Now, I'll confess: I adore Lady Gaga. Whether it's her music--from the moment I first heard "Just Dance", I knew I found another favorite artist. So, as you can guess, long story short, I've been eagerly waiting her newest album since Artpop, which wasn't my personal favorite of her work, but that was just my own personal taste. I was hoping for a song hearkening back to her earlier hits from Born This Way, The Fame, and The Fame Monster.
Well, Lady Gaga fans, wait no more, since "Perfect Illusion" is a catchy, upbeat, and refreshing return for everyone's favorite Mother Monster. (Besides American Horror Story: Hotel, because goodness, that was also phenomenal. But that's a review for another time!)
This song, which is available on YouTube (as you can see above!), iTunes, Google Play, and even Spotify, is an infectious ditty. For Gaga fans, the song feels much more like Born This Way or The Fame Monster than Artpop, and to be honest, I like that. But, it has a more rock-infused sound, which gives it a kind of edge that reflects the anger in the lyrics. To that effect, the lyrics aren't grandiose or incredibly witty, but they're effective for what this song is--disco dance rock/pop. It doesn't need Fall Out Boy or Panic!-esque metaphors. It's meant to be danced to, hummed along with, and belted while driving around as it plays on the radio.
In terms of the actual sound of the song, as always, Lady Gaga's voice is powerful, yet also has a vulnerability to it that is one of my favorite parts of her singing. In fact, her vocals are pretty much left untreated, which means that we get to hear her raw talent. (And dang, she's talented!) Still, there's anger in the song, which is not necessarily a break-up song, but which sounds to me like a "getting over someone" song, and even if the beat is bright-sounding (with a surprise key change near the end).
In this case, this "someone" happens to be social media, according to Lady Gaga herself. She said that she ended up using the song as a criticism of personal presentation on social media, which tends to be idealized.
While this song is in a minor key, that doesn't make it somber; if anything, it's an energetic song, feeling like the aural equivalent of venting to someone, turning that pain into a new, more positive energy. And, hey, if that energy equals a jam to dance to while hanging out with friends or driving around town, then I'm all for it.
So, all in all, I'd recommend giving Lady Gaga's "Perfect Illusion" a listen. While it isn't necessarily Lady Gaga's best single yet, it's a darn good one, and one that doesn't disappoint. I can't wait to hear her new album when it drops!
Rating: 4/5
