Lady Gaga’s “Applause” is one of her most memorable songs and speaks to the theater kid in all of us. Despite that, the “Shallow” singer made a huge mistake when she released “Applause.” One of the song’s songwriters said the tune didn’t live up to expectations.
Lady Gaga’s ‘Applause’ should have been the album’s opener
Album sequencing is an art form in itself. The songs on the best albums appear in a coherent order. For example, The Beatles’ songs Abbey Road It wouldn’t have worked as well if it had started with “The End.” Most of Gaga’s records are well sequenced, but she made a huge mistake with her third studio album, which is pretentiously titled “The End.” Pop Art.
“Applause” is the last song on that album. A song about the love of performing should have started the album and gotten the audience pumped up. Instead, Gaga proclaims her love of performing right before the album ends. It’s such a letdown that one can only wonder why she thought it was a good idea.
Lady Gaga’s ‘Artpop’ seems half-baked
The album also has a Greek mythology theme. One of the songs is called “Venus,” another begins with an invocation to Eros, and the album cover features images of the work of Sandro Botticelli. The Birth of VenusThe album should have concluded with a mythological song to cement the theme. Instead, Gaga omits the mythological references, making them seem like an excuse.
Gaga’s previous album, Born in this cityandcontains many references to Catholicism. One song is about Judas Iscariot, another includes the line “I don’t need your Jesus Christ,” and another focuses on Mary Magdalene. On that record, Gaga seemed to reject her Catholic upbringing for something more bohemian and libertine. In contrast, the mythological underpinnings of Pop Art I feel half done.
The producer of ‘Applause’ was upset by the interpretation of the song
DJ White Shadow co-produced “Applause.” During a 2021 interview with Entertainment Weekly, DJ White Shadow explained the background of Pop Art. “After Born this way “When I finished and turned it in, I remember I was lying on the couch at home and I picked up the phone and it was (Gaga),” he recalled. “She said, ‘I have the name for the next record. It’s Pop Art!’”
DJ White Shadow said doing Pop Art It was tough. “Everything was in a state of confusion at the time,” he said. “Everyone was guessing how to get things out. It was a moving target. When ‘Applause’ came out, it didn’t go to No. 1 right away; ‘Born This Way’ went to No. 1 right away. I know it wasn’t a moment of, ‘Oh, shit, Macy’s Day Parade.’ We were all kind of freaked out.”
DJ White Shadow said he was creating Pop Art It caused him trauma. “Once it was over, I didn’t want to make another record for the rest of my life,” he explained. “It was so bad. I was done. I have a picture of me walking out of the Record Plant after it was over, and I look terrible.” DJ White Shadow said he slept in the studio for a month to complete Pop Art and experience made him look 150 years old.
“Applause” is a great song, even if its placement doesn’t. Pop Art any favor.
