Celebrating ARTPOP
Last week marked the 10th anniversary of Lady Gaga’s ARTPOP album. The album, now celebrated, is undeniably iconic, but it is not the first and certainly not the last. But why are we celebrating this album in particular?
Album cover. Created by Jeff Koons.
If the Born This Way album was controversial and challenging, ARTPOP was purely experimental. In the aftermath of its release, the album remained marginalized and misunderstood. Yet, it is Lady Gaga’s bravest album yet. As described by Grammy, it was widely believed that the album would 'eulogize' her career and spell the end of her music. Following the success of the Born This Way album, the 2013 release faced severe criticism and disappointment due to the unmet expectations surrounding Lady Gaga’s fame at the time. A 2014 article reported that her label lost around $25 million and had to lay off some workers due to the album’s decline in sales. Most of the criticism targeted the album's production: the pop-EDM-disco sounds, sloppy production, and lack of coherence. Now, the album is praised for exploring themes such as sex, sexuality, gender, fame, and more. It also does not shy away from addressing controversial and hard-hitting subjects like addiction and sexual assault. Gaga aimed to reinvent her image and distance herself from her previous work; she even likened herself to a phoenix, being reborn from the ashes and rising again. It is highly camp, original, and combines contemporary art and pop culture—Gaga collaborated with major artists like Jeff Koons on promotion. The album’s significance transcends a fixed interpretation; its meaning is left to the listener's perspective and experiences. Lady Gaga deliberately avoided confining the work to a singular narrative or predefined message and, instead, allowed each listener to extract their own meaning from its diverse themes.
Initially considered a flop, ARTPOP has evolved into a cult favorite among music fans. The album remains a powerhouse of ideas, concepts, genres, and sounds, influencing both art and pop culture. Instead of prioritizing sales, this time Gaga emphasized creativity; she commented, “Really, it’s about freeing yourself from the expectations of the music industry and the expectations of the status quo.” Truly, it stands as her work of passion—a critical but underrated point in her career. Grammy’s praise for the album came only 10 years after its release. Grammy’s comments: “Ten years later, her avant-garde approach to pop suddenly seems remarkably en vogue, as genre-hopping and highly-textured sonic palettes become the norm—especially in the alt-pop sphere.” It is essential to note that upon the initial release, the Grammys did not share this opinion, heavily criticizing the album. Yet, even 10 years later, the album remains misunderstood. It was certainly boundary-pushing and experimental but not tailored for the 2013 music scene. Even Gaga herself admitted that the album was ahead of its time upon its initial release. Speculations about Act II in the future exist, but this is not confirmed. Most sources state that the production was officially dropped, yet fans remain hopeful as leaks circulate online.
