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Influence definesLady Gagas latest album,Mayhem, a carefully curated sonic exhibition showcasing her inspirations and imitators.
The record is a fascinating retrospective that reveals just how thoroughly Gaga understands her place in the pop-music continuum.
Right off the bat, were getting a ton of thematic similarities to some of Gagas most famous songs.
This exploration of being in the spotlight, we see it on songs like Paparazzi and The Fame.
We even see the satiric slant of celebrity on the song Applause fromArtpop.
Charlie Harding:You cant make gothic dance music without referencing industrial music!
Like, if you want to make dance music dark, youve got to use those drone synths.
:And Gaga loves Nine Inch Nails, so its no surprise.
In a recent interview, she said, I black out every time Im in Trent Reznors presence.
This is a true superfan of Nine Inch Nails we got here.
But then it also goes beyond Nine Inch Nails.
To me, a song like Mercy in You evokes Perfect Celebrity, particularly in the verses.
Vanish Into You
R.C.
:Songs like Perfect Celebrity are not indicative of the whole record.
The album is actually ahappyrecord.
Gagas in what seems to be a fulfilling relationship with her fiance.
:Oh, theres definitely a Chappell song that Im hearing in there.
I mean, the 80s synth-pop thing.
I cant scratch the itch, what is it?
:I hear a little bit of my favorite of hers, Good Luck, Babe.
Vanish Into You is like if Chappell Roan did a Max Martin and Weeknd song.
It has these, like, grand synths that fit well in the Weeknds lusher productions.
I think it could be put in the same conversation as a song like In Your Eyes.
:Thats the Weeknd, not Peter Gabriel, to be clear.
:Another inspiration of Gagas!
How Bad Do U Want Me?
:So I dont think its a secret who this song sounds like.
Nate Sloan:Taylor Swift.
:Using more positive-skewing words, I think How Bad Do U Want Me is atributeto Taylor Swift.
Its like a full imitation of the Jack Antonoff Taylor Swift sound, crafted on records like1989andReputation.
:Yeah, there are so many Taylor hallmarks here.
Youve got these 80s program drums.
Youve got these long, sustained basses, which we talked about in ourMidnightsepisode a couple years ago.
:Shes also dealing in lyrical archetypes that Taylor deals with on Style.
Gaga says, You like the bad girl I got in me.
These ideas of, like, the bad boy and the good girl.
