The little snappy production that kicks in the second verse... Vespertine whomst? I remember the remix in the single also being a banger.
Lady Gaga - Mayhem
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This is always my thing with a lot of her ballads. I feel like she equates belting with emotion for the most part. The worst examples being Angel Down, Hold My Hand, Till It Happens To You and to a lesser extent Speechless.
The fewer moments in which she takes the foot off the gas a little (see: Always Remember Us This Way, Joanne) are way more emotive to me.
he/him
Yeah. Ironically I find songs like “Scheiße” or “Hair” or even fucking “Fashion!” to be more affecting than any ballad she’s ever done. The tears I’ve shed. Just pure, raw emotion in those. I don’t know if I’ve ever cried to a Gaga ballad before, although I’ve come close with, like, acoustic renditions and stuff like that. Like her acoustic versions of “Just Dance” and “Eh, Eh” are stunning.
He/Him/His
The problem with a Gaga ballad is she insists on honking her way through it like a goose terrorizing the neighborhood.
Shallow, Always Remember Us and Is That Alright is the trinity on that soundtrack and I wish so mamy people didn't sleep on the latter. Maybe because it's not actually performed in the movie?
I mean, I'm pretty sure I've literally never seen Daisies being described a ballad once? It's a mid-tempo pop rock song. I'd call Wide Awake a mid-tempo too. And those three Rihanna songs I mentioned as well.
In terms of ballads in the most traditional sense of the word, to me Gaga has Katy and especially Rihanna easily beat, but if people genuinely think Unfaithful, Take Bow, California King Bed or Unconditionally are actually good songs and better than most of Gaga's... well, to each their own I guess.
Conversation has moved forward, but Happy Mistake is definitely a big ballad. The way that chorus swoops in with her belt is very similar to almost all of her work in that department so far.
She isn’t the BPG for ballads, and that’s more than okay. None of them made Bad Romance or Scheiße.
She isn’t the BPG for ballads, and that’s more than okay. None of them made Bad Romance or Scheiße.
Ooh ballad discussion. I'm here!
I always thought Gaga had a super good ear for 'classic' melodies which sound like evergreen songs since the start of her career, as showcased in some early ballads, notably "Brown Eyes" and "Speechless". Not to mention the unreleased gems from the time such as "Let Love Down" (gorgeous!), "Fooled Me Again", "Wonderful", "Oh Well" etc. Even the Stefani Germanotta Band song "Wish You Were Here" is a beautiful example of that. She really tends to shine on piano ballads, whether you like these or not.
"Dope" is one of my faves from "ARTPOP", so raw and effective. I'd say "Joanne" was pretty bulletproof, "Angel Down" in particular is one of my absolute favourite Gaga deep cuts.
"A Star Is Born" was very much a mixed bag when it comes to the ballads - "Shallow" and "Always Remember Us This Way" are excellent and have that 'timeless classic' feel while I can barely recall a note of the rest. Her recent balladry efforts are generally just not as strong and lack that special something, "Happy Mistake" being a big exception.
I always thought Gaga had a super good ear for 'classic' melodies which sound like evergreen songs since the start of her career, as showcased in some early ballads, notably "Brown Eyes" and "Speechless". Not to mention the unreleased gems from the time such as "Let Love Down" (gorgeous!), "Fooled Me Again", "Wonderful", "Oh Well" etc. Even the Stefani Germanotta Band song "Wish You Were Here" is a beautiful example of that. She really tends to shine on piano ballads, whether you like these or not.
"Dope" is one of my faves from "ARTPOP", so raw and effective. I'd say "Joanne" was pretty bulletproof, "Angel Down" in particular is one of my absolute favourite Gaga deep cuts.
"A Star Is Born" was very much a mixed bag when it comes to the ballads - "Shallow" and "Always Remember Us This Way" are excellent and have that 'timeless classic' feel while I can barely recall a note of the rest. Her recent balladry efforts are generally just not as strong and lack that special something, "Happy Mistake" being a big exception.
Ballad discussion? Let me just say that Dope doesn't deserve the hate it gets and it's actually a great song.
It is a great song. It has great lyrics and a great melody. Shame about that vocal!
Die With A Smile > Happy Mistake > Hold My Hand
I really don't love Hold My Hand, it's a bit faceless and cheesy (I think it just touches on a certain side of 80's rock power ballads that I personally can't stand nn). Die With A Smile is a little cheesy too, but it somehow works better to these ears. I don't care a ton for Happy Mistake, but she sounds good on it and it's maybe the best of the 3 lyrically.
I do agree that ballads aren't her strongest suit outside of a few gems (Alway Remember Us This Way, Shallow, and I've always loved Joanne), but I think she has mad potential in that area....it's just that with some of these songs, she seems like she doesn't know exactly how to stick the landing in their execution. Dope is a great example; I think it's a really well written and well produced song, but the overly theatrical vocal takes away from it. There are also some uptempo songs like Edge of Glory and Hair that work really well as ballads.
I really don't love Hold My Hand, it's a bit faceless and cheesy (I think it just touches on a certain side of 80's rock power ballads that I personally can't stand nn). Die With A Smile is a little cheesy too, but it somehow works better to these ears. I don't care a ton for Happy Mistake, but she sounds good on it and it's maybe the best of the 3 lyrically.
I do agree that ballads aren't her strongest suit outside of a few gems (Alway Remember Us This Way, Shallow, and I've always loved Joanne), but I think she has mad potential in that area....it's just that with some of these songs, she seems like she doesn't know exactly how to stick the landing in their execution. Dope is a great example; I think it's a really well written and well produced song, but the overly theatrical vocal takes away from it. There are also some uptempo songs like Edge of Glory and Hair that work really well as ballads.
May I bring to the table Christina's ballads