By Patricia Johnson
Elm Staff Writer
Throughout 2024, Lady Gaga has released many new songs, such as the album “Harlequin” to accompany her role as Harley Quinn in “Joker: Folie à Deux.”
This album was full of jazz and soul, showcasing a bold shift in style that was quite experimental for Lady Gaga. Another release was “Die With a Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, which became a global hit.
Interscope Records released “Disease” on Oct. 25 and its official music video followed shortly after. In this single, Lady Gaga returns to her roots of pop-techno music while also following a path of self-realization.
“‘Disease’ is about facing that fear, facing myself and my inner darkness, and realizing that sometimes I can’t win or escape the parts of myself that scare me,” Lady Gaga said in an interview with Variety.
Throughout this dark electro song, Lady Gaga faces different versions of herself. She sings about how she will always come back to that certain version of herself no matter which direction she goes. By coming to terms with herself, she can reach her full potential and learn to handle it.
Lady Gaga is currently in the process of preparing for the release of her seventh studio album, which is anticipated to debut in February. The title of the album has yet to be announced. This album is described as an adventure for her to explore that pain and artistry.
According to BBC, “Disease”s appeal is predicated on the way it harks back to the dark, dazzlingly maximalist singles with which Lady Gaga made her name in the late 2000s and early 2010s.” This single takes on that feral dance-pop that Lady Gaga famously owned years ago.
BBC also says that it can be harder for women in their thirties to regain that popularity because of misogyny and ageism. However, the fact that she is currently on that high train because of “Die With a Smile” with Bruno Mars shows this has not come into effect for her.
A single before her album allows the artist to get a commercial foothold. Specifically for Lady Gaga, having a teaser release before the album allows the fans to engage with the artist while also keeping her music flowing so she does not go fall into the background.
According to Rolling Stone, “By releasing multiple singles, artists and labels can keep things flowing, as Snow puts it, and also hopefully avoid one-hit wonder-dom, which appears increasingly common in the era of the viral flash-in-the-pan.”
Lady Gaga released this single to keep things flowing and also make a big comeback in the pop world. If she wants to keep the momentum of success, she must continue setting up her album for such with more teasers or singles.
Making a strong return to music is important, especially in her case as she has to live up to her fame from the late 2000s and 2010s. The single can show what the artist should focus on and how she should go about the rest of the album. She can look at the feedback she receives from the single and see how well it does on the charts.
Some people are saying that “Disease” is her best song in years, as it is resemblant to her 2000s and 2010s era. The majority of fans are thrilled and exhilarated with this new resurgence of Lady Gaga.
Releasing a single is beneficial because it helps the artist get a view of the listening public and figure out the foundation of their music.
Lady Gaga’s return to pop music is legendary. With the release of her single, she effectively ignites interest among a new audience who fondly remembers her hits from the 2010s. Lady Gaga electrifies her listeners with a sneak peek of her upcoming music, creating an undeniable wave of excitement.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Photo Caption: Lady Gaga is reliving her prime era with her new hit single “Disease.”