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Lady Gaga revealed her eagerly anticipated new single 'Applause' this week, after a teaser campaign which has included bizarre promo videos, naked images, prosthetic arms and more. No one does it quite like Gaga.
The release was brought forward after snippets of the track were leaked online (and definitely not because the whole world was discussing the new Katy Perry single instead), and now Little Monsters the world over are in a frenzy over her 2013 comeback. But what about the rest of us?
Lady Gaga has released some absolute corkers in her time ('Bad Romance', 'Edge Of Glory' 'You & I') but for every one of those we're saddled with a mishapen pop lump ('Judas', 'Hair') that has sounded more third single from a Steps comeback than a release by The World's Biggest Popstar (TBC).
So where does 'Applause' fall? Listen to the track below - and read on for our honest opinions...
"Gaga's first offering from ARTPOP may not have been what we expected from her, but is that such a bad thing?
For one thing, at least it's honest. 'Applause's' lyrics tell us she does indeed "live for the applause," and we all know that superstars eventually, in some way, crave the attention and adoration of the public that gave them that status. And here we hear her admitting it, which is quite nice, really. It makes a change from her usual self-esteem boosting anthems that appeal so widely to her legion of devoted fans.
While it is different musically from most of her previous work, the more I listen, I must admit the catchier it gets. Part of being an innovative, groundbreaking artist like Gaga means experimentation and evolution, even if you occasionally run the risk of throwing something out into the world that's a bit...well...off.
In essence 'Applause' is a musical two-fingers up to her critics, and a reassertion of her devotion to her fans. Fair enough, Gaga, but for the next release - maybe, er, take it down a notch?" Chloe Ravat, Gigwise writer
"Lets be honest - 'Applause' simply isn't good enough.
Like many tracks on Lady Gaga's previous album, Born This Way, 'Applause' suffers as the star trying to cram about 50 great ideas into one track. Like 2011 single 'Judas', 'Applause' lacks any coherence between it's bizarre verses, repetitive bridge and abrasive chorus. It's a mess of ideas masquerading as a pop single, and it's the flashes of brilliance in the track that makes it all the more frustrating.
Lady Gaga is the master of self-promotion, and while her army of Little Monsters is fiercely dedicated to the cause, there is only so long that the wider world can put up with sub-par releases from a star we are led to believe is one of the biggest in the world. Must do better, CAN do better." Michael Baggs, Editor
"With the onslaught of bizarre images and videos of naked outdoors yoga, it seems that we're going to have to go through a torturous few months at the hands of the Haus of Gaga FAME machine until ARTPOP finally drops in November.
What would have saved us from the depression of Gaga overload would have been a BANGER of a lead single in a similarly huge vein to 'Just Dance', 'Bad Romance' or 'Born This Way'. But what's this? From the bizarre David Bowie impression she seems to be doing in the verse to the constant pop culture references and the flat interchangeable club-pop chorus, this just doesn't meet her own standards. If she does indeed 'live off the applause', then she may well be clapping herself here - and lazily with one hand, at that.
There have been tracks which have been the fourth or fifth single from her albums which far surpass that. 'Marry The Night' is better than this. It's not a total miscarriage, but for the lead single from the biggest pop star on the planet and the most over-hyped album of the year, you expect a little better." Andrew Trendell, Assistant Editor
"'Applause', in one word, can be described as 'underwhelming'.
Starting better than it finishes, by the time Gaga reaches the chorus her voice has been submergered in a bland auto-tune coating reminiscent of a generic club tune. Lacking the strength of her previous offerings, 'Applause' is reliant on heavy synthisizers that drown out the performer's voice, leaving a relatively toneless robotic singing that barely indictates her musical talent.
Despite Gaga announcing the early leak of the track as a "pop music emergency" and urging fans not to listen until an official release, it seems that Applause is no more than a victim of extreme over hype." Amy Weller, Gigwise writer
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