'm just saying I wanna hear her try a song without relying on that formula once. Not because the formula is bad, but because she can do anything. The start of bad romance she still goes Oh oh Oh Oooh, same as OoooH I’m in love with Judas, Judas. I’m saying what if Gaga did a song like I Feel Love or something in that way

[Head Empty 26,850]

7 hours ago, AVeryGagaHolyDick said:

Telephone is probably her most unusual song in structure 

Verse 1

Dance break

Verse 2

Chorus

Post chorus A

Post chorus B

“rap” section

Verse 3 (sounds like a bridge)

Dance buildup

Chorus

Post chorus A

Post Chorus B

Outro

Aura probably being a close second

Spoken word (?) intro
Instrumental breakdown
Laughter?
Hard drop into first verse
Chorus
Second verse
Breakdown
Second chorus
Outro

[Lextyr97 20,775]

I agree and post Mayhem, it’s one of my only withstanding complaints about her discography. Yes she changes it sometimes, but I wish she would do it for most of an album. Some others not mentioned on page 1 are Come to Mama, Killah, The Queen, and Electric Chapel. Shout out to Born This Way for at least having WAY more elements in the songs (verse switch ups, guitar solos, long outros, breakdowns, etc). Mamma just really needs to make a rock album and let go of that structure. I want to see it

[MaybeKermit 5,196]

I 100% agree and mentioned it myself many times on this site throughout the years when talking about Gaga vs Madonna

I can connect with Madonna’s music on a deeper levelthan Gaga’s. Don’t get me wrong: Gaga is my QUEEN and I love love love everything she does, but Madonna’s music speaks to my soul. Even songs like “In this Life?”, are so well structured and detailed. She really takes her time to get the songs to certain points, without rushing, unlike Gaga.

I think Gaga looks at her music as “100% pop at all times”, which results in the more generic type of song structures

[AVeryGagaHolyDick 31,594]

5 hours ago, Jarvin said:

 

Gaga is the Queen of repetition and  hooks. Basically all her biggest hits contain that gibberish;

Judas, Bad Romance, Paparazzi, Pokerface, Abracadabra.

 

icon of music.

Just Dance, Telephone, Alejandro, Rain On Me and Shallow too!

[Ziggy 13,891]

9 hours ago, MACATL said:

I will say that I get what you’re saying regarding letting songs “breathe.”  Madonna has always been good at sinking into the groove - Justify My Love is a good example.  Im not sure this is in Gaga’s wheelhouse. She’s just too bombastic and on-the-nose with her approach to vocal performance to sit back and relax into a song.  I think this is part of the reason Sexxx Dreams just didn’t hit on record.  I think Madonna would have lost herself in a song like that and the production would have been much more premium.  

When they compared Sexxx Dreams to a Janet Jackson track, I had the same response. Her and Janet both REALLY revered the dance genres they played in and similarly, she'd let Sexxx Dreams be RAUNCHY.

Edited 14 hours ago by Ziggy

[Ziggy 13,891]

4 minutes ago, MaybeKermit said:

I 100% agree and mentioned it myself many times on this site throughout the years when talking about Gaga vs Madonna

I can connect with Madonna’s music on a deeper levelthan Gaga’s. Don’t get me wrong: Gaga is my QUEEN and I love love love everything she does, but Madonna’s music speaks to my soul. Even songs like “In this Life?”, are so well structured and detailed. She really takes her time to get the songs to certain points, without rushing, unlike Gaga.

I think Gaga looks at her music as “100% pop at all times”, which results in the more generic type of song structures

The Gaga thing is she likes her albums to be as pop as possible for whatever reason, which is why every live video people go "WHY IS THE ALBUM VERSION WORSE?". Madonna changes her stuff for tours, too (better imo), but she doesn't hold herself or the tracks back for the album, like you said. Idk why Gaga's like that, though. Kinda shocking given how much she likes breaking structure and routines when performing

[MaybeKermit 5,196]

Just now, Ziggy said:

The Gaga thing is she likes her albums to be as pop as possible for whatever reason, which is why every live video people go "WHY IS THE ALBUM VERSION WORSE?". Madonna changes her stuff for tours, too (better imo), but she doesn't hold herself or the tracks back for the album, like you said. Idk why Gaga's like that, though. Kinda shocking given how much she likes breaking structure and routines when performing

Yeah I mean she does what she wants tho, at the end of the day she is the artist, and we are the audience… but I do also thin kthat Gaga had everything what it takes to push herself and her art even further, but she always holds back for some reason …. 

maybe it’s also the lack of (life) experience compared to someone as Madonna? (gaga had her own struggles and traumas and good moments ofc, but it’s no secret that Madonna has lived 50 lives til now and has always reinvited herself in every way, not just album cycle to album cycle)

[Notorious Bean 8,519]

10 hours ago, MaybeKermit said:

I 100% agree and mentioned it myself many times on this site throughout the years when talking about Gaga vs Madonna

I can connect with Madonna’s music on a deeper levelthan Gaga’s. Don’t get me wrong: Gaga is my QUEEN and I love love love everything she does, but Madonna’s music speaks to my soul. Even songs like “In this Life?”, are so well structured and detailed. She really takes her time to get the songs to certain points, without rushing, unlike Gaga.

I think Gaga looks at her music as “100% pop at all times”, which results in the more generic type of song structures

I couldn’t agree more with what you said, you  get what I mean! I feel like we can get through Gaga’s discography so quickly - just rushing through, “In This Life?” Is so detailed! And you can have a bit of time to enjoy the music for longer.

10 hours ago, Lextyr97 said:

I agree and post Mayhem, it’s one of my only withstanding complaints about her discography. Yes she changes it sometimes, but I wish she would do it for most of an album. Some others not mentioned on page 1 are Come to Mama, Killah, The Queen, and Electric Chapel. Shout out to Born This Way for at least having WAY more elements in the songs (verse switch ups, guitar solos, long outros, breakdowns, etc). Mamma just really needs to make a rock album and let go of that structure. I want to see it

It’s one of my only complaints about her discography too. Everything just feels so short. I only realised this like recently tbh. 

I never really realised that about Born This Way. It does have a different formula to the rest of her music, Black Jesus + Amen Fashion has such a long intro and bridge which is why I love that song so much 

[TheARTPOPball 1,605]

The Queen is different than this 

 

[imogen2133 517]

21 hours ago, Ladle Ghoulash said:

And thank god, tbh. We love to hear a girl SANG

This is true and I am glad that Gaga lets her voice shine on her songs and obviously Madonna is not really able to do that (as in loud and passionate vocals where she can play with her voice the closest she has with that is Ray Of Light) but I do wish Gaga would step back a bit and let the instrumental take over sometimes or tone it down slightly because she has a tendency to over sing now where it overpowers the song I think Lovedrug is a good example of the perfect balance where both work and one does not overpower the other and Disease works because her matches the production. There are a few examples of her letting the production shine though (The Queen, Highway Unicorn, The Edge Of Glory, Paper Gangsta, You And I, Electric Chapel) and I wish she would do that more or at least find more of a balance.

Edited 36 minutes ago by imogen2133