The new single from upcoming album ‘Mayhem’ is interesting, yet musically familiar
Last updated: 25th September 2025
Pop has gone through a metamorphosis of sorts, absorbing character from alternative genres. This leads us to the new Lady Gaga (real name Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta) song, Abracadabra.
As entertaining as it is, this music feels dated. From her inception, she exuded a fresh sound that listeners gravitated toward, however, that now feels monotonous. Hopefully, her new album Mayhem will give her fanbase something new. This isn’t the pop revision we have been privy to in the past five or so years and little, if anything, has been adapted to keep up with emerging artists.
What it Sounds Like
From pulsating snares and an upbeat tempo of lavishly exciting music, it very quickly turns stale. Starting with an optimistic brace of production, it radically transitions to undertones of personal strife and battles.
While I appreciate these ideas, resilience and self-discovery have become overused themes in a world where music lovers want more. While it stretches thin, that’s not exactly a bad thing, I’m just saying an alternate way would be more persuasive. Listeners, especially fans, deserve better if they’re already listening to works of similar notions.
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The video is equally unoriginal, filled with done before tropes of personal trials through the means of interpretative dance. The aesthetic and direction are similar to many visuals before it, including the costuming. Given the artist’s budget and industry resources, you’d expect someone to have put their foot down to say ‘hmm, perhaps try something else?’ That’s not to say that this song will fail to generate interest, because it clearly has. But, if one were to critique with no emotional attachments to the artist, then a different conclusion will almost certainly be met.
Verdict
After a five-year artistic hiatus, despite a jazz-inspired album, you’d think Germanotta would present fans with something refreshing – a reset of sorts. Instead, we got Abracadabra – something good, but not great.
Lady Gaga is back, but like a bus – you know what it looks like and what to expect. It’s catchy and enjoyable, but not exactly something I will add to my library and remember to play daily. Enjoyable and fun, it’s hackneyed both sonically and visually and typical of the artist’s work. That will be enough for fans (and there a lot of them) and pop-heads; but outside of the genre? Probably not so much. This song is not aimed at me and that’s fine.
Where to Stream and Buy Physical Copies
The new single is widely accessible. You can stream it on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon, Tidal, and YouTube Music.
Physical copies including compact disc (CD), and a vinyl version in varying colours can be purchased directly from Gaga’s store.
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