My Top 5 Lady Gaga Albums that Left Little Monsters Screaming
Many Lady Gaga albums have not only topped charts but also topped our hearts. Below I listed my top 5 Lady Gaga albums that are pure pop perfection!
1. The Fame Monster (2009)
This is a monster of an album! It is a combination of Gaga’s first album, “The Fame,” and an EP full of newer songs. The deluxe version has both sets of music, while the normal CD has the “Monster” portion. What makes this incredible is that fans can listen to two different eras of Gaga’s career.
The Fame and The Fame Monster have been known to be opposites of each other. One is about the lighter side of fame while the other is about the dark side. The Fame is home to hits such as Paparazzi, Just Dance, and Pokerface. The Fame Monster houses classics like Bad Romance, Telephone, and Alejandro. Both eras have been widely praised and critically acclaimed. If it weren’t for the success of these albums, Gaga may not be as widely known as she is today.
I absolutely love this album(s)! It is full of bops that I adore. I will never forget when Just Dance hit the radio and had my 8-year-old self dancing. It was one heck of an experience. I was then shocked to hear Bad Romance. This is a song with a completely different vibe. It was scarier and Thrillier. The transition from the Fame to the Monster era came to show how versatile this artist is!
2. Born This Way (2011)
Many people call this Lady Gaga album the gay bible. Released in 2011, Gaga set forth a catalog of songs widely containing LGBT anthems and messages of self-acceptance. Earlier in the year, Born This Way, the title track, hit the gay rights to our face. Here’s a highlight lyric: “no matter gay straight or bi lesbian or transgender life, I’m on the right track baby, I was born to survive.” Gaga has made sure to get the message across. Live your own authentic life. No one can take that away from you!
Born This Way combines electropop and classic rock, giving us songs that are heavy w the electric guitar yet pop-influenced. It is an incredible fusion of different influences. For example, the hit single, “Judas,” starts out super metal. Many of the verses have a heavy bass and electric synth underneath, but the chorus has more pop elements. It might sound confusing when describing, but hearing the song will clear things up.
This is actually my favorite album from hers. The reason is not only because of the messages but the music and the instrumentals. Even if you are not a fan of the music, you can tell how well-made the songs are. This album also utilizes songs tricks that cannot seen in the pop world. Many people might think weird choices are made, but they are brilliant.
3. ARTPOP (2013)
Gaga herself has said that ARTPOP is a “heavily scrutinized album.” Many people had so much to say about this LP when it was first released. I will never forget how many bad reviews people gave this body of work on iTunes. Many users called it too bizzarre, unorganized, and chaotic. Although today we would not call bizzarre and chaotic a bad thing. I was extremely shocked to see how people expressed their opinions on this piece of art. What’s ironic is that Gaga’s lead single, “Applause,” contained lyrics calling out critics. Later, critics pronounced this album a flop.
Beyond audience and critic responses, Gaga entered a dark path into her career. She has multiple disputes with her managers and record label. They made choices that she did not agree with in terms of promoting the album. She wanted many singles to be released from the album. Instead, we got Applause. The record label pulled the project apart due to not selling as well, despite selling millions of copies. Afterward, one of her managers quit, leaving her (almost) alone. “I fell apart after I released this album.” She said.
Today, it is a critically acclaimed masterpiece. Many reviewers and fans have praised this album for being ahead of its time. There have even been people who confess they hated the album in 2013 that love it today. It is one of the most experimental albums I have ever heard!
4. Joanne (2016)
The transition from Artpop to Joanne is pretty dramatic. This Lady Gaga album ventures the country/folk side of the music industry. This might sound concerning if you are not a fan of these genres, but you will be surprised. Gaga does what she does best: combine these genres with Pop!
I am not a big country fan but Gaga turned it around and made me love her rendition of it. The music in this album mostly has stripped-back vocals and instrumentation. You can barely hear any tech elements that are big in the pop world. Many people even claim that this is not a pop album. There is also a lot of emotion invoked in this record. It tackles her personal life as well as real-world issues America has to deal with. This is a woke album!
I found Joanne to be her most “unique” album. Although the sound of Joanne is not entirely unique, it certainly is for Gaga’s discography.
5. Chromatica (2020)
Chromatica, the latest Lady Gaga album, is disco heaven. She was my quarantine buddy when she was released (given it was released in May of 2020 [when the world was in lockdown]). The album was initially set to release in March of 2020 but the world had other plans.
Besides being my lockdown companion, Chromatica sent me to another planet. This LP reintroduced the full-blown pop anthems Gaga is well known for. The songs are super funky and catchy, transporting you back to the 80s. I became a massive fan of this era when it first got released.
A highlight song from this album is “Rain on Me” featuring Ariana Grande. This song has proven how Gaga can continue making bops even after a decade +. Chromatica is even one of her best-reviewed albums yet. Many little monsters have claimed this album to be their favorite.
