Lady Gaga’s single Abracadabra is enjoying its fifth consecutive week in the UK Top 10, a welcome relief after a string of high-profile missteps. The pop star has been struggling to recapture her commercial success since her last big hit, Die With a Smile, which reached number one in 28 countries and spent 10 weeks as the world’s biggest-selling single. However, with her new album Mayhem, Gaga is back on track.
Mayhem sees Gaga returning to her core values of electronic dance-pop, soft rock, and jazz. The album’s sound is reminiscent of her debut album, The Fame, but with a modern twist. It features big dirty synths, high-energy choruses, and fashion-forward videos that will appeal to fans.
One theory behind Gaga’s recent struggles is her eclecticism, which has led to confusion among fans and critics alike. However, Mayhem proves that Gaga can still produce chart-topping hits without sacrificing her artistic vision. The album is a reversion to first principles, reminding listeners of Gaga’s prescient approach to pop music.
Throughout the album, Gaga showcases her musical diversity, from the Prince-esque electro-funk of Killah to the Chic-style disco of Zombieboy. The album also features nods to Daft Punk, disco, and 80s boogie and house. It’s a bold statement that Gaga is back and ready to reclaim her place in the pop world.
While not all tracks on Mayhem are equally successful, the album’s strengths lie in its ability to produce hits like Abracadabra and Die With a Smile. The only misstep is How Bad Do U Want Me?, which feels too derivative of current pop trends. Nevertheless, Mayhem is a triumphant return for Lady Gaga, one that will likely appeal to fans of her previous work.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/mar/06/lady-gaga-mayhem-review-abracadabra