Lady Gaga emerged onto the pop music scene in 2008 with her explosive and awe-inspiring debut album, “The Fame.” Known for her jaw-dropping performances and shocking outfit choices, Gaga rapidly made a name for herself, backed by loyal fans known as her “Little Monsters.”
After releasing four more studio albums, including her 2016 image-altering “Joanne” and starring role in 2018’s “A Star is Born,” Gaga went into an unpredictable direction but returns with her sixth studio album, “Chromatica,” which released May 29. She brings listeners back to the glittery and hyperactive world of her debut, saying that writing “Chromatica” was therapeutic after the emotional toll composing “Joanne” took on her.
“Chromatica” was originally supposed to be released on April 10 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Featuring collaborations with Elton John, Ariana Grande and Blackpink, Lady Gaga offers a variety of voices to help her return to her musical roots. Lyrically, Gaga shows off her culturally-conscious and spellbinding craft by addressing topics related to mental health, self-empowerment and coping with hardship.
“Stupid Love” is the album’s defining hit. Accompanied by a colorful music video that reminds fans of her 2008 “Poker Face” days, this track’s revitalization of Gaga’s electro-pop sound is hypnotic, catchy and addicting.
The music video for “Rain on Me,” the album’s second single, opens with Gaga crawling through drenched streets with a sword lodged in her thigh—a lavish and dramatic image that exceeds expectations for a Gaga and Grande collaboration. Ariana Grande’s vocals complement Gaga’s beautifully in a musical riot of perseverance and hope. Fun, lighthearted and powerful, Gaga describes this track as a “celebration of all tears” through devastating times.
The third single, “Sour Candy,” is upbeat and exciting, but it nonetheless veers into darker places. Lyrics like, “I’m hard on the outside / But if you give me time / Then I could make time for your love,” are only the beginning of songs to come that address trauma, addiction and societal pressure. Part of what makes this album invigorating is Gaga’s unreserved endeavors into her personal vulnerabilities.
The three instrumental tracks that divide the album into its respective sections, “Chromatica I,” “Chromatica II” and “Chromatica III,” interweave moments of musical clarity into the album. Each instrumental sets the tone for upcoming songs, seamlessly transitioning between somber notes and artful production.
Other tracks, like “1000 Doves” and “Sine From Above,” do not disregard the significant musical and personal change Gaga underwent during her “Joanne” days. In her traditionally sincere and irresistible style, Gaga intones, “I need you to listen to me, please don’t leave me / I’m not perfect yet, but I’ll keep trying,” which lends gravity and honesty to her work.
This line from “1000 Doves,” my favorite line of the album, speaks to so much more than just Gaga’s openness. Another line from the second verse of “1000 Doves” also applies to societal problems, current turmoil and global anxiety: “I am human, invisibly bleeding.”
Perhaps the most memorable aspect of this album is its nostalgic quality. With its sense of familiarity during uncertain times, “Chromatica” revives Gaga’s famous dance-pop beats with a new purpose. Gaga has come far from her meat dress days and has shown nothing but resilience through those changes. “Chromatica” is not only a cosmic album full of stardust songs and simmering messages, but also one of rediscovery and realization.
