Lady Gaga ‘nails it’ on long-awaited, comeback single “Perfect Illusion.” Vocally, she sounds as ripe as ever. 

Cutting straight to the chase, dance-pop queen Lady Gaga nails it – her comeback single that is.  The world was once more blessed with the brilliance of Lady Gaga in their lives when she dropped “Perfect Illusion” out of nowhere.  After years of a void without the Monsters queen, she returns epically.

“Perfect Illusion” opens with exuberant, slick production. Pummeling drums hit you right in the chest.  Although it’s exuberant, the record is set in a minor key. Gaga’s vocals are clear and incredibly assertive. Ultimately, her voice sounds riper and more powerful than ever.

The record features an excellent harmonic progression here, which hearkens back to disco.  A breakup song, it is executed oxymoronically.  Set in a minor key which is associated with dark or sad, yet bursting with enthusiasm (danceable, up-tempo, and powerfully executed). The catchy, powerful chorus is among the selling points:

“It wasn’t love, it wasn’t love / it was a perfect illusion (perfect illusion) / mistaken for love, it wasn’t love / it was a perfect illusion (perfect illusion) / you were a perfect illusion” 

Beyond the awesome chorus, there are a number of key lyrics.  The first hails from the first verse, where Lady Gaga suggests she was a fool in love:

“My guessing game is strong / way too real to be wrong / caught up in your show / yeah, at least now I know”

She goes on to compare her infatuation with being high and dreaming, yet not living in reality:

“High like amphetamine / maybe you’re just a dream / that’s what it means to crush / now that I’m wakin’ up / I still feel the blow / but at least now I know”

Final Thoughts 

All in all, “Perfect Illusion” is an awesome comeback for Lady Gaga.  A void is clearly being filled with her return.  Besides being an awesome dance track, it is a powerful break-up anthem that both men and women alike should easily be able to relate to.  Vocally, Gaga sounds exceptional, delivering one of her best performances ever.

Lady Gaga • Perfect Illusion (Single) • Interscope • Release: 9.9.16

Photo Credit: Interscope