ARTPOP Listening & Review Part 2:
6. "MANiCURE
From the get-go I was always a wee bit skeptical of this song, it's a lot more rocky and sprinkled with more grit than how I'd usually order my Gaga, but I have my moments with this song. It fluctuates. The verses aren't really too much to my liking, but I suppose it's because of the nostalgia of the Swinefest performance when I first heard this song - and at that time I was OBSESSED with this one guy, and Gaga was giving voice to my internal anguish so clearly. "Heal me, cause I'm addicted to love. Save me, cause I'm addicted to love." It was so true! This stupid crush was putting me in such a funk, and the way "MANiCURE" is so angry and passively screaming about wanting be "cured" of love struck a chord. I certainly wish I could be man cured - but unfortunately it's an ongoing affliction.
7. "Do What U Want"
I'mma be honest, from the get-go - I hated this song. I thought what is this dreadful verse? I can't remember if I heard this song or "Dark Horse" first, but whatever one I heard second I remember it reminding me of the other - and not in a good way. Only the intro though obviously, cause obviously this is LEAGUES ahead of that rubbish. (katy vs gaga hihi) Anyway, as it turns out - this song is actually pretty up there in terms of Gaga's "great songs", and probably her best collab (beyonce vs gaga hihi) ever, though the part could have been switched to someone slightly less offensive. Having an alleged rapist literally singing "do what I want with your body" is a bit jarring. Fortunately the song has a powerful rhythm, a catchy chorus, clever lyrics (more about the media than a lover) and Gaga just has some really raw moments, like the "I would fall apart if you break my heart" where she is serving some pretty impressive, unedited (sounding) vocals on a scale not heard from here previously.
8. "Artpop"
This song has served me top quality life since I heard it at the Swinefest. That slow, gradually increasing in volume that sounds so space/Sci-Fi-esque and eternal is so mysterious and intriguing. The lyrics are equally so, with the now infamous line "My ARTPOP could mean anything" eventually becoming the phrase and idea that the album/era will be primarily remembered by. IDK I love a lot of
ARTPOP songs and it's hard not to repeat things, but this song definitely feels like a moment of hope for the album - at least in its inception. It seems to be overflowing with ideas, a feat considering the songs simplicity. But it seems Gaga had a real vision from the get-go, and it was never intended to be a solidified concept like
The Fame Monster or
Born This Way. The main line of the album is "My ARTPOP could mean anything", yet there seemed to be an expectation for a concise, well-polished product? Despite the clearly out-of-Gaga's-control management issues, I suspect a lot of the randomness of the promo (Swinefest, SXSW, muppets, The Tonight Show) was intended - Gaga meant her work could pop up anywhere, take any form, be anything - and in a lot of ways she succeeded. Even the "G.U.Y." video came out of the blue - such a well polished, expensive and over-the-top video in the middle of her "flop" era? What kind of queen.
9. "Swine"
When "Swine" first leaked I was HERE for it, but then over time I realized it's actually a really annoying song with a really OTT production and kind of stupid lyrics. I get that Gaga is probably talking about some time she was sexually assaulted or raped (
) trying to get into the business, or so I assume, (and maybe had an abortion as a result hence the "Marry The Night" video? Speculation obvi) but whatever the intention, the song is an annoying mess and I probably would only be here for it on the treadmill, at ha concert or in a
very homosexual night club. That being said, it is still kind of a bop and beat goes HARD so if you were angry you could probably let a biT of steam off by screaming out the song lyrics. Secretly I think the song is all about Perez Hilton, I mean "squealer, you're so disgusting" - hello?
10. "Donatella"
This was of the
ARTPOP songs that from the first listen had me on the floor bowing to my
Born This Way poster crying, sobbing and uttering words like "queen", "fierce", "slay", "icon" etc. It was the new gay anthem as far as I was concerned. I just love how catchy, fierce and gay the whole song is - "What do you wanna wear this spring? What do you think is the new thing?" just makes me wanna dive into my closet and set ALIGHT some of the abominable things I allow myself to wear. One of the best lines is blatantly "Cause she walks so bad like it feels so good" and I mean isn't that basically just saying we all put our best faces on despite getting hate and flack etc? Dunno how ya'll translate it but the song is kind of motivational, makes me wanna be the baddest bitch and care not for anything said by anyone else. "I'm the pearl to your oyster, I'm a babe" is probably the most muffled lyrics, but also one of the best.
The final part 3 is coming soon.
Post the Donatella one please 
