After breaking the internet with the release of “Mayhem’s” second single, “Abracadabra,” Lady Gaga successfully showcased the energy her album would have.
“Gaga is standing upright again in all her bleach-browed, platform-heel stomping glory,” said Helen Brown, a writer for The Independent. “Gaga’s sixth studio album hails the return of your Mama Monster.”
The album has the same electric feel as “Chromatica” and “Artpop” because of its dance and synth pop instrumentals. Yet, it also plays well into the fearlessness and powerful singing she brought with her older albums, like “The Fame Monster,” and “Born This Way.”
Additionally, Gaga’s hit single with Bruno Mars, “Die With a Smile,” is featured on the album, further solidifying her ability to create diverse and tasteful music.
“It is a project designed to remind listeners why they fell in love with her in the first place,” said Rich Juzwiak, a writer for Pitchfork, an online magazine. “Before the jazz belting or the traditional singer-songwriter gravitas or movie stardom.”
“Disease,” the first single and song of the album, perfectly aligns with her role as Harley Quinn in the film,“Joker: Folie à Deux.” It also plays into her bizarre personas brought forward by her old songs, like “Bad Romance.”
The song shows Gaga in this unusual role as a doctor of someone who is seriously disturbed, and it’s the perfect introduction music for every look she has done for the rollout of the album. The upbeat and dystopian feel of the song paints the picture for what fans can expect as the album goes on, and it undeniably leaves an impression on whoever is listening.
The next song on the album, “Abracadabra,” is another seamless introduction to “Mayhem.” It sounds like it’s straight out of “Chromatica,” while still being new and fresh for listeners. It’s almost like a mix of her 2011 song “Scheiße” and 2020 song “Replay.”
“Scheiße,” a song written in a completely fake language that resembles German, is the most obvious connection to the “Abracadabra” chorus.
“You know you’re listening to a good Lady Gaga song when the chorus is sung in complete gibberish,” said one fan review on a music review site, Album of the Year.
The visuals from the music video take “Abracadabra” to a whole new level, which makes the song an incredibly elevated and eccentric track. The quick movement, stimulating dance moves and bold colors are all viewers need to see to understand “Mayhem.”
“Abracadabra” inspired inside jokes within the fandom about Gaga “reheating nachos” by releasing work that’s similar to what she’s made previously.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Gaga said that while the comment may be negative, she has pride in what she’s done because it’s her own personal art and identity.
“So much of what I did with ‘Abracadabra’ was about claiming music and imagery that’s my own invention – meaning the combination of those things is my own invention, and I really wanted to own that for myself,” Gaga said. “As a woman in music, we’re often told that someone else made us who we are or somehow it didn’t come from us, that we were made that way. But this is who I am.”
This reasoning did not hold up well with several listeners, as some said that recycling old hit styles into new ones is cheap.
“‘Mayhem’ is a disjointed attempt to recapture past glories, resulting in a chaotic mishmash that fails to deliver a coherent musical experience,” one Google reviewer said, leaving one star, “The album’s erratic fusion of genres feels more like a desperate grasp at relevance than a testament of artistic evolution.”
Despite the unsatisfied commentaries about Gaga returning to her old musical roots, it’s hard to argue that it’s a bad thing. It’s the sound and feel her fans have loved and supported continuously throughout her career.
Additionally, if she says it’s a style that speaks true to her as an artist, that’s pretty much all people can ask for. Besides, no one else does it like Lady Gaga. Her uniqueness and dedication to the craft is something that should be appreciated, not looked down upon.
The next songs, “Garden of Eden,” “Perfect Celebrity” and “Vanish Into You,” are incredibly strong vocally, making them a flawless representation of Gaga’s cinematic creativity.
“Vanish Into You” has the same appeal as most of her songs on “Born This Way.” It’s unique, pop and another Gaga song with a captivating ending. The vocals resemble her old albums, while staying true to the electronic energy brought forward by her recent work and the rest of “Mayhem.” It’s a stand out track because of its lasting impact so early in the album.
The next songs, “Killah” and “Zombieboy,” have instrumentals and styles that could be compared to her debut album songs “Starstruck,” “Beautiful Dirty Rich” and “Disco Heaven.” However, these tracks stand on their own as something pretty new. “Killah” introduces a vibe to the album that is less intense, while “Zombieboy” offers a distinctive and amusing disco feel. These songs really seal the deal for Gaga’s inventive style, and have been received well by her fans.
“LoveDrug” is one of the last songs on “Mayhem” that really stands out positively. It plays into the same dance theme as “Abracadabra,” which is a nice full circle near the end of the album. All in all, it’s a fun song that is bound to be enjoyed by her fanbase, but it’s probably not a song that would bring someone into the fandom.
The next track, “How Bad Do U Want Me,” is not as exciting as the rest of the previous songs. The energy and instrumental is enjoyable, but it doesn’t match “Mayhem.” It’s almost as if her song “Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)” was on “Chromatica.” It’s not a bad track by any means, but to be featured on “Mayhem” it should have given more energy.
“[Mayhem’s] only obvious misstep is ‘How Bad Do U Want Me’,” said Alexis Petridis, a writer for The Guardian, “It starts out great, but it dissolves into a song over which the melodic influence of Taylor Swift hangs a little too obviously.”
Other fans, like Lindsay Zoldz, author for The New York Times, think that “How Bad Do U Want Me” positively stands out from the rest of the album because of its relevant connection to other popular albums like Charli XCX’s “Brat.”
“That song, a deliciously catchy synth-pop anthem that draws such clear inspiration from Taylor Swift that some fans thought she was an uncredited backing singer on the track (she isn’t), is the most obviously derivative moment on ‘Mayhem,” Zoladz said. “It’s also one of the best and most fascinating.”
“Don’t Call Tonight” and “Shadow Of A Man,” are solid and a perfect introduction that leads up to “Blade of Grass” and “Die With A Smile.” They offer the iconic and strong Gaga endings, while staying true to the rest of the album.
However, “The Beast” interrupts the flow streak. While the slow pace may be intentional to lead up to the ending songs, it’s similar to “How Bad Do U Want Me.” The concept is interesting, but it doesn’t benefit the album in any extravagant way.
“Blade of Grass” serves as a recovery of a slow song that is perfectly done for “Mayhem.” The lyrics are true to the theme of “Disease,” and its vocals are a perfect match to the flow. The dark and distorted love theme also sets the scene for the infamous ending song, “Die With A Smile.”
The “Die With A Smile” title alone is the perfect ending to “Mayhem.” It’s another track that matches her role as Harley Quinn, and ends the unconventional love story that plays out throughout the album.
“When it comes to expressing her demons or desires, Gaga would still rather reach for an overwritten monster metaphor,” Zoladz said, “Subtlety, she reminds us throughout the maximalist spectacle of ‘Mayhem,’ she can only convincingly play the girl next door if you happen to live on the dark side of Mars.”
Overall, “Mayhem” has been praised and talked about continuously on social media. It’s hard to ignore songs like “Abracadabra” and “Die With A Smile,” and Gaga has certainly reaped the rewards for her work.
On March 17, Gaga was given the Innovator Award at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards and she promised her fans that she is just getting started. Her acceptance speech was incredibly moving as she thanked her musical inspirations, fans and the LGBTQ+ community.
“You taught me bravery before the world was able to listen,” Gaga said. “You have changed the world for the better, and your courage fuels mine every single day.”
Her resilience over the years has been truly inspiring, and her individuality makes her an icon to so many. “Mayhem” is another Gaga album that proves how unusual and unique ideas can bring you far.
“To every artist that’s ever been told they’re different, complicated or too much, please never change,” Gaga said. “Break the mold. The world doesn’t need another copy. It desperately needs your original.”
