On March 7, Lady Gaga’s seventh studio album, “Mayhem,” was released. This was Mother Monster’s return to music after her last album, “Chromatica,” released four years ago. Gaga curated all songs with inspiration from significant icons, including David Bowie and Prince, with their funk inspired rhythms. Unlike past albums, Gaga focuses on the chaos behind her unique creativity rather than focusing on situations from the past.
“Abracadabra”
“Hold me in your heart tonight
In the magic of the dark moonlight
Save me from this empty fight
In the game of life”
When thinking of the word, “Abracadabra,” many think of it being used by magicians. Instead of that idea, Gaga uses it to discuss the magic of self love. Similar to her previous pieces of work, Gaga uses abstract imagery to convey this message. Specifically in the first and third part of this verse, she wants someone to aid her in this goal of self love and visualize it as an empty battle.
“Garden Of Eden”
“I could be your girlfriend for the weekend
You could be my boyfriend for the night
My excuse to make a bad decision
Bodies getting close under the light”
Through the song, Gaga explains how easy it is to fall in love even if it is for a short amount of time. The idea of love is an easy temptation due to many people who want to find love quickly. Similarly, the tale of the “Garden of Eden” was the forest that the biblical figures, Adam and Eve, lived in before being expelled. The two were expelled after Eve fell for the temptation of the apple due to the devil’s disguise as a serpent and his persuasion towards Eve. By combining these two ideas together, Gaga manages to convey the idea of how easy it is to fall or the temptation of love no matter how long the time may be together.
“How Bad Do U Want Me” (Explicit)
“’Cause you like my hair, my ripped-up jeans
You like the bad girl I got in me
She’s on your mind, like, all the time
But I got a tattoo for us last week
Even good boys bleed”
In this song, Gaga sends a message to her fiancé, Michael Polansky, about how he loves Gaga more than the “good girl” stereotype that he dreamed of having a life with. Gaga refers to her unique and fiery persona often in the song, which manages to be a recurring idea throughout the album. With the use of this song, she discusses how she can truly express her personality with her future husband instead of having to sugar coat and disguise her true identity.
“Blade Of Grass”
“Come on and wrap that blade of grass
Around my finger like a cast
‘Cause even though the church burned down
I’ll be your queen without a crown
I’ve been so lonely in this field
Fightin’ a battle with no shield”
Once again, Gaga discusses her relationship with her fiancé. The blade of grass metaphor represents a ring of marriage, explaining how it would be difficult to remove their deep love for each other. Continuing with the use of the metaphor, Gaga further explains about how she has been left in an imaginary field for so long, and now since she found him, she will finally have someone by her side. With that idea in mind, Gaga is ready to finally tie the knot with her fiancé, so that they can enjoy the rest of their lives together.
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“Mayhem” is an album full of pure chaos, and although it has received controversy, the album still remains a masterpiece. Although many albums have one central theme and similar rhythms in every song, this album stands out uniquely. Life may not always be perfect and instead be full of pure chaos and with this album, it becomes known that chaos is natural and beautiful.
