Lady Gaga returns with a surprise new single, “The Cure.” “The Cure” seems to be a return to form for the dance-pop artist, without breaking any new ground.  

Since releasing ARTPOP in 2013, Lady Gaga has really proven that her artistry extends beyond dance-pop and gimmickry.  She recorded a Grammy-winning duets album with Tony Bennett, and arguably, should’ve beat Sam Smith for the Academy Award for Best Original Song (“Til It Happens to You” from The Hunting Ground).  Even her recent album, Joanne, showed more range compared to previous ones.  “Million Reasons” wasn’t a hit upon its release, but has picked up steam at various points.  Nonetheless, it’s a thoughtfully penned, beautiful song.  Now Gaga returns with “The Cure,” something of a return to form.

“The Cure” is reminiscent of the past.  Lady Gaga got the reputation of being a dance artist, with albums The Fame, The Fame Monster, and Born This Way loading up the Billboard Hot 100 with hit after hit. Interestingly, all three of those projects were nominated for the highly coveted Grammy for Album of the Year.  While Joanne performed respectably on the charts, it certainly didn’t give Lady Gaga a huge hit nor her commercial numbers of the past.  Can you potentially blame her for looking back to what made her big?

All in all, this is a good record, not a great one.  While “The Cure” has many great qualities, particularly the voice, compared to her cutting-edge records, this sounds a bit underwhelming.  It’s not risqué enough to raise eyebrows, something that “LoveGame” did splendidly.  Furthermore, socially, there’s not the same notable message, such as the tolerance of “Born This Way.” Topping classics that have etched a place in pop music history is tough, and the second coming isn’t expected, but “The Cure” feels a bit light for Gaga.

https://youtu.be/UfNIJvmQWWE

Final Thoughts 

While “The Cure” may deserve some criticism given the range of the artist, it’s enjoyable and pleasant without question. Lady Gaga is classy, avoiding the trendy profanity that often does more harm than good these days.  Vocally, she’s strong, even if you long for even more expressiveness on her end – ascending to the next level.  All in all, this is good Lady Gaga, but to quote Lloyd Banks, we all have The Hunger for More.

Lady Gaga • The Cure – single • Interscope • Release: 4.16.17

Photo Credit: Interscope