Soundz Grade: 6/10
So, Lady Gaga has released Harlequin, and I’m trying to process what I just listened to. Is it jazz? Is it pop? Is it… theatrical chaos? I mean, we knew Gaga was going to dive deep into her character as Harley Quinn from Joker: Folie à Deux, but I didn’t expect this.
Lady Gaga’s Harlequin musical
First of all, the album feels like a musical. But not the good kind of musical where you leave the theater humming the songs. It’s the kind where you’re like, “Was that a trash can lid I just heard in the middle of a jazz standard?” Because apparently, yes, that’s exactly what happened. Gaga’s production choices include clanging war drums and other bizarre elements, turning century-old classics into something…well, disturbing.
The song “Get Happy” made me wonder if I should actually be happy or deeply unsettled. There’s a lyric change referencing the Joker (Arthur Fleck), which is somehow supposed to make you root for a guy who, let’s be clear, has done some horrific things. And then there’s Gaga proclaiming herself as the real mastermind, not the Joker. What is going on here? Is this a character study? A confession? Or just a creative implosion?
Harlequin feels like a reflection of the actress inside Gaga, the one that channeled all her frustrations into this fusion of music and madness. In some tracks, you can hear the exhaustion in her voice, like she’s been battling with her own public persona for years (which, according to her interviews, she pretty much has). In “Happy Mistake,” she sings about her life spiraling out of control, and you almost feel like you’ve been caught in her whirlwind of chaotic energy.
Jazzy Jazz
That said, the jazz itself is… good? Sometimes? The vocals are solid, and if you’re a fan of her earlier jazz albums, you’ll find moments of brilliance here. But then, suddenly, it’s like the Joker sneaks in and warps everything. “The Joker” track is supposed to be about Harley Quinn’s twisted sense of love, but it plays like a declaration of…what? Empowerment? Villainy? I’m not sure if she’s in control, or if she’s just lost it completely.
Ultimately, Harlequin leaves you feeling confused, intrigued, and maybe a little scared. It’s like walking through a carnival funhouse—you’re not quite sure what’s real, but you can’t stop looking. If that’s what Gaga was going for, then mission accomplished. But if you’re hoping for the next Chromatica, this might not be the Gaga you were looking for.
