Tim: I know everyone’s probably heard this already, but I’ve been listening to it a lot lately and I have a point to make. For those that don’t know it, it’s the second release off her latest album, and the music starts about a minute in.
Tom: Believe it or not, I haven’t heard this, or at least I haven’t noticed it. It’s really rather good, isn’t it? Even if it did keep reminding me of Jason Donovan with those “reasons” lyrics.
Tim: Oh, I almost want to give you a prize for the obscurity of that reference, very good. But here’s the thing: Lady Gaga is very good at making music. Perfect Illusion probably wasn’t the best track to kickstart an album, but this is great: soulful music, emotions carried across perfectly in the flawless vocals, with a beautifully doleful backing line underneath it all. And yet the most impressive thing about all of it is this: it’s not remotely what her fans want.
Tom: Yes! This feels like a completely different artist, just one with a similar voice. There’s “managing audience expectations”, and then there’s “not giving a damn about what the audience want”.
Tim: Ever since that largely reviled jazz album, she has, in the eyes of many, been a massive let down. Hand this song to Adele or Sia, people would love it. With Gaga, though, it’s all “yes well it’s no The Edge of Glory is it so get back to the studio and do better stuff.”
Tom: To be fair, she did produce a lot of full-on bangers. And I liked them. More, to be fair, than I liked this. She’s a good Adele. But we already have a good Adele.
Tim: As for me? Well, like I said, it’s a good track. But it really is no The Edge of Glory, is it? So go on, back to the studio please.