Why did I review the album? My sisters were making fun of me and decided to tell me what kind
of music I would/would not like, so I listened to this out of spite.
Did I like it? Yes
Will I listen again? Yes
Her songs have poppy
beats but I wouldn't quite call her pop. She's one of those that are kind of
hard to categorize. It’s an electronic sound that I’m a little wary of, but
only because I’m not used to it. I like this album (and her) because she takes
herself and her music seriously. So, even songs that are on the surface, pretty
stupid, (Swine) have some magic in them and offer something to like.
Gaga has taught me that
fun in music doesn't have to be stupid. A lot of pop just does that on its own,
and assumes it has to be. The only songs to break that trend recently are:
Bruno Mars- Treasure
Ariana Grande- Popular
Song
It can be done with a
little effort, but who wants to try?
If I were to rate this
album purely on lyrical content, innovation and variety, it would receive a score
in the high 80’s, but my hatred for electronic sound drops the score and lowers
the album to a listen and decide. But do not let my prejudices stop you from
supporting the album, its lyrical content is superb, and sports wit only Lady
Gaga can deliver. Gaga has earned a new fan.
If you like electric pop this album is for you. It might even force you to think.
My Favs
3. Mary Jane Holland
2. Artpop
1. Do What You Want
Overall Rating: 82 with a
recommendation to Listen then
decide
Aura- The beginning definitely surprised me, but this track is a good
indication of what to expect from a Gaga track, something unexpected, sprinkled
with a dose of innovation, coupled with a few moments of brilliance. My favorite
part is from 1:42-2:10 and reappears from 3:03-3:30. In the song she repeatedly
asks if the audience would like to know the person behind the aura. I’ve been
trying to understand what she meant by the comment. Is she saying that by
listening to her music we can peak into the thing in life that are most
important to her? Or, is she saying something entirely different? Not sure, but
I’d love ask her. 3.5/5
Venus- Venus is the Roman God of love and sex. This song boasts
some clever wordplay. Blastoff references the need for a rocket to get to the
planet Venus. The take me to your leader is a reference to the fact that Venus
is an alien planet. There is a number of other instances of double meanings
hidden in lyrics. 3.5/5
G.U.Y.- The line about switching positions is very clever because
it references the many different positions in sex, but also indicates her
desire to switch places with a male, citing their position of power and control.
Those undertones allude a deeper issues within American society. 3.5/5
Sexxx Dreams- Leave it to Lady Gaga to make a song about wet dreams.
To her credit she manages to add a bit of comedy and flare 3/5
Jewels N’ Drugs- She definitely tried to take risks and do something different.
Even though I don't think it worked out as well as it could have, I respected
her for trying and still like the song, but not as much as I could have. If she
included herself and two of those rappers it would have been great, but instead
she used herself and like four other people, all of whom have different styles
and kind of made the song seem a bit unfocused. I respect the attempt to branch
out and explore. 3.5/5
MANiCURE- The last 30 seconds of this song are the best because it essentially
transforms into an instrumental. 3/5
Do What You Want- I’m not sure what inspired
this song, but I LOVE this song. It have pieces of MJ all over it. It’s not as
obvious as Take Back the Night (Justin Timberlake), but it is there. From the
way she sings it to the beat. Nice to hear R. Kelly in a song too. Gave it a
different feel and made the song stand out even more from the rest of the
album. There’s a message that I appreciate too. She believes that you can say
anything about her body (essentially, do what you want with it), but you cannot
affect her thoughts, feelings, or music because those are her own. My second favorite
song of 2013. 5/5 stars
Artpop- I must acknowledge two things:
I may be thinking too deeply into
this song
My prejudices are probably
influencing my view of this song (more than usual).
With that in mind, I wonder if
she’s suggesting that Pop has the potential to become a meaningful art form.
Over the years pop has degraded into a formulaic and soulless art form. But,
through her music she can make pop meaningful.
Also, the “Artpop can mean
anything” line is another interesting topic. Art, by nature can truthfully mean
one thing to someone else, but evoke a completely different reaction in someone
else. Therefore, even if she meant her work to evoke a certain
theme/meaning/emotion, the audience brings its prejudices and experience when analyzing
art. So, she cannot give an exact meaning for her music because in reality, no
answer exists.
This song is a perfect example.
Maybe Gaga’s “Artpop can mean anything” line was truly a throwaway line she
included for fun, but my experience with music brought forth connections that I
made with the music. 5/5
Swine-funny and charming 3/5
Donatella- Is this just a song about making fun of the upper class,
or am I missing the point? Either way, its funny3.5/5
Fashion!- This song seems like an extension of the last song. It uses clothes and fashion to make fun of a
selected group. Why have two songs that are about the same topic next to each other?
A track listing mistake. However, it’s cleverer than its predecessor. 3.5/5
Mary Jane Holland- The song’s concert setup is original and thoroughly
surprised. There are plenty of lyrics with double meaning I did some research
and Mary Jane Holland is Lady Gaga’s pot smoking alter ego (the name is clever).
4/5
Dope- Again, Gaga’s willingness to expand from her base is admirable.
But, I have mixed feelings about this song. While researching Mary Jane Holland,
I learned she is/was addicted to marijuana and this song is a testament to
that. I felt like I was eavesdropping on a conversation I should not hear. 4/5
Gypsy- The first minute of this song is beautiful. As I understand,
gypsies are typically nomadic people, and Gaga makes repeated references to
this throughout the song. The brewing relationship between the couple is compelling.
The sound for this track is eerily reminiscent of Celine Dion’s I Drove All
Night. 4/5
Applause- I usually hate songs like these, but not this time. I was
pulled in by Gaga’s energy and wit. A song made for the radio. 3/5
Originally reviewed December 6, 2013
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