
Lady Gaga - Harlequin
1xLp on Red Vinyl
Unexpected and announced right before release, Harlequin is a breath of fresh air in Lady Gaga's catalog, unhindered by the expectations of a typical "Lady Gaga Pop Album" and perhaps the multifaceted artist at her most free. Tapping into her theatrical side, this companion piece to the Joker: Folie à Deux film (and not the other, actual official soundtrack) blurs the line between the persona (Harleen "Lee" Quinzel, aka Harley Quinn) and the person (Gaga). Take this as the debut album from the character of Harley Quinn, as played by Lady Gaga. Putting on that mask, she's free to step outside of the mainline Gaga album trajectory and get playful. In the role of Lee, an in-character Gaga is allowed to say the quiet parts of her own experiences out loud (more so than she allows herself on her proper albums), and it's wonderfully liberating to hear her express these feelings with a wink and a smile. There are bright and brash show tunes ("That's Entertainment") and American Songbook standards ("Good Morning," "Get Happy"), often spun into sweaty New Orleans jazz send-ups, and it's done with more accessible ease than her Tony Bennett collaborations. On the other end of the spectrum, the quieter, lush arrangements are the real draw. Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" is given space to breathe, a piano-backed standout that's so engrossing it transports listeners to a smoky Parisian lounge, while "World on a String" (her spin on Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler's "I've Got the World on a String") hypnotizes with soulful guitar wizardry and a light gospel touch. Grand showpiece "The Joker" could have been on Joanne, as an edgy, feral blast with a booming vocal performance as intense as the showstopper on "Shallow." Similarly, "Happy Mistake" (one of two Gaga originals) is another powerful showcase of her ever-evolving vocals, which nearly eclipse the dour acoustic guitar and swirling atmospheric production. Top to bottom, this is a coveted no-skips effort, elevated by the fun, liberated approach that helps the listener escape reality and push the limits like the characters in the film.
Good Morning 2:46
Get Happy (2024) 3:12
Oh, When The Saints 3:43
World On A String 2:38
If My Friends Could See Me Now 2:42
That's Entertainment 4:09
Smile 3:39
The Joker 2:55
Folie À Deux 2:59
Gonna Build A Mountain 2:52
Close To You 2:44
Happy Mistake 4:05
That's Life 3:05