Calvin University's official student newspaper since 1907

Calvin University Chimes

Since 1907
Calvin University's official student newspaper since 1907

Calvin University Chimes

Calvin University's official student newspaper since 1907

Calvin University Chimes

Lady Gaga shows some nuance with “Joanne”

A queen of pop, Lady Gaga is well known for hits such as “Poker Face,” “Bad Romance” and “Born This Way.” In her first solo album since 2013’s “ARTPOP,” which received mixed reviews, “Joanne” marks Gaga’s triumphant return to music.

Those expecting the usual affair from this album, however, might be surprised; unlike her previous records, which focused on a pop sound with heavy instrumentation, “Joanne” plays around with different genres, emphasizing Gaga’s vocal prowess in a variety of styles. “Sinner’s Prayer” features a distinctly country twang, while “Joanne” and “Angel Down” are stripped down and acoustic; “Come to Mama” and “Just Another Day” include a variety of big band instruments accompanying Gaga’s powerful vocals, while the opening track “Diamond Heart” lets a guitar riff take the lead. There’s a lot of musical nuance to this album, and each song stands on its own while still adding to the overall package.

That nuance extends to the emotional content of the record. Gaga has always been one to write compelling lyrics, but this album takes it up a notch as Gaga bares her heart. This is in part thanks to the album’s focus: the titular Joanne was Gaga’s aunt, who passed away from lupus in 1974 — nearly 12 years prior to Gaga’s birth. Although she never knew her Aunt Joanne, Gaga noticed that the death had a potent effect on her family, and in this album she sought to capture some of those emotions.

The result is a series of songs that feel remarkably personal. In the title track, Gaga laments, “Take my hand. Stay, Joanne. Heaven’s not ready for you. Every part of my aching heart needs you more than the angels do.” In “Million Reasons,” Gaga uses spiritual terms, mentioning “I bow down to pray; I try to make the worse seem better. Lord, show me the way to cut through all his worn out leather.” The authenticity in these songs is palpable, and Gaga’s emotionally fueled singing only emphasizes the depth of the lyrics.

Of course, the album also has some more lighthearted tracks. In “John Wayne,” Gaga expresses her disdain of men and their “city games,” desiring a man in the vein of the titular cowboy. Likewise, “Grigio Girls” is a song about Gaga’s favorite alcoholic beverage, Pinot Grigio. These songs are fun and enjoyable, and help bring some laughter to an otherwise melancholy album.

While you might not hear many tracks from “Joanne” on the radio, I believe this album will be remembered as one of Lady Gaga’s most interesting. It plays with ideas of faith, death and loss, all while refraining from being too heavy-handed — a testament that even pop music can speak to the deeper elements of our human experience.

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