Following the disappointment and criticism that followed her experimental pop album ARTPOP, Lady Gaga took a substantial amount of time off from the pop music scene. Despite having hinted at new music in January, it was not until mid-August that the singer announced she would be collaborating with long-standing music producers BloodPop, Mark Ronson, and Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker for her first solo single since 2013.
The unlikely team’s “Perfect Illusion” is an interesting mix of pop and rock, with its use of heavy guitar, very Tame Impala-esque synth, and steady, rhythmic beat. Gaga’s emotionally raw vocals tap into her forte of pop love songs, telling a story of lost love that was never really there. Although it may not be the classic pop comeback fans were expecting, this single is the epitome of what makes a mainstream artist like Lady Gaga so unique and likeable: Doing whatever the hell she wants.
