Mayhem

Lady Gaga certainly knows how to stir up excitement.  Ahead of the announcement of her seventh studio album, she posted a cryptic countdown clock on her website that alluded to more information about LG7.  Then billboards in NYC displaying a black-and-white image of Gaga with the new album’s title, Mayhem, and release date (March 7) in red at the bottom appeared.  This dramatic unveiling was followed by an official announcement on Instagram.  

The excitement over the new project reached fever pitch when she unveiled a preview of her next single, Abracadabra, and accompanying music video in a MasterCard commercial during the 2025 Grammy Awards.  People took to social media to proclaim “MOTHER IS BACK” and create TikTok videos with perfect choreography.  Indeed, the video sees Gaga returning to her maximalist roots with extravagant fashion and sharp, frantic choreography with a simple but effective red, black and white palette.

The immediate impact of the track and its importance in the current sociopolitical climate was summed up perfectly by Glamour’s Christopher Rosa: “Abracadabra is powered by pure, animalistic adrenaline, the kind you’ll need to tackle the hardest days of your life. It’s maybe the most germane song Gaga could have released in a world that’s rapidly dissenting into madness, where so many of us feel like our very existence is being threatened”.  Unsurprisingly, Abracadabra debuted at number 1 on Billboard's Hot Dance/Pop Songs chart and recorded 4.92 million streams on Spotify on the day it was released, making it her biggest Spotify debut as a solo artist.

When talking about what fans could expect from the album, Gaga said that it “started as me facing my fear of returning to the pop music my earliest fans loved” and described the songwriting process as “resembling a shattered mirror” because “even if you can’t put the pieces back together perfectly, you can create something beautiful and whole in its own way”.  

Now, after having finally listened to it (multiple times), I can say that she certainly created something beautiful to sustain us through the chaos.  It’s giving everything that Gaga fans could ask for, a melting pot of various sounds that have defined Gaga eras - dark pop, sublime synths, dancey disco and bold ballads - while remaining fresh and edgy.

Here is my ranking of each track on the album (excluding the bonus track on the store exclusive  version, Can’t Stop The High).  I have to say this was a tough exercise because I'm obsessed with all songs that have been crafted to create spellbinding mayhem.

14 | Blade Of Grass

This is a poignant ballad and ode to her fiancé, Michael Polansky, as well as gentle comedown after the intensity of the songs preceding it.  

13 | Die With A Smile

The hugely successful and Grammy-winning duet with Bruno Mars closes out the album, announcing the party is over.

12 | Zombieboy

Craig Jenkins from Vulture describes this track as having a “Hollaback Girl — or, hey, maybe Mickey — chant with a beefy disco strut” but it loses me with the excessive electric guitars.

11 | Perfect Celebrity

The fame motif of 2009’s Paparazzi is extended on this track.  According to Billboard’s Steven Daw, “Gaga’s voice drips with venom as she rips not only into the industry, but into herself; she’s the one who wanted to be famous, after all”.

10 | The Beast

Stay Free Radio highlights Gaga’s “ability to weave mythology and metaphor into her music” which together with “the dark, cinematic production” of this song makes it “an unforgettable emotional journey”.

9 | Don’t Call Tonight

A hook-laden song with a nod to The Fame Monster, specifically Alejandro with its “don’t call…” refrain.

8 | Vanish Into You

A captivating track, combining uplifting energy with powerful lyrics and vocal perfection.

7 | Lovedrug

An 80s-inspired track reminiscent of Pat Benatar or Foreigner makes me want to head straight to the dancefloor.

6 | Killah

Striking synths, a powerful beat and plenty of sexual energy with an electronic interlude by French DJ Gesaffelstein. Loved her performance of the song on a recent episode of SNL with its OTT floor choreography.

5 | Shadow Of A Man

An steadily rising sonic wave built on synths and disco guitars, bursting into a pulsating chorus.

4 | How Bad Do You Want Me

Comparisons to Taylor Swift? A Yazoo sample? Yes please! The very things that critics have been skeptical about make it one of my favorites.

3 | Garden Of Eden

Steven Daw describes the song as an A+ pop gem that blends dark pop, “club kid vibes” and “grinding electronica”. Definitely love at first listen for me.

2 | Disease

I love when Gaga uses an extended metaphor! Disease was released in 2024 and received positive reviews from critics and fans.  It combines several genres and influences, including electropop and EDM, and showcases Gaga’s formidable vocals.

1 | Abracadabra

Infectious rhythm, thumping bass line, manic choreo and some “morta-oo-ga-ga / abbra-oo-na-na”...this is top tier Gaga! No notes.