The Bottom Line
Lady Gaga lets the love monsters out of the closet and they are stepping to a martial beat. If you had any fears that Gaga would be a one album flash in the pan, the room filling beats and melodies of "Bad Romance" should help dispel them. The song is an intense litany of nearly pathological romantic entanglements all set to beats designed to crowd the dance floor. Lady Gaga's singing is at its best so far here as she moves from snarling threats to floating sweetness and back again.
Pros
- That huge martial beat and room-filling sound
- Best vocals yet from Lady Gaga
- Arresting nonsense syllable chorus
Cons
- No significant negatives
Description
- Written by Lady Gaga and RedOne
- Produced by RedOne
- Released October 2009 by Interscope
Guide Review - Review: Lady Gaga - "Bad Romance"
"Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah! Roma-Roma-ma-ah! Ga-ga-ooh-la-la! Want your bad romance!" It's Lady GaGa's call to arms against the monsters of negative love relationships. This is one of the songs she wrote over the last year while touring and turning into one of the world's biggest pop stars. She has stated in press releases that the songs are all about the various monsters she faced during the time. One of those was the love monster. RedOne is back in the collaboration chair, and this is their biggest achievement yet.
"Bad Romance" may not be as instantly engaging as "Poker Face" or "LoveGame," but songs about the seamier, uglier side of life do not endear themselves quite as quickly. However, seen in the light of the love monsters it is attempting to chase down, "Bad Romance" becomes a powerfully cathartic exercise.
Musically, "Bad Romance" is a creature of the fashion runway. It was no coincidence that the song had its official premier in Paris fashion week. The music is a perfect, driving soundtrack for viewing arresting fashion designs. However, it remains quite listenable and danceable apart from that context. It is a reminder that the Lady Gaga experience is visual as well as musical. The full effect involves video, clothing, and stage sets in addition to sounds.
"Bad Romance" should easily keep Lady Gaga front and center in the very crowded pre-holiday music release schedule. It is an intriguing introduction to the eight new songs that will be included on the re-release of The Fame titled The Fame Monster. There is depth here that goes well beyond the party and drink atmosphere where we first met Lady Gaga on "Just Dance."
