ARTPOP

ARTPOP is my favorite Gaga album, hands down. It’s loud, weird, glamorous, and completely unapologetic — and that’s exactly why it works. This album feels like Gaga at her most fearless, blending art, pop, fashion, and attitude into something that still feels exciting years later. The title track sets the tone perfectly, and songs like “G.U.Y.”, “Swine”, and “Donatella” are absolute standouts for me. Each one brings its own energy, whether it’s theatrical, aggressive, or dripping in camp. There’s a confidence here that feels raw and unfiltered, and I love that it doesn’t try to smooth itself out for mass approval. This album isn’t background music — it’s a statement. If you love pop that takes risks and doesn’t ask for permission, ARTPOP delivers from start to finish.

I have to admit that when I watched Gaga perform during the album release I was left disappointed and unimpressed. The performances were loaded with vocals to the point that it made you wanna shut her up!!! Yet I still went ahead and bought the album with very low expectations...after my first listen I was WOWED!!! Without the excessive vocals, or the spasmic performances most of the songs were either amazing or impressive. In a few words, the album is an eclectic mix of style yet it has its own personality and voice from start to end. Neither Aura nor Venus are easy on the ears but on the 5th or 6th time you listen to them, you get them! it's the battle between the dark and the pop-diva/whorish side of Gaga. G.U.Y, is one is my favorite ones, it took me back to Love Game with an amazing game of lyrics that I still wonder why wasn't this one been released as a single. Sexxx Dreams is another pop-gem, simple, catchy, sticky. Gaga experiences with rap on Jewels and Drugs which I thank for since it was greatly made, yet think that whoever buys Gaga doesn't want to bear with these beats. MANiCURE, Do what you want and Artpop are all great songs that lead you to a climatic SWINE... Gaga really had me with this one, this is a dance /electronic song that makes you turn-up the volume and scream while fist dancing [even in your car]... "SWINE!!!!" From there Donatella is other one of those old "Fame" Gaga era... you would think that with such title the song would be cheesy, well don't be fooled, the devil is on the details, the track was executed flawlessly... the balance of the dialogues, lyrics, catwalk like sounds, makes it a fantastic song that I would love to see live. Mary Jane Holland is my least favorite, but it is a mood setter for the grand finale. Dope, Gypsy and Applause. Dope is the most emotional ballad Gaga's ever written, and the same emotion was placed on Gypsy, this one is Pop with sentiment, along the lines of Hair from Born this Way, but it in this case is not for the neglected but for those that struggle between the perfect love and the circumstances. Finally Applause, and I genuinely applaud. From where I stand this gem didn't need all the marketing frenzy Gaga put on before the release, the album was great! People just needed to make their own opinion about it without shoving in their faces that it was the BEST album of the century. For future performances, I hope that she does turn down the performances a slightly bit since the songs are great the way they were recorded.

Well I must say, Lady Gaga outdid herself. I am a true avid Little Monster fan but I'll keep this as unbiased as possible. First and foremost, the first time you hear this album, maybe you'll think, "Why is half of the album all about sex then drops down to something emotional?!" Well here's the thing, Lady Gaga tried to show the "nakedness" of ART and POP. As you may have noticed, the first half of the album is about love, or making love. In my opinion, that's the Sphere of POP. Pop Music nowadays (some if not most) are about sex, love or lust which she wanted to show in the first half. She wanted to show the state of Pop Music now but still present it in a way that it's not too sexual or lusty as much as possible. The first track, "Aura", is about her showing what's under all that make-up, dresses, etc. It's like boarding the airplane, welcoming you aboard and greeting you with open arms. Following "Aura" is "Venus" or for the album, the flight to the truth behind the "aura". After that, it just develops into songs about love and making love but has that same deep meaning as any other Pop Songs out there. As you can hear, it gradually decreases the love part as it goes to the middle track of the album. Now, as you may have noticed, "Artpop" is the middle track of the album. It's like the song says, "We could, We could, belong together (ARTPOP)". It's about bringing the POP and ART together making them meet in the middle. Which brings us to the ART side of the album. This side will greet you with "Swine". At first, I'm not gonna lie, I didn't understand the meaning of this song until I kept on listening to it and doing a little research. As I understand it, it's about shaking of the man who wants to keep on having meaningless sex with her which held her from achieving the star status, which is a good track after all that "love songs". The message of the song continues on with shaking of the dark past. This continues on to other songs with deep meanings that, like art, you need to listen carefully to understand the true meaning of. This side is full of songs about becoming who she is today, and gaining the "Applause". This album offers different varieties of music. From Raps to Ballads, this album can satisfy most, if not all, the music lovers out there. To sum it up, this album is about the story of how Lady Gaga came to be if you listen to it carefully. From making herself vulnerable to the world while starting the career to the current state she's in wherein she can't live without her fans' "Applause". To conclude this review, I would like to encourage you to buy this album. You may just own the album of the century. Full of songs with meanings that are priceless. You won't regret buying this. The album Lady Gaga has worked on for 2 years really did pay off. With albums like these, surely the artist who made it will ALWAYS be remembered. *Additional Review: The Album cover is a work of art. I love it especially with the foil cover.

'ARTPOP' is Lady GaGa's fourth album, or third depending on who you listen to. Since 'The Fame Monster' was released as a stand alone offering, most sources credit 'ARTPOP' as number four. 'ARTPOP' is GaGa's effort to fuse pop culture art with pop music and morph it into something never before done. Several of the songs on the album go in very different directions musically than what casual listeners will be used to. To her everlasting credit, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (somewhat better known as Lady GaGa) is never one to be afraid of pushing the envelope. This is not your mother's Oldsmobile (or her pop/dance album, either). Fans will be delighted to see the depth of artistry as GaGa treads new territory with offerings such as 'Aura,' 'Swine,' Sexxx Dreams' and her duet 'Do What You Want." 'Dope' is a beautiful piano ballad, and certain online GaGa reference sources indicate it was this song that replaced her duet with Cher (called 'The Greatest Thing') on 'ARTPOP.' If you want to get in touch with your emotions, have a beer or some wine and listen to 'Dope.' You will cry, yes. She called it 'I Wanna Be With You' when she sang it at iTunes London 2013, but this was just an altered version of 'Dope.' (I really do hope that 'The Greatest Thing' with Cher gets officially released at some point, because it is a numero uno hit, without a doubt.) For you electro-rockers, GaGa will blow your hair back as she belts out 'MANiCURE,' which had its genesis in some of the music which first got her noticed in the New York club scene long before she took upon her alter ego of GaGa. She performed 'MANiCURE' for the first time live at the iTunes Festival in London in September, 2013 and the crowd went ballistic. But wait, for the hardcore dance aficionados out there, 'Applause' will have you shaking your booty. Check out her first live performance of 'Applause' at the 2013 VMA's. It was absolutely amazing. She put fake booing into the opening as part of the show. Only GaGa would have the guts to do something like that. 'Applause' is also a lyrical finger pointing back at the critics who exist only to tear down artists, but yet have contributed nothing aesthetic to the culture themselves, something which they cannot do. If you really listen to the lyrics in GaGa's songs, many times you will hear two or three different levels of meaning, and this is doubly true on 'ARTPOP.' I do love this woman so. The best evening: Lady GaGa's new 'ARTPOP,' and plenty of space to play it as loud as you want.

I remember waiting a few months to buy this album because so many people were like "Eww. This isn't the Gaga we like. Eww it's offensive and yuck!" I don't listen to radio so the only songs I'd been exposed to were "Applause" and "Do What U Want" since they were used in TV ads for cars that hamsters drive and overpriced headphones. I went in with low expectations and ended up loving it almost as much as "Born This Way". "Aura" is weird and apparently offensive (?) to some but I enjoy it. I can see how it would annoy people, but not me. "Venus" is also weird but has the catchiest chorus on the entire album. Love it. At one point Gaga starts naming planets like she's an announcer at a pageant or something but hey, it works. I'm also obsessed with the lyric "Don't you know my ass is famous!" Amazing. "G.U.Y." Sounds like a song you'd hear in the background of an ad for a show on the CW. I skip this song. "Sexxx Dreams" Wasn't into this one either. Another skip for me. "Jewels n' Drugs" I don't like rap. This song seems like it would have fit better on one of the participating rapper's albums but whatever. I do like the weird chorus of "Don't want your jewels, don't want your drugs. Don't want your money, want your love." So once in a blue moon I play it and fast forward the rap parts. "MANiCURE" is a fun, catchy song that randomly pops in my head. Awesome guitar work makes this song stand out. Love it. "Do What U Want" I could write an essay on the brilliance of this song but that would be boring. Gaga isn't actually saying do whatever you want to me, it's more like "You won't use me for my brains or heart but you have no problem using my image. Do what you want with that and eff you." Now the R. Kelly part doesn't exactly follow that logic. It's like his part was included so someone wouldn't have to come up with another provocative, thoughtful verse for Gaga. Still a great song and at least R. Kelly has a good voice so it all works out. "ARTPOP" a weird, mellow tune I enjoy but the "Free my mind artpop you make my heart stop" lyric at the end seems unnecessary. "Swine" I've only played maybe three times, doesn't work for me. I skip it. "Donatella" Catchy, loud, and seems a little like satire. I doubt that it is. A decent song but I usually skip it since it gets stuck in my head for days and drives me mad. "Fashion!" I didn't like this one either, forgettable. Not for me. I skip. "Mary Jane Holland" I would like this song if not for the annoying chorus of "Mary! ...Jane! ...Holland!" For whatever reason, I can't deal with the pauses and shouting but I like the rest of the song. Ends up getting skipped. "Dope" The slow song on the album, a heart felt plea from one lover to another that they're needed more than dope. Excellent song, I don't know how any Gaga fan could dislike it. Possibly the best song on the album. "Gypsy" Now that "Dope" has left us feeling touched but alone, let's turn things around with a super upbeat song! Hey, it works. This song feels like something left over from "Born This Way" (think "Highway Unicorn", "Electric Chapel", "You And I") but didn't quite fit in because it's a little more upbeat than those tracks. Good song. "Applause" I hated this thing for a while, in no small part because of those lame hipster hamsters that drive ugly cars. By the time I bought the album, that commercial had gone away and I was able to reassess the song without thinking of the annoying rodents. Is it her best single? No. Is it a fun song and decent end to Artpop? Yes. Especially if you sing "Make it weird now" instead of the actual line "Make it real loud", but then again I'm weird. Artpop- 8/10. I may only play 8 or 9 of the 15 tracks but the strength of songs like "MANiCURE", "Do What U Want", and "Dope" make me feel like this album deserves a B. Plus, it's nice to be able to buy a Gaga album with swear words intact. That "I'm a free bit--, baby" edit of "Bad Romance" drives me nuts. I don't get the strange hate some people have for Artpop. It's not going to appeal to everyone, sure but why waste time hating it. A solid effort from Gaga, give it a chance if you're an open minded fan of her weirder songs. Yes, I'm four years late to reviewing this album but it was fun to do after reviewing "Joanne" which I did not like as much as seemingly everyone else on earth.

Every song on ARTPOP is amazing and deserves applause. If you listen to The Fame, The Fame Monster and Born This Way, it seems like three different persons are singing in those records, that quality is present in ARTPOP, where you could think each song is sung by a different person (the critics first noticed this on Applause when they said Gaga's vocals on the verses sound odd). ARTPOP could mean anything, in a simple way it means 'we could belong together', if you want the concept, ARTPOP is about putting art in the pop culture. In order to complete the ARTPOP experience you should try the app, where ARTPOP becomes more than just an album and the music turns into a comunication media with visuals. Track by Track: 1. Aura. This song is so heavy and agressive at the verses and sweet and heavenly at the choruses. The hahahahahaha at the beginning is perhaps one of the most fascinating things about the song. ARTPOP is the result of the exchange between Auras, it makes sense to start the album with this in mind. 2. Venus. The hooks in this song are so catchy and makes you wanna dance while screaming Venus. Gaga is been a musical producer since the beginning of her career and this is her first time doing it solo, the fact that this song is the catchiest on the album proves Gaga's music talent. 3. G.U.Y. As this album is a music journey you can see the conection between Venus and G.U.Y. This galactic song is a feminist anthem for love, where Gaga tells woman can be strong enough to be in charge even if she's not on top. This song is so addictive that makes you wanna be that G.U.Y. 4. Sexxx Dreams. The bass and the beat on this song is the sexiest thing on the album. And the way she uses her voice makes it even sexier. The verses are beyond and the chorus hooks you like a hooker. Fun fact: 'We're both convicted criminals of thought' was inspired by the sex dream of a Joanne Tratoria's chef with Gaga. 5. Jewels n' Drugs. Three legends of rap and a queen, need i say more? 6. MANiCURE. One of the most happy moments of the album. This song fills you with joy while Gaga sings about being addicted to a love and the only cure is the man she loves. The guitar solo at the end is one of the most special moments in the album. 7. Do What U Want. The R&B track is one of the several highlights of the album, the beat is sick with Gaga's vocals blending perfectly together with R Kelly's. This song is the sword and shield of ARTPOP, if you harass the artist, all you are getting is an ass, you dont deserve the art anymore but do what you want with that ass. Great choice as second single. 8. ARTPOP. This song is my favorite and is because of everything that compounds it. Vocally, The way Gaga decided to sing this song is unique and soon to be iconic, plus the HEEE HEE's are the perfect way to complete the melody. The three vocal lines at the song are what i call the perfect hybrid. And the music production of this track is really out of this world, galaxy, space and time. This song has a beat that relaxes and inspires you. This song is like gold (brilliant and beautiful) and really describes ARTPOP perfectly. 9. Swine. The squealing synths of this song are hypnotic and mad and really great for dancing. And the way Gaga's vocals are mixed makes me thing this is the new thing (you know, when Cher released Believe, she refreshed and inovated pop music, making the Cher effect the new thing). The whole vocal mixing on ARTPOP is amazing and inovates, its between a robot and a human, so unofficially i call it The Hybrid to this new way to mix vocals that is present in the album. 10. Donatella. The beat of this song is something magical and addictive. The agressive and the upper-class-princess tone is the signature voice of this song. The song represents a beautiful, strong and brilliant woman that society just look at like a skinny blonde rich bitch. Donatella the person is beautiful and so is Donatella the song. 11. Fashion! This Dance song feels fine and slays. The piano in this song is one of my favorite moments in the album. The voice Gaga uses for this song fits perfectly the theme of fashion. Being the fashion more than just what she wears, but something that saves and inspires her, this track is about the way you feel in your 'fashion' rather than how you look. 12. Mary Jane Holland. The heavy production fights with the fragility of Gaga in this track making it one of the most addictives (the irony about the title). The special effects on this track and the agressive synths transport you to somewhere between a circus in the space and a bar at Amsterdam. Gaga's vocals are strong and fragile in this song as the music is kinda sad and utterly happy at the same time. 13. Dope. The deepest song Gaga ever wrote and perhaps the saddest one too. Her vocals are raw, you can feel her sorrow and listen to her almost crying. The song sounds like it was made for a broadway musical or a movie. Even though the song is a piano ballad she pushed the boundaries of pop and added heavy synths to the strings, piano and organ arrangement. The song is after Mary Jane Holland, you can see why. This song is one of the best of ARTPOP. 14. Gypsy. This song is the perfect connection between Dope and Applause. The song has a fast beat and a perfect transition from a piano arrangement to a hardcore dance production. And the acoustic guitars were the perfect choice for this song arrangement. This song is hardcore DancePop and a signature Gaga song (she's a gypsy). 15. Applause. I love this song, and this song has become one of Gaga's greatest hits ever. This song is like nothing else in the album, the chopped synths and the bridge and transitions are amazing. This song shows Gaga's amazing vocal range in the choruses, in the backup vocals of the prechoruses and the WHooo whooO at the piano Bridge [hitting A above high C]. The structure of the chords each 4 bars is brilliant and the ultra fast beat is something that pushes pop music to new ways of thinking about how a song can be. This song is pure POP singing about ART. The fight between the two synths at the choruses [a breathy choral synth and a square electronic one] is like two Gaga's auras exchanging to create art (one is really sad and the other is so happy) and the chorus vocals are arranged in a perfect way to fit the auras of the synths. This song is utterly happy because its about the thing that makes Gaga and her fans happy the most, but you can feel a bit of sadness in that breathy synth maybe cause she wrote this song when she was unable to perform. I could go on forever with this track, lets keep it simple: Applause is amazing. My advice: This album was meant to be a journey so the best way to experience ARTPOP is listening to the whole album and trying the app for full experience. If you want me to chose my Top 5 (I still listen to the whole album cause i think is perfect and i love every song): 1 ARTPOP 2 Dope 3 Mary Jane Holland 4 Swine 5 Donatella

All the days, weeks and months before Artpop was released the anticipation and expectation for this CD was huge. Little by little information was leaked and Lady Gaga kept up the hints and interest. After all following up The Fame, The Fame Monster and Born This Way would be daunting and almost bound to disappoint most critics. These days there are only 2 artists that peak my musical interest in terms of what their next project might bring. And one is Lady Gaga. Now I don't necessarily like or love all of the music but creatively she is both fearless and tries to musically not repeat from the previous CD. I listen and love many other artists from many other genres but few have Lady Gaga's fearless creativity and willingness to do her own thing. Then November 11th came and the CD was a reality. I didn't want to listen an mp3 version of Artpop but a real CD. Now Lady Gaga has called this a psychedelic CD and I understand why. Unlike many other of her contemporaries (Rihanna, Katy Perry etc.) this CD could only be Lady Gaga's. It is uniquely hers and this is also true of Born This Way. After the first listen I had to process what I heard. So many sounds, synthesizers and vocals I hadn't heard before on any recent songs. It took some listens to truly appreciate some of the genius here. Also I thought that the music could be even more powerful with a custom version of the song order. After I re-ordered the song listing the CD became mesmerizing and brilliant. I know that Gaga had her own vision of the song listing but my re-ordering made the music jump out and I better understood the themes and content. So my order of the tracks include 13 of the total 15 with a remix of Applause that I acquired from the Japanese version of Artpop. Two of the tracks for me didn't fit the rest of the vibe of the CD. That doesn't mean they are bad songs just outliers. My version of Artpop starts with 1) G.U.Y. which I think is my favorite track on the CD. It has a curious title (Girl Under You---G.U.Y.) and the music is catching and the production fantastic. The lyrics produce sexual images and physical sensuality. 2) Sexxx Dreams which to me felt like an apt next track given that G.U.Y begins with a welcome message by Lady Gaga to the listener to this very sexy CD. The melody to Sexxx dreams and her vocal are excellent. 3) The next song that fits this sexual triad is Do With U Want? with R Kelly that again oozes with sexual images but was written by Lady Gaga in response to the media who were criticizing her when she apparently gained some weight months ago. Do What U Want has a memorable hook and a very unique song compared to Lady Gaga's previous CDs. 4) Artpop is next because I believed this began a streak of songs in which Lady Gaga channeled some great voices that came before her. On Artpop her voice seems to be channeling Ultra Nate and the song is like the heart of the CD and needed to be the introduction to the next section of my personalized listing 5) Donatella is a fun tune written with Lady Gaga's most recent boss Donatella Versaci in mind. Again here she sounds a little like Debbie Harry in her delivery. This song has a great hook. Which leads to the next track 6) Fashion!-- Here Lady Gaga hits the mark with channeling Debbie Harry like vocals and again the melody and the memorable "looking good and feeling fine," Looking good and feeling fine" stays in your head 7) Mary Jane Holland is an ode to weed and Lady Gaga makes it listenable and engaging. Who knew a song about weed could sound so psychedelic. The catchy melody and images of the song are truly awesome. 8) Gypsy is a song upon first listen I didn't know what is was about. But after reading about it and hearing Lady Gaga talk about it, now the lyrics make sense. A song about not being lonely and making the world a place to find a home. It is anthemic similar to Hair on "Born this Way." It has all kinds of Bruce Springsteen influences on it and it is the only song which Red One helped to co-write. The word is he and Lady Gaga wrote the chorus and the other writers helped to finish the rest of the song. 9) Now Applause I believed felt right here to start the last part of the CD. Because it is a single it sounds familiar and a great start to listen to the most unique and psychedelic songs on the CD 10) Venus is a unique song with its sampling and production. Some of Lady Gaga's campiest lyrics make this song a strange listen. But it is far better than the original song that she sampled. 11) Swine is a beats monster and the lyrics about someone being swine along with the most unusual production makes this a tune that you have to hear more than once to appreciate the unorthodox approach to this song. 12) Aura is perhaps the most unorthodox and fearless song on the CD. After much discussion, I never did hear what song was the sequel to Telephone with Beyoncé; after listening to the lyrics especially in the very beginning of the song, I believe this is the sequel. The beats and arrangement are unlike any other "pop song" and won't be everyone's cup of tea. This shouldn't have been the opening track in my opinion so I put it 12th on my custom arrangement of the tracks 13) Applause (The Viceroy Remix) is a version of the song that retains some of the original melody and adds just enough of something new to make this remix the one I liked. Some of the other remixes are horrible and strange and don't retain the integrity of the original song. 14) Dope is the only song that could be the final song on this CD. It is a subtle electronic ballad in which Lady Gaga wails about loving someone more than Dope. The emotion and vibe of the song is moving and heartfelt. Produced by Rick Rubin and I'm sure they will work together again in the future. Now the 2 songs I didn't include are Manicure which many other listeners loved and the idea for the lyrics are clever but the marching beat of the song is not for me. It didn't fit anywhere with the flow of the other songs. The biggest outlier was Jewels and Drugs which I can appreciate Lady Gaga's creative desire to show she could write and perform in the rap/hip-hop genre but the song just didn't fit or interest me. Overall, I think this CD is fantastic but it may take a few listens for the songs, production and lyrics to grow. Don't listen to many of the misogynistic reviewers and hateful critics who I believe dislike Lady Gaga and in turn hated the music. It is an unfair example of hating the messenger and then criticizing and hating the message.

***This is coming from someone who is not a Lady Gaga fan*** But I think I am now because of this album. I use to think Lady Gaga wasn't really that great, I liked her, for her music was always there in high school (from her Fame Monster - Born This Way era). After hearing that Lady Gaga was a "flop" and the term "ArtFlop" started to be used, I was confused. Her album didn't sell like her previous one, but sales doesn't exactly determine if the album was good, musically, lyrically, content-like, or not. So after a year since it was released, I decided to hear ARTPOP. Here is a brief track by track review: 1) Aura - This is a huge example of an "intro" song, which makes this album look like it is telling a story, which it is, which is also something I like. I thought the song was quirky (the hahahaha... part) but very catchy. I liked the collisions of sounds and mixes used, great beginning. 10/10 2) Venus - This is obviously the "happiest" song of the album, it is very catchy, and her vocals are strong yet playful here. I didn't think I'd like this song but now it is one of my favorites, if not the best from the whole album. Great song! 10/10 3) G.U.Y. - The last single of the album, it is a techno heavy song with some of the best innuendo, playful lyrics. Love the whole "playing with gender roles" theme she had here. I love the bridge and her vocals here. 9/10 4) Sexxx Dreams - This is probably Gaga's most mature song, sexually. It is nothing like I heard before, it has two "dialogues" in the verses and they go together so well. It is different, it is explicit, and it is very sexxxy. 5) Jewels N' Drugs - I am sorry to say but I am like the others who skip this song and think it is the weakest song of the album. It's not that I hate it , but it is very odd, lady gaga is barely in the song, and the raps just don't fit the album. I could tell she was trying to experiment here but this just didn't work. The album has still a long way to go either way. 5/10 6) MANiCURE - This is where her vocals are strong and explosive, I like it! The shortest song of the album, but it is amazing. This song is another example of how witty and creative her lyrics have gotten (Man-I-Cure) 9/10 7) Do What U Want - I am going to admit that I bought this album because of this song. At first I thought it was annoying but I was wrong. I know that people got the wrong idea of the song when the lyrics "Do what U want, what U want with my body" kept being repeated and thought the song was too sexual and about rape, well that 100% WRONG. This is about her and the disgusting media, and I love that. I love her double meanings, the beat, the lyrics, the vocals, this song is one of the best of the album by far! 10/10! 8) ARTPOP - To sum it up, it is entrancing, space-like, trippy, hypnotic, and mellow. I love everything about this song, her message, the beat, the vocals, it is a fine and polished song, 10/10! 9) Swine - First of all, DAMN! This song goes hard. EDM is not my style at all but this song is an exception, this song rocks hard! This is the song where I think she got the ArtRAVE from, because that is what this song makes me feel like, in a RAVE. I will admit, I didn't hear this song until it was reported that she wrote it after she was raped. Which was shocking but it made me respect this song even more. 10/!0! 10) Donatella - This song is not my style, but is so catchy and the beats are on fire. The lyrics are funny and witty, this song is great nonetheless. 9/10 11) Fashion! Great transition into the same topic, (fashion) here. The beginning reminds me of that mean girls song, but when the beat drops, it is a huge 70s disco party and everyone is invited. It is (and I know I've been using this word a lot, forgive me) catchy and fun. 10/10 12) May Jane Holland - This song has become one of my favorite songs by far as well. This is a huge concert-like mash of a great song, I can close my eyes and actually picture myself partying in Amsterdam. The topic, weed, duh, might not fit in well with people. but who cares. The lyrics are again, extremely creative and witty. Love this monster of a song 10/10! 13) Dope - The only ballad of the album, I was expecting at least one and here it is. It is just her and the piano, obviously the most stripped down song. It pulls on the heart strings and we hear an emotional, raw, vulnerable Gaga. Some people claim it is anti climatic but I like this song the way it is. 10/10 14) Gypsy - One of the best songs of the album, by fans and non-fans, by far. It really feels like a huge finale and closing to an album. It is a great song and one of best overall. 10/10 15) Applause - If Aura was the intro, Applause is more like an encore, than a finale. I like it. The first and major single from the album, it isn't the strongest compare to the album but I can see why it was chosen. Over all it is a great song and catchy, she's done better, but that does not mean this song is bad, cause it's not at all. Amazing video, great song, simple. 9.5/10 All in all, this album is NOT BAD, it's actually great. It is Lady Gaga's most experimental album (not counting Cheek to Cheek) and creative. I think her witty lyrics and creativeness meshed well. She was a basically having fun and made this for her fans, it obvious. Everyone needs to get off the whole "Hating Gaga bandwagon" I give this 5 stars, you get my respect Lady Gaga!

Yet again, another brilliant album from the very talented Lady Gaga. ARTPOP sees Gaga go back to the fun and upbeat sound of The Fame Monster, and steps away from the dark Born This Way era. Most of the songs on the album are upbeat, with 'Dope' being a ballad and 'Jewel N' Drugs' having a Hip-Hop/Rap sound to it. The title track, 'Artpop' is also slow paced, with a very different sound to the rest of the album. Personally, these are my least favourite songs on the album. 'Mary Jane Holland' and 'Fashion!', to me, are filler tracks that you forget are on the album. They don't stand out and (sort of) mix in with each other. They are not as fast paced as the rest of the album, but still have a upbeat and pop sound to them. You then have the songs 'Sexxx Dreams' and 'Do What You Want', which have some erotic and dirty lyrics. This shows us a different side to Gaga, which I quite like. 'Aura' is a brilliant opening track for the album, especially with Gaga's 'HAHAHAHA'. It shows us straight away what to expect from the rest of the album, and to me, it's a grower. 'Venus' is an electronic song and would be brilliant as a single, especially if it had a music video. 'MANiCURE' is definitely a song that reminds me of the old Lady Gaga from The Fame/Monster era. This is the kind of song that would get stuck in your head. One of my favourite songs on the album is 'G.U.Y' and is screaming to be a single. Personally, I think this should of the been the second single as it is a stronger song and seems to be more popular. 'Swine' is definitely the surprise track on the album. After the first listen I was hooked and has became my favourite song on the album. A club anthem that shows us Gaga can do any style of music, (even with the weird lyrics). 'Donatella' took a couple of listens to get into. It does sort of blend in and doesn't really stand out a lot, and I can see the chorus getting on my nervous if I listen to it too much. Like 'Dope', 'Gypsy' is more of a slowed down song, however, the chorus is quite fast paced and could be classed as a dance track. This has become another one of my favourite songs, although I don't think it's that popular in general. Last but not least, you have the amazing first single, 'Applause'. I feel that Gaga done the right thing releasing this as the first single, as it is definitely one of the strongest tracks, and not only that, but what a brilliant song to end the 'ARTPOP' album. I'm looking forward to seeing what songs Gaga decided to release as singles, as there are quite a few that a worthy of being a single, and having their own music video. The biggest let down of the album is the song 'Artpop'. Considering it's the title track, it's just a bit bland and boring, compared to the rest of the album. How 'Jewels N' Drugs' got onto the album I have no idea. I really hope she does not do another song like this! But overall, another amazing album!

ARTPOP strotzt vor Intensität, Extravaganz und Theatralik. Es ist laut und pulsierend wie eine exzessive, durchtanzte Nacht in einem dröhnenden Underground-Club. Das Fazit folgt am Ende. #1 Aura: Lady Gaga hat ihr früheres Selbst getötet und in einem Kofferraum am Highway 10 zurückgelassen. Auf sehr bizarre und sperrige Weise startet ARTPOP mit "Aura" - und erinnert dabei an die blutrünstigen Szenen des "Telephone"-Videos, Quentin Tarantino oder Robert Rodriguez' Film "Machete", bei dem Gaga ihr schauspielerisches Debüt gibt. Der fulminante Song eröffnet mit einer arabisch anmutenden Gitarrenmelodie, die von Electro-Beats abgelöst wird, deren Härte man so von Lady Gaga noch nicht kannte. Die Anspielungen auf das Arabische ziehen sich durch den ganzen Song, so fragt Gaga: "Do you wanna see the girl who lives behind the aura?" und könnte damit die Persönlichkeit hinter all den Outfits, ihrem Äußeren und dem Körper(lichen) meinen. "Aura"/"awrah" bezeichnet im Arabischen Blöße bzw. nackte Haut, die es zu verhüllen gilt. Ursprünglich sollte der Song "Burqa" heißen - der Raum für Interpretation ist also groß. #2 Venus: "Venus" zelebriert die weibliche Sexualität und nicht umsonst schickte Gaga alle (Männer) aus dem Studio, um den Song im Alleingang zu produzieren. Das Stück sampelt Zombie Zombie's "Rocket Number 9", zitiert griechische und römische Mythologie und auch auf dem Album-Cover findet sich ein Hinweis auf den Song durch Sandro Botticelli's berühmtes Gemälde "Die Geburt des Venus". Das Ergebnis von Gaga's erster Eigenproduktion polarisiert und erinnert mit seinem industriellen, rauen Sound an "Bad Romance". Der Song ist äußerst wulstig und komplex, so reihen sich zunächst unterschiedlichste Strophen-Teile aneinander, bis der Song im Refrain mit "When you touch me I die just a little inside" (vgl. "la petite mort" als französische Bezeichnung für den Orgasmus) in einem überschwänglich feiernden Ausbruch seinen wortwörtlichen Höhepunkt erreicht. Für mich ein Meisterwerk in sich. #3 G.U.Y.: Liebe Grüße von Himeros, Gott des sexuellen Verlangens und Sohn der in "Venus" besungenen Aphrodite. "G.U.Y." ist ein solider, 80er-Jahre-Computerspielmusik-unterlegter Pop-Song über Geschlechterrollen, Emanzipierung und Dominanz. Ich interpretiere ihn so, dass Gaga nicht ständig ihre Dominanz (auch in sexueller Hinsicht) beweisen will, um sich als ebenbürtiger Teil der Partnerschaft zu fühlen und von ihrem Partner auch als solcher wahrgenommen zu werden. "I don't need to be on top to know I'm wanted, 'cause I'm strong enough to know the truth." #4 Sexxx Dreams: Der Besuch auf der Venus hat gefruchtet, denn lasziver und sinnlicher als in "Sexxx Dreams" hat man Gaga wohl noch nie gehört. Übereinander gelegte Stimmen, verführerischer Sprechgesang, 80s-Sound und ja, irgendwo ist da auch Madonna. Ein verruchter Song über ebenso verruchte Träume, der sofort ins Ohr geht, großes Single-Potential hat und eigentlich gar keiner weiteren Beschreibung bedarf. #5 Jewels N' Drugs: Mit diesem Song wollte Gaga aus der (Pop-)Box ausbrechen und ihrer Liebe für andere Genres Ausdruck verleihen. Mit Unterstützung der Rapper T.I., Too $hort und Twista gelingt Gaga ein Ausflug in den Hip Hop, der durch DJ White Shadow's wobbelnder Dubstep-Untermalung so weit vom ARTPOP gar nicht entfernt ist. Ein außergewöhnlicher, frecher und für viele zunächst bestimmt schwer zugänglicher Song. #6 MANiCURE: Eine Maniküre als "man cure"? Ja, wenn das denn so einfach wäre. Gaga ist süchtig nach Liebe und schreit nach Heilung. Noch nie war ihre Stimme kratziger und noch nie hat rasanter Electro-Pop so sehr nach dreckigem Rock'n'Roll geklungen. Ein kokettes Album-Highlight, das gut und gerne noch 1-2 Minuten länger hätte sein können. #7 Do What U Want: Für einen Ausflug in die Welt des R&B hat sich Gaga Urgestein R. Kelly ins Boot geholt, der in der Vergangenheit ebenfalls mit der ein oder anderen Negativ-Schlagzeile zu kämpfen hatte. "Do what you want with my body" - aber ihren Geist und ihr Herz bekommt ihr nicht. Noch treffender kann man Kritikern nicht entgegentreten. So simpel das musikalische Arrangement des Midtempo-Songs, so herausragend die stimmliche Leistung der beiden. Kritiker scheuten sich nicht vor einem Vergleich mit Christina Aguilera und auch das Publikum scheint begeistert, so wurde der Song nach einem ersten Verkaufserfolg kurzerhand zur zweiten (statt "Venus") auserkoren. #8 ARTPOP: Eine Interpretation von ARTPOP bietet der gleichnamige Song mit der Botschaft: "Sei wie du bist - samt all deinem Glanz und deiner Grausamkeit - und ich werde dich lieben. Wir können zusammengehören." Und so wie in Gaga's Schaffen Kunst und Popkultur, verschmelzen im Titelsong ein hypnotisierender 80s-Beat und magische Stimm-Arrangements zu einem ganz besonderen Electro-Pop-Moment, der einen in Trance versetzt. Gaga gehe es mit ihrem ARTPOP nicht um kommerziellen Erfolg, sondern darum, ihren Fans eine Freiheit und ein Selbstbewusstsein zu vermitteln, welche allem standhalten können. "Akzeptiere deine Einzigartigkeit - denn durch sie wirst du zu etwas Besonderem." #9 Swine: "Swine" ist ein Song, der, so Gaga, von der düstersten Zeit ihres Lebens handelt. Zur näheren Geschichte hält sie sich ungewohnt bedeckt und lässt die Musik für sich sprechen. Laut und klagend singt sie "You're just a pig inside a human body" und auf quiekende "SWINE!"-Kreische folgen immer intensiver werdende, elektronisch hämmernde Instrumental-Teile. Sicherlich für manche gewöhnungsbedürftig und sperrig, aber definitiv ein außergewöhnlich aggressiver und emotionaler Höhepunkt des Albums. #10 Donatella: Mit Zeilen wie "Walk down the runway, but don't puke" ist "Donatella" eine Hommage an Mode, Geld und Luxus, die sich selbst nicht allzu ernst nimmt. Pulsierende, harte Electro-Beats (die mich an die französische Band Yelle erinnern) untermalen den lauten Refrain, bei dem unweigerlich dürre Supermodels mit Champagner-Flaschen vor dem geistigen Auge erscheinen und neckisch "I'm a rich bitch, I'm the upper class" rufen. Ein fabelhafter, energischer Soundtrack für die (über-)selbstbewussten Stunden des Lebens. #11 Fashion!: Wie sehr ich vor dem ersten Hören Angst vor diesem Song hatte. "Produziert von will.i.am und David Guetta" gilt für mich nicht unbedingt als Qualitätssiegel. Umso beruhigter war ich, als ich ihn schlussendlich für "gut" befinden konnte. Thematisch in einer Reihe mit "Donatella", ist "Fashion!" entschleunigter, urbaner Pop mit deutlichen 80er-Einflüssen. Und natürlich mit dabei: das obligatorische Gemurmel von will.i.am, diesmal sogar in (fragwürdigem) Französisch. Wäre Gaga absurderweise nicht bereits mit einem anderen Song namens "Fashion" (ohne Rufzeichen) auf dem Soundtrack zum Film "Confessions Of A Shopaholic" zu hören, wäre "Fashion!" (mit Rufzeichen!) ein würdiger Ersatz. #12 Mary Jane Holland: Die "Lady of the 'Dam" (eine Anspielung auf "damned" und "Amsterdam") streift durch das Rotlichtviertel Amsterdams, vorbei an russischen Prostituierten und billigem Gin, die dort mindestens genauso leicht zu haben sind, wie Marihuana ("Mary Jane"). Gaga schlüpft in die Rolle der "Mary Jane", durch die sie sich besser zu fühlen scheint. Aus ihrer Vorliebe zu Marihuana während des Songschreibens machte die Sängerin bereits in einem CBS News-Interview 2011 keinen Hehl. Politisch inkorrekt (aber ehrlich), inhaltlich mysteriös und typisch Gaga, erinnern Titel und Feeling des Songs außerdem an ihren früheren Song "Bloody Mary" - ein Zufall? #13 Dope: Anfang September 2013 beim iTunes Festival als Erstversion und Fan-Song "I Wanna Be With You" vorgestellt, kommt in "Dope" wieder jene Gaga zum Vorschein, die wir schon von "Yoü And I" kennen: Klavier, tiefer Bass und die erdig-rauchige Stimme einer gequälten Seele. Als emotionalster Song und gleichzeitig einzige Ballade des Albums sticht "Dope" deutlich heraus und ist laut Gaga eine intime, tiefgründige Offenbarung. Im Studio soll es gar zu einem Ausbruch der Gefühle gekommen sein - das spürt man. Eine herausragende Leistung, die Gaga's Können als talentierte Singer-Songwriterin unterstreicht. #14 Gypsy: Inhaltlich schließt "Gypsy" am Vorgänger an. Gaga ist ständig auf Reisen, um bei ihren geliebten Fans zu sein - und muss gleichzeitig die Lieben daheim zurücklassen. Nach einem kurzen, ruhigen Piano-Intro verwandelt sich der Sound aber in eine mitreißende Pop-Hymne mit temporeichem Schlagerbeat, die sich vielleicht am besten als "The Edge Of Glory" auf Speed beschreiben lässt. Wahnsinnig eingängig und als vorletzter Track des Albums wie ein Aufbruch der sonst eher strengen, harten Electro-Beats. #15 Applause: Gaga lebt für den Moment, an dem das Publikum glücklich ist. Und das ist genau dann, wenn auch der Applaus passiert. Der Song, der als erste Single-Auskopplung den meisten bekannt sein dürfte, dient musikalisch und inhaltlich als perfekter Abschluss des Album und ist eine metaphorische Verbeugung vor dem Publikum. Umso glücklicher bin ich, dass dieser runde Abschluss nicht, wie oft üblich, noch mit etwaigen Bonus-Tracks oder Remixes zerstört wird. Fazit: ARTPOP strotzt vor Intensität, Extravaganz und Theatralik. Es ist laut und pulsierend wie eine exzessive, durchtanzte Nacht in einem dröhnenden Underground-Club. Gaga nimmt das Publikum mit auf eine Reise zwischen inhaltlichen Extremen, singt in unverblümter Ehrlichkeit über Sex und Drogen, seelische Abgründe, Ruhm und schwankendes Selbstbewusstsein - und kleidet dabei ihren wahren Rock'n'Roll-Charakter in hämmernde Electro-Beats und die für sie so typischen, süchtig machenden Melodien. Alle 15 Songs wurden von ihr in enger Zusammenarbeit mit DJs/Songwriter/Produzenten wie Paul "DJ White Shadow" Blair und Anton "Zedd" Zaslavski geschrieben und (mit)produziert. Gaga's persönliche Note, aber auch der kreative, frische Elan ihrer bisher eher unbekannten Partner aus der elektronischen Musik ist unverkennbar. Und obwohl Gaga in jedem Song ihrer Persönlichkeit einen neuen Anstrich verleiht, gewährt das rundum stimmige Album allen, die sich darauf einlassen, einen spannenden und berührenden Blick auf die Künstlerin hinter der "Aura".

So much talent, artistic and otherwise. Just beautiful. As for Artpop, this little woman is costing me. I have had to rework the crossovers in my homemades twice now and I'm not getting it right. I guess I'll have to inject fewer decibels, but damn, who wants to do that?? This album is so CLEAN, CRISP, SHARP, POWERFUL with incredible production. Obviously created with only the best equipment. Love how LG doesn't cheap out.

Tudo perfeito.

ARTPOP is my favourite gaga album! It's a masterpiece! I bet there is no album like this in the history! It's not even an album. It's like a different world in itself 😍 only one thing that the CD I bought from Amazon is censored edition 😂 the original edition of the CD is so amazeballs😍 but it's okay cuz i just wanted the CD to complete my gaga collection! Gaga never disappoints us 😍 she is amazing! Pawsup!