Lady Gaga - Harlequin
Lady Gaga once again plays on the nerves of her fans.
The soundtrack album to the soundtrack of the film Joker: Folie à Deux marks a new artistic chapter for Gaga. While the technique of creating a movie-inspired album isn't revolutionary—Prince, Madonna, and others did it before her—in today's landscape, it's a bold move.
The album is dominated by covers of iconic songs from the past century, including performances by legends like Judy Garland, Louis Armstrong, and Marion Montgomery. Let's address those first. Gaga is no stranger to covers, particularly within the jazz genre. Does she pull them off? Most of the time, yes. Does she outperform the originals? Rarely, but she certainly doesn't fall short either. Does she breathe new life into them? Not quite.
These tracks will serve the film, adding a layer of atmosphere and drama to the musical elements that are bound to both unsettle and intrigue audiences as the film's release draws near.
More interesting, however, are the two original songs created for this project: Folie à Deux and Happy Mistake. Let's delve into them.
It's unclear whether these tracks will be considered for awards season, but for the sake of this review, let's assume they are. In that case, we have two potential outcomes:
If Folie à Deux, written entirely by Lady Gaga, is pushed for awards consideration, it might not fare well. The song feels somewhat dated, overly theatrical, and lacks the spark needed to capture the audience’s attention. It’s unlikely to make a lasting impression. It's not bad, but it's not as great as it could be.
On the other hand, if Happy Mistake, a collaboration with BloodPop, is chosen, it could be a different story. And here's a sentence I never thought I’d write—BloodPop has created a song worthy of award nominations, possibly even an Oscar nod. This track is both chaotic and emotional, narrating a disjointed but compelling story. It's the kind of material that has staying power.
In conclusion, Harlequin showcases Gaga’s versatility and theatrical flair, but it doesn’t break new ground. The covers, while expertly executed, don’t reinvent the wheel. The original material is good, but we could use a bit more. That said, Happy Mistake stands out as the album's true gem, a song that could very well become a significant moment in Gaga’s career. Ultimately, Harlequin is a fascinating, if uneven, addition to Lady Gaga’s discography—a project that will likely resonate more with the film's narrative than as a standalone musical achievement.
7.7/10
