Pop music has changed significantly since 2008. The flashy, glitter-covered dance floors have been replaced with a cleaner, more polished aesthetic. Powerful, loud singing has given way to softer, breathier tones. Social media has also altered the perception of stardom, making superstars seem more accessible rather than untouchable icons. Although artists like Charli XCX and Chappell Roan are reviving a retro, edgy kind of fame, the late 2000s feel like a distant era in both sound and image. This shift raises an important question: Can an artist who peaked 15 years ago still find a place in today’s music scene?
Lady Gaga answers that question with a resounding “yes” through her latest album, MAYHEM. However, she is no longer the same artist she was in 2008, 2011, or 2013. In her early years, she thrived on controversy, whether it was the infamous meat dress at the VMAs or her dramatic egg-hatching entrance at the Grammys. Over time, her image softened as she explored acting and ventured into jazz and soft rock. Her last album, Chromatica, brought back some of her signature flamboyance, but the music felt polished and lacked the raw energy of her earlier work. Today’s audiences, accustomed to overexposure, are less easily shocked by theatrical performances or strong advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights—both of which have been central to Gaga’s career.
MAYHEM marks the return of Gaga’s signature style, delivering some of her best work in over a decade. The standout track, “Abracadabra,” should have been the lead single. It captures the same high-energy, dramatic essence as “Judas” or “Bad Romance” with its infectious beat and hypnotic nonsense lyrics. While the words may not hold deep meaning, the song’s impact is all about the emotion it conveys.
Another highlight is “Perfect Celebrity,” a powerful track with an industrial-pop edge reminiscent of Courtney Love’s glam rock era. Gaga revealed in an interview that she nearly scrapped the rest of the album to pursue an electro-grunge sound but was persuaded otherwise by her fiancé, Michael Polansky. While it is unclear whether a full album in this style would have been stronger, this track brings back the fierce energy that has been missing from Gaga’s music in recent years.
MAYHEM feels like a greatest hits collection, seemingly by design. “Garden of Eden” would have fit perfectly on The Fame (2008), “Blade of Grass” aligns with Joanne (2016), and “Perfect Celebrity” echoes the experimental chaos of ARTPOP (2013). The album also introduces fresh influences. “Killah” channels a funky, David Bowie-inspired sound, while “Zombieboy” ventures into glossy disco. The unifying element across all tracks is Gaga’s powerful vocals, which stand in contrast to the current trend of breathy singing. She delivers operatic flourishes in “Abracadabra,” soars on “Vanish Into You,” and experiments with falsetto on “LoveDrug.” Regardless of production choices, her voice remains her greatest asset.
MAYHEM encapsulates what has made Lady Gaga a defining figure in pop music for over 15 years. However, the album also highlights a long-standing issue: Gaga’s image, performances, and persona often outshine the music itself. While MAYHEM proves she still has the unique spark that defines a true pop star, it also reveals some artistic inconsistencies.
The album’s second half falters in energy. Songs like “How Bad Do U Want Me” resemble outtakes from Taylor Swift’s 1989 era, “Blade of Grass” is a generic ballad, and “Don’t Call Tonight” has a weak melody that an interesting bridge fails to save. At 14 tracks, MAYHEM would have benefitted from a tighter, more focused selection of 10 songs.
Marketing may have played a role in the album’s shortcomings. Gaga teased MAYHEM as unpredictable, and while that is true, it raises questions about the promotional approach. The Paris Summer Olympics preview featured the album’s most intense, industrial tracks. The promotional images suggested a dark, horror-inspired theme, and the lead singles leaned toward bombastic dark-pop. This presentation led fans to expect a chaotic, high-energy record, yet the album does not fully commit to that concept. It remains unclear whether Gaga intended to subvert expectations or if the album’s vision was still evolving during its promotion.
Despite these inconsistencies, MAYHEM reinforces Gaga’s status as an irreplaceable force in pop music. At the iHeartRadio Innovator Award ceremony, she declared that she is “just getting started.” If that promise holds, fans have much to look forward to in the future.
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