Lady Gaga’s long-awaited return is finally here. On March 7th, 2025, Lady Gaga released her seventh studio album, Mayhem. Mayhem consists of 14 tracks, three of which Gaga has released before the album.
Her first release in anticipation of the album was “Die with a Smile,” featuring Bruno Mars. It was a much-needed return from both artists who hadn’t really released much over the past two to three years. The song was an immediate hit. Its powerful and soulful lyrics, alongside the perfect blending of vocals, make this song a masterpiece. Not only did it go viral, but it also broke the record for the fastest song to reach up to two billion streams in only 200 days. It also won the Grammy for Best Pop Duo Performance of the Year. Undoubtedly, it is one of Gaga’s best songs, as it remains one of the most listened to songs worldwide according to Billboard.
Her second single release, “Disease,” was a completely different genre than the first track of the album. With a more dark electro-pop sound, “Disease” explores obsession and the feelings of being consumed and drained by a person — a relationship that is making them sick. Lady Gaga also delivers a great range of vocals, from soaring belts to whispered sighs. It became another instant hit and made fans excited for what was to come with the rest of the album.
Lady Gaga’s third and final single release was “Abracadabra,” probably one of my favorites of the whole album. “Abracadabra” came with a visually captivating music video; the choreography was phenomenal, and Lady Gaga’s performance was one for the books. The song gained popularity on TikTok as users recreated the iconic dance moves of the extremely catchy song. It also remained in the top 10 worldwide charts on Billboard. In my opinion, the song did so well because it had similar undertones to the dark electro-pop genre of her first two studio albums, The Fame and Born This Way. “Abracadabra” did the job by providing fans with an appetizer for the full-course meal that is Mayhem.
Lady Gaga’s approach with this album was definitely to bring dark electro-pop into the mainstream as the tracklist includes many songs of the genre, like “Garden of Eden” and “Perfect Celebrity.” Both songs touch on important subjects but are sure to give you a surge of energy. “Perfect Celebrity” dives into the trials and tribulations of being in the spotlight. It talks about how Lady Gaga was never ready for the fame she desired and how her personality and music can garner a lot of attention, sometimes unwelcomed. Receiving hate made her music stand out and made her more popular in the end. “Garden of Eden” uses the biblical paradise to create a narrative that it can be easy to lose oneself to temptation and to take a bite of the forbidden fruit. The song doesn’t dwell on the consequences of succumbing to desire but more so celebrates the thrill of the moment and addresses that although something may seem bad, it may not always be what it appears to be. It has also become the most popular song of the album so far, and it is hinted that there will be a music video soon.
My favorite song of the whole album is “LoveDrug,” which adheres to the duality of love and its addictive nature. With her evocative lyrics and haunting melodies, the song delivers a track that can resonate with anyone who has felt the highs and lows of love. Plus, it’s extremely catchy.
Despite the overwhelming dark electro-pop influences in the album, Mayhem also features some more mellow songs that have a similar vibe to “Die with a Smile.” Tracks like “Vanish into You” and “Blade of Grass” serve as love tributes that reference her love for her fiancé Michael Polanski. “Blade of Grass” touches on how the artist got engaged, using the imagery of her finger wrapped with a blade of grass to represent an engagement ring. It’s a sweet story turned into a lovely song, representing the idea that true love doesn’t need to be commended with an expensive ring. “Vanish Into You” also touches on the ideals of love, how one’s love for another can be so strong that you simply want to disappear into the person you love the most.
All in all, Mayhem is an absolute masterpiece, merging dark elements with electronic beats and pop tones. No doubt it will go down as one of the best albums of Gaga’s career and of this year. If you haven’t listened to it yet, I recommend you do, as it will surely energize you and immerse you in a new world.
