In this series, I'll be going op-ed on those in the void with me who feel like reading this on an album from 2020 that should definitely be in the conversation of Album of the Year to the Grammys, American music publications and online music communities, especially this one with its "Replay" value.
This entry is dedicated to the sixth studio album and nineteenth messy rollout entitled Chromatica, from the pop goddess Lady Gaga. There is A LOT to say about an album that had Born This Way chart success despite only making it to two singles and failing to yield a successful third single and fourth overall single, my god will you bitches stop leaking her music already and ARTPOP level rollout, so let me get to why this album is an album of the year despite the hinted shitshow.
In its standard iteration [before Target or international box set versions are called into the mix] Chromatica appeared as a 16 track album with three interludes:
1. "Chromatica I"
2. "Alice"
3. "Stupid Love"
4. "Rain on Me" (with Ariana Grande)
5. "Free Woman"
6. "Fun Tonight"
7. "Chromatica II"
8. "911"
9. "Plastic Doll"
10. "Sour Candy" (with Blackpink)
11. "Enigma"
12. "Replay"
13. "Chromatica III"
14. "Sine from Above" (with Elton John)
15. "1000 Doves"
16. "Babylon"
The deluxe version sold at the retail giant, Target includes 3 more tracks bringing the total count to 19, though without the interludes, it would technically be a 16 count which is normal for deluxe editions of anything*:
17. "Love Me Right"
18. "1000 Doves" (Piano demo)
19. "Stupid Love" (Vitaclub Warehouse mix)
*NOTE: this is also excluding the Japanese release of the album where it has the Stupid Love (Ellis remix) on top of everything else and even the box set version where the Purple Disco Machine and Ralphi Rosario remixes of Rain on Me and the Honey Dijon remix of Free Woman are made available.*
In terms of singles, for the first time since the ARTPOP campaign, Gaga made it to three singles on a proper studio album* (Yet extends the drought of an album campaign fourth single which hasn't been achieved since the Born This Way era) but as a dubious double edged sword at the time of writing, Gaga has not had a charting third single since "G.U.Y." came and went at #76 for one week.
*NOTE: Yes I am aware of A Star is Born going to three singles but I absolutely refuse to consume course correction Gaga in its worst form.*
The leaked single...err lead single for the album was "Stupid Love", released on February 28th [the same day as the S12 premiere of RuPaul's Drag Race]. The song was a Max Martin produced joint which gave Gaga a #5 debut and peak on the Hot 100 [wait a minute, a Top 5 single despite a leak on an album that isn't quite being welcomed by pop fans like it should...] which marked the first time in her career that Gaga had collaborated with Martin.
The single wasn't that well received at the time of its leak a full month in advance of release. Despite it being a good case of 80s synthpop in the pop sphere again [mainly because disco wasn't promised and then this came about], the song was (In the nicest way possible considering forum gays and online music community gays shit on this song) seen as basic or Gaga not firing on all cylinders. They have a point considering "I want your Stupid Love" and the title "Stupid Love" aren't the strongest hook and chorus she's capable of delivering.
What "Stupid Love" succeeded in is returning Gaga to recognizable dance pop after Joanne and A Star is Born saw her engage in course correction after ARTPOP to an audience that really didn't consume her aside from a meaningful ballad that hit the Top 5 in "Million Reasons" and whatever the fuck "Shallow" was supposed to do. "Stupid Love" has a banging synthline and production thanks to Max Martin helping out main producers Tchami and Bloodpop bring it to life. Then there's the music video for "Stupid Love" to contend with.
In an effort to seem "contemporary"[read as: "secure Gaga endorsement money from Apple"], the music video for "Stupid Love" was "filmed" on an iPhone 11 Pro using the Filmic Pro app, though the phones were secured on drones and Steadicams. The video itself is as colorful and delightfully tacky as any Gaga video should and ought to be. The problem came when the fanbase did a collective "are you fucking kidding me" at Gaga having to go the route of seemingly lesser pop acts and resort to iPhone filmdorsements for a music video [that's at least anyone with enough sense to them]. Most of the post "what the fuck" reactions were mixed at best, rude as hell at worst with the concept being called in only a rough translation, "a bootleg episode of Power Rangers". The music video was the beginning of Gaga's pending album being held to the same unattainably high standards her entire oeuvre has for her career.
The second single "Rain on Me", a collaboration with Ariana Grande, was released on May 22nd and then (with the combined efforts of the Little Monsters and Arianators) became Gaga's 5th #1 on the Hot 100, Ariana's 4th #1 and the first female collaboration to debut at #1 on the Hot 100. One of two main co-productions or tracks helmed by Burns, "Rain on Me" was almost universally acclaimed for the production, vocals and lyrics [even if "I'd rather be dry but at least I'm alive" are among some of the more "did you not have time to rewrite that" moments of the album].
The Robert Rodriguez directed music video [yes, THAT Robert Rodriguez] was released to universal acclaim as the visual direction was praised for enhancing the song's charms [but more specifically a certain screenshot that set gay Twitter on fire]:
If you didn't see this picture on your timeline in any capacity,
you didn't have any gay friends
The third single ended up being "911" and was released on September 18th, nearly four months since the album's May 29th release [after the COVID-19 pandemic on top of the lead single leaking a month in advance, delayed the intended April 10th release date.] Prior to the song's selection for single release and music video treatment, "911" was considered a fan favorite because the transition from "Chromatica II" to "911" was rightfully considered a highlight on the album. What most fans forget is that aside from the eventual music video and lyrics being about Gaga's mental health by way of her antipsychotic medication, Olanzapine ["It's about an antipsychotic that I take. And it's because I can't always control things that my brain does. I know that. And I have to take medication to stop the process that occurs." - from Gaga's Apple Music interview with Zane Lowe].
As a song, it shares something similar with "Chandelier" by Sia in that the lyrics are immensely better than the song itself. "911" being made as part of the zeitgeist toward mainstream acknowledgement about mental health/mental health issues is great. Did it need to be a better song than the half baked useless husk it is without "Chromatica II"? Yes. Granted even with this being a lowlight of the album, "911" succeeds in reinforcing Gaga's secret weapon across her entire work: the fact she has an ear for melody because only she can sell the lyrics "My biggest enemy is me, pop a 911" because the melody behind that is fantastic. It's a shame the production is a letdown of an otherwise kooky outing from Gaga.
Then we have the music video which of the three singles has the best video [bonus points for usage of "Chromatica II" and even "Chromatica III" at the end]. Using the 1969 film The Color of Pomegranates as the main source of inspiration, "911" depicts a fantasy world that then transforms into a modern setting at the scene of the accident. Researching the "911" reaction videos and then settling on Michael Murray having the best one, two comments tell the story with the first being a summated version of events:
"So, basically, the synopsis of the video is, Gaga went to the Armenian Film Festival. On her way back, she has an episode due to not having her pills. She causes a car accident and is knocked unconscious and almost dies from her injuries. The entire dream sequence is basically Gaga’s way of processing her trauma, (think the beginning of the 'Marry the Night' video when she’s in the hospital.) and when she is brought back to life because of the defibrillator, this is the actual reality."
Then someone explains the entire video in 35(!) points [brace yourself]:
"1) Black Horseman in a White Desert - This signifies the poster for New Mexico Gaga saw before the accident. He may also signify Death or her body luring her deeper in her mind.
2) The Red Mask - This is the blood from the accident.
3) Bike with Pomegranates - The first real element in Gaga's vision. Most probably the victim of the collision. Pomegranates simultaneously signify life and death.
4) The Red Anklet - Gaga's broken foot in real life.
5) Walking to the White Chapel - This is the movie poster Gaga saw. This can also signify the deepest recesses of her mind, protecting her from trauma.
6) Pillow Man - Another victim of the accident who crashed on his steering wheel.
7) Black Girl in Blue - The first spectator to the accident. Most likely the one who called 911.
8) Two Yellow Men Holding a Door - These are two firemen holding the car door to get Gaga out of the mangled vehicle. Their hats have '911' written on them in roman numerals. The yellow men were blindfolded because the firemen wore black goggles.
9) Woman Holding a White Body - A woman holding a victim who got hit by the car. The white body even has red lace signifying blood.
10) Additional Three People in Blue - Additional spectators filming the whole thing.
11) Yellow Man Mixing a Cauldron - This is a fireman and a smoking car wreckage.
12) The Latin Guy in Black and the Black Mary in White - These are the paramedics trying to save Gaga's life.
13) The Spinning Umbrella - The paramedics descending via a helicopter.
14) The Purse with the Picture of the Doll - This signifies the pills that would have made her stable. Did she cause the accident?
15) The Latin Guy Strangling the White Mummy - The paramedic was checking for a pulse.
16) The Black Mary Covering the Pillow Man with a Sheet - This was the paramedic covering the victim with a thermal blanket.
17) A Man with Dog Ears whose Face is Being Covered by the Latin Man - The paramedic giving oxygen to one of the victims.
18) The Black Mary Flashing a Mirror on Gaga - The paramedic was flashing her flashlight on Gaga's pupil's looking for consciousness. Gaga in the dreamscape is her consciousness.
19) Gaga Floating Away with a Rose - This signifies Gaga's consciousness/life leaving her body. She was even wearing a halo. [NOTE: Bonus explanation from the comment this 35 Theses was responding to: "When she was pulled down, when she wasn’t allowed to fly to heaven, the rose in her hand wilted"]
20) The Latin Guy Pulling Her with a Rope - The paramedic gave her CPR. You can even see a brief flash of the real world as she comes crashing down.
21) The Rope - It was the tourniquet used on Gaga's foot.
22) Latin and Gaga Mouth-to-Mouth Action - This was CPR, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
23) Yellow Man on Ladder Sprinkling Rose Petals - This is a fireman repairing the movie sign. The petals were sparks.
24) Men in Blue Masks - These are policemen. They even have the bird sign in their hats.
25) The Blue Streamers Waving in the Wind - This was the fire hydrant spewing water.
26) The Peacock - This represented Armenia in the Armenian Film Festival signage.
27) The Black Mary Holding a Snake - This is the snake in the cross logo of the paramedics.
28) Gaga in Yellow Spasming - This is Gaga's body rejecting the medication/treatment.
29) The Mural - This was the scene of what really happened. Gaga is now getting closer to surfacing to reality.
30) The Latin Guy Touching Her Heart Area - The paramedic giving her heart pumps and CPR.
31) Gaga in Black Floral Outfit - This is Gaga being put in a full-body brace. The curtain also might have fallen in the background to signify her impending death, the body bag. This is why, as a last-ditch effort, the paramedics used the defibrillator.
32) The Box - This is the defibrillator.
33) The Virgin Sacrifice - As dream world and real world collide, the vision concludes in a terrifying sacrificial scene as the pain comes rushing in. It's interesting that the knife that kills her in the dream world is the current of electricity that brings her to life in the real world.
34) 'I didn't have my pills!' - This suggests that she caused the accident because she wasn't stable because she did not have her medication.
35) LG Advertisement - 'Life is good.' Ironic, isn't it?"
I salute my hat to someone willing to examine the video far deeper than anyone has the patience to. On top of all that, in the wee hours of December 3rd, 3(!) remixes were released with WEISS, Sofi Tukker and Bruno Martini each behind a masterful reworking of that fucking useless husk known as "911".
Before I delve into the promo singles, I want to give a special place in this lengthy post to "Replay", the crown jewel of this album. I've listened to this song at least once a day since release and I've loved it because of the production and vocals which to me on first listen since gave "1983 Italo-disco realness" [even if I would later find out it's built around a sample of the Diana Ross song "It's My House", which Burns should know is going down as an absolute highlight in music, thank you.] "Replay" is simply put one of Gaga's best songs to me, easily Top 10 ever, probably Top 2 or 5 with how much I live for it.
Promo singles include the #33 on the Hot 100 "Sour Candy", a collaboration with the KPOP girl group Blackpink which despite the collab coming across as desperate pandering is actually a great pop song that needed to be at least a minute longer [fun fact about that song, Jennie and Rosé perform in both Korean and English, Lisa performs exclusively in English and Jisoo performs exclusively in Korean.] and "Free Woman" which despite not charting on the Hot 100 did receive a Honey Dijon remix which saved it from being another lowlight on the album and of the era.
For some motherfucking reason, "Sine From Above" with Elton John was made a literal "promotion single" as it soundtracked a Valentino fragrance partnership Gaga had with them because...reasons.
All of this [not counting jockstrap, makeup and OREO ventures] does embody why Chromatica is an album of the year: it's consistent with Gaga since ARTPOP. An album with a messy rollout, two or so successful singles, bad timing for promotion, impossibly high standards set by the ground zero of social media fandoms, endorsements run amok and more promises made than kept even if a scant few promises go kind of half-fulfilled? Sounds about right.
The album is also consistent with Gaga in that is fundamentally her especially after emerging from the course correction from hell known as A Star is Born. It re-established Gaga as the quintessential pop star in vocal ability, commercial success and batshit insanity [and even garnering a slew of VMAs and two Grammy nominations].
It also highlighted that when a lead single leaks and no one at Interscope bothers to go with a plan B immediately, things can look like they've gone terribly wrong but this time it isn't entirely Team Gaga's fault. In 2020, the United States was suffering from a horribly handled response to the COVID-19 pandemic which has infected millions and killed hundreds of thousands. In entertainment, no one knew how to function [even if they knew how to use the internet only half kind of] and promotion suffered greatly. Sure, this is the same Haus Labs makeup palette pimp but considering that brand was establishing itself B.C. [Before Chromatica], she's not earning flak for that. What Gaga and her team [and internet leakers] need to take righteous hits for is fucking up a second era with a leaked lead single and no immediate course of action. Interscope dropping the ball on two Lady Gaga eras in the span of seven years is astonishing incompetence in the flesh [course correction doesn't count so I better not see Joanne or A Star is Born be mentioned right now.]
As with ARTPOP, Chromatica isn't a bad album of music even with a lowlight that doesn't totally ruin the album even if it stains it quite a bit [hello "Gypsy" and "Fun Tonight"]. There may be questionable lyrics on singles and album tracks alike ["Did you get the T on 'one second I'm a Koontz then suddenly the Koontz is me' and 'GOSSIP...BABBLE ON, BATTLE FOR YOUR LIFE BABYLON'?"] but as pointed out with "911", there's an ear for melody only Gaga has that can only come from her [it's how "Babylon" has the dumbest lyrics I wholeheartedly support, because the melody sounds like exactly how she thought it should sound.]
In short, Chromatica offered any "Alice" to travel to wonderland and if they could see past the antics, they'd discover an album with immense "Replay" value.
RECOMMENDED TRACKS: "Replay", "Rain on Me", "Alice", "Plastic Doll", "Enigma", "Stupid Love", "Sour Candy" & "Babylon".
