Lady Gaga - Do What U Want (Remixes)

Due to some unexpected behind the scenes issues with her management, the release of the remixes and the video were put on hold, however, it appears that those issues have been resolved. Dance mixes by DJ White Shadow, Kronic, Samantha Ronson, Steven Redant (with and without Amp Lexvas) will be released on February 25.

DJ White Shadow's remix is at a similar tempo as the original and has the R. Kelly vocals. This has fun 80s vibe. Kronic's EDM heavy mix is a tad noisy, however, it includes some additional vocals not heard in the other versions. Samantha Ronson's mix is interesting, however, it lacks cohesion. Steven Redant delivers 3 different mixes that include the Christina Aguilera vocals. His Madrid mixes are more mainstream while the Barcelona mix is more suited for peak hour. The third mix with Amp Lexvas is in an Inner City throwback style complete with those "Good Life" keys. It is also at a lower tempo, allowing the vocals to sound a little less frenzied. The separation of some of the ad libs and backing vocals adds nicely to the mix.

-Listen to all of the mixes here (YouTube, on Lady Gaga's official channel)

Grade: A

Lady Gaga feat. Christina Aguilera - Do What U Want (Remix)

There had been some rumors swirling since late 2008 that the two divas had a feud after Christina made some comments about Lady Gaga, however, it looks like any animosity that existed has subsided. Lady Gaga performed this song as a duet with Christina on The Voice earlier last month sparking discussion of an official remix. The wait is over and the remix has been released. Christina replaces controversial R&B star R. Kelly on the second verse and adds her signature growls and high notes throughout the song. Many had pointed out how Gaga's voice bore a striking resemblance to the Christina's when the song first came out. The two singers' voices blend perfectly resulting in a great remix.

-Listen to a clip and purchase the remix here (iTunes)

Grade: A 

Lady Gaga - ARTPOP (Review)

This is the much-awaited 3rd album from the perpetually reinventing singer. Sexuality is the major theme of this album as evidenced by the preponderance of songs dedicated to that subject. Fame, materialism, lust, insecurity, and self-identity were major themes on previous albums, however, some of these do come up here.

Here is an overview of all the songs:

Aura
Things begin on a slightly sinister and mysterious note with the "Americano"-esque club track which originally leaked as a demo over the summer. The instrumental production is totally the same however the vocals have been re-recorded, losing some of the fun the original had.

Venus
The double entendre laden uptempo about the goddess of love and the planet is a bit messy in its structuring, though it has several great hooks within it.

G.U.Y
This sexy electro midtempo is one of the standouts. It has the potential to be a single later on. The hook and pre-chorus are so infectious.

Sexxx Dreams
The provocative confessional midtempo recalls 90s Janet Jackson and Madonna with its naughty and playful vibe.

Jewels N' Drugs (feat. T.I., Too $hort and Twista)
This song is a bit of a departure from her usual as this song combines elements of electropop, trap, and hip hop creating an unusual blend that somehow works.

MANiCURE 
The Samantha Fox meets Phil Spector track about a man making everything better is enjoyable though it feels like one of the filler tracks from her debut.

Do What U Want (feat. R. Kelly) 
This is her latest Ace Of Base throwback that is two tons of fun. The intelligent lyrics and gorgeous vocals on this make it another standout. R. Kelly may seem like an unlikely collaborator for her, but it's perfect.

Artpop 
The Disco meets Hi Nrg "Dance In The Dark"-esque title track is delightful.

Swine
The most aggressively-produced song could be interpreted as being about those individuals Gaga encountered who tried to take advantage of her as she was coming up in the music industry.

Donatella
The ode to fashion designer Donatella Versace is convivial though it is lyrically vapid and trite. There are loads of catchphrases in this one that should be just as ubiquitous as YOLO was last year.

Fashion! 
The piano-based 80s inspired song is also seriously lacking in the lyric department, but it is fun.

Mary Jane Holland
The Eurodance referencing midtempo all about marijuana also suffers from some seriously cringe-inducing lines, but this will no doubt be a fan favorite when performed live.

Dope 
A significantly different version of this was performed at the iTunes Festival under its original title "I Wanna Be With You." The Queen-inspired autobiographical song is about her overcoming addiction opting to go with love instead. The live version was much better overall, however, this is still pretty well done.

Gypsy 
This uptempo Power Ballad features one of her greatest vocal performances to date. The lyrics are super relatable and this has the potential to be huge if it were a single later on.

Applause 

The first single is an appropriate album closer, though it does not really go with the rest of the album.

This is overall a fun album, but it is not quite as cohesive as The Fame Monster or Born This Way, which did cover a variety of sounds and styles, but there was an underlying element that held it together that is noticeably missing here. "MANiCURE", "Donatella", and "Fashion!" end up being the weakest tracks of the bunch due to the lyrics and the production choices, but they are by no means terrible. The changed versions of "Aura" and "Dope" are a tad disappointing given how different the original versions were, but they are still good enough. "Gypsy", "G.U.Y", "Sexxx Dreams", "Do What U Want", and "Venus" are the best of the bunch.

There are plans to make additional tracks from the ARTPOP sessions available through a special app for use on tablets and smartphones. Other exclusive content to be announced will be made available through the app. There are also rumors that a second volume of ARTPOP containing more songs will be released later on.

The album is out today and is available for purchase at all digital music stores and most brick and mortar stores like Best Buy and Target. Walmart only has the edited edition of the album.

Grade: A-

Lady Gaga feat R Kelly - Do What You Want

This is the first iTunes countdown single from her highly anticipated ARTPOP album due out next month. This is NOT the next single from the album ("Venus" is). The pairing of Lady Gaga and R. Kelly may seem like an unusual one given their drastically different styles of music, but somehow it all works perfectly. Their vocal styles complement one another. The early 90s Ace Of Base sound previously heard in her own "Alejandro" is present here along with a bit of 80s R&B and Freestyle, yet this all sounds so fresh. This song is featured in the new Dre Beats commercials airing on TV networks all over the U.S. There are no plans to make this a single, but this is begging to be one eventually.

-Listen to the song here (YouTube)
-Buy the song here (iTunes)

Grade: A

Lady Gaga - Applause

This is the lead single from ARTPOP. It is produced by DJ White Shadow, who contributed a number of songs on her last album Born This Way. After a number of mysterious clips were "leaked" during the past week, many were expecting a really unusual song. The result is a euphoric and fun party song. It is extremely catchy. The production has an 80s feel. The main chord progression during the chorus is reminiscent of Christina Aguilera's "Let There Be Love" and Ke$ha's "Crazy Kids". This should hopefully put Gaga back on top again.

listen here;
http://www.kiss108.com/iplaylist/artist/1055684/

Grade: A

Lady Gaga - Marry The Night

This is the 5th single off of her Born This Way album. This song is a funky synthpop number that could easily be mistaken for something out of The Human League's illustrious catalogue. Gaga's vocals are beautifully showcased on this one.

A radio edit has been made for its single release. The beats sound a bit more pronounced in certain parts. The breakdown towards the end has been consolidated and taken in a bit. The edit is subtle and effective.

There is an additional radio version by David Jost which is a bit more electro and big room-ish. A longer version of this would be perfect for the clubs.

An alternate version called the Zedd Remix was included on the deluxe edition of the album. It is a chunky electro mix.

-Listen to the radio edit here (SoundCloud)
-Listen to the David Jost mix here (DJCity)

Grade: A

Lady Gaga - You And I

This is the 4th single off of Born This Way. The Mutt Lange-produced (best known for his work with former wife, Country chanteuse Shania Twain) Country/Rock/Pop midtempo was first performed live last year on tour prior to its inclusion on the new album. It drew many comparisons to the song "Speechless" from her The Fame Monster. This song really showcases Lady Gaga's brilliant songwriting abilities and vocals.

There are two additional versions which would help this on radio (the original is already stunning) by Mark Taylor and 10 Kings. The Mark Taylor mix calls to mind those Pop single mixes often created for Shania Twain's singles back in the day. It adds some additional elements including swing beat drums. The production aesthetic of the original is still there. The 10 Kings mix feels like it is cut from the same cloth as last single "The Edge Of Glory" with its 80s synthpop meets Eurodance sound. Both versions are pretty good with the Mark Taylor one being the better one of the two.

Some additional versions of the original radio edit have been made with Lady Gaga replacing the Nebraska references with other states for those particular markets.

• Watch the music video here (YouTube)
• Listen to the Mark Taylor mix here (YouTube)
• Listen to the 10 Kings mix here (YouTube)

Grade: A+ (for the original)/A (for the Mark Taylor mix)/A- (for the 10 Kings mix)

Lady Gaga - Hair

This is the latest song to be premiered from her Born This Way album which is due for a release next week. It is the second of two iTunes countdown singles. "Hair" is also an uptempo. It starts off almost beatless and then builds up. Thankfully, this one is a bit different from the other singles released so far. Vocally, it's really good. It doesn't leave that much of a lasting impression. This functions better as an album track.

Listen to the song here (YouTube)

Grade: B+

Lady Gaga - The Edge Of Glory

After the surprising underperformance of the pseudo-religious "Judas" comes the new single "The Edge Of Glory." Even though many are reporting this to be just a promo only single release as part of her iTunes countdown, radio has already given this a better reception in a couple of hours than it did to "Judas." The 80's synthpop mixed with Eurodance song is much stronger lyrically than the previous two singles. It's also much catchier. It is cheesey at times and slightly cliched, but it's an all around great choice for a single if it were to officially become one.

Listen to the song here (YouTube)
Buy the original version here (iTunes)

Grade: A

Lady Gaga - Judas

This is the highly anticipated second single from her sophomore album. "Judas" calls to mind some of the sound of her debut, production-wise, especially the songs "Poker Face", "Paparazzi", and "Bad Romance." Gaga sings about how she is still in love with Judas even though she knows he's bad for her. It is instantly catchy with its many hooks. Those fearing the religious aspect of the song will be relieved to know that it's rather limited. Overall, this is a much stronger single than the previous "Born This Way."

Purchase the song here (iTunes)

Grade: A

Lady Gaga - Born This Way (2 new Indian remixes)

2 new remixes of her international smash made especially for her fans in India have been released.

Mega Bollywood composers Salim-Sulaiman are behind the first version--entitled the Bollywood Remix--adding some traditional instruments including dholaks and sitars. Much of the frenetic edge of the original has been toned down.

Culture Shock provides the second mix. The "Clocks"-esque "When Love Takes Over" strings pop up all throughout it. This one fuses modern Punjabi pop and dance music together.

Both of these remixes are well done, with the Bollywood Remix coming out ahead.

Listen to both of the remixes here (Desi Hits)

Grade: A

Lady Gaga - Born This Way

This is the highly anticipated new single from her upcoming sophomore album of the same name. This is the song that she previewed during the American Music Awards last Fall. It just premiered on several U.S. radio stations just moments ago. Co-produced by Gaga herself, Fernando Garibay, and DJ White Shadow, the electro/synthpop track sounds like a mishmash of 80's dance/pop and current electro/house. It has positive and self-affirming lyrics about loving yourself and each other. The song is perfect for the dancefloor with the big booming bassline and delicious Moroder-esque synthwork. The spoken parts in the middle immediately call to mind Madonna's classic "Vogue." It's a very cute nod to that. Overall, the song was truly worth the seemingly long wait. This is an awesome start for her new Born This Way era.

Tune in to watch Lady Gaga perform this at the Grammys on CBS this Sunday (check local listings for channels and airtimes)

The digital single for "Born This Way" will be released today on iTunes

Grade: A

Lady Gaga - Alejandro

This is the 3rd single off of her The Fame Monster EP. "Alejandro" has been a fan favorite ever since the demo version leaked a few weeks prior to the release of the EP. The song is a cute throwback to the Eurodance and Reggae-Pop sounds of Ace Of Base during the early 90's. The song bears a striking resemblance to several Ace Of Base songs including "Don't Turn Around", "Happy Nation", "Never Gonna Say I'm Sorry." This song isn't a rip off of those songs. It could be thought of as a homage. This one is really simple in terms of the lyrics and the vocals are good. The song is very catchy though. The version on the EP is significantly different from the original demo which was much harder and had a different vocal take. The new version feels slightly watered down in comparison to that, however, the album version is good.

Grade: A

Beyonce featuring Lady Gaga - Video Phone

This powerhouse collaboration between Beyonce and Lady Gaga was first reported about a month or so ago when the music video was being filmed. Lady Gaga makes a guest appearance on this new remix of the song which is a new single off of the re-release of I Am...Sasha Fierce. This new version replaces the solo version that appeared on the original pressings of the album. "Video Phone" is a sexy song about the device of the same name. Lady Gaga fits in quite well with her parts, especially with the spoken word hooks throughout the song. The video is quite sexy as well. There is an alternate uptempo mix featuring Pitbull too. Lady Gaga is not on that one though. Both versions will be quite the floorfiller in clubs.

Watch the music video here (YouTube)

Grade: A-

Lady GaGa - Bad Romance

It has been known for a while that a re-release of her debut album The Fame was going to happen. The re-released version of the album is called The Fame Monster. It is due in November. The first single to be released from it is a new one called "Bad Romance." It's just as catchy as earlier singles. It feels like a mishmash of "Just Dance" and "Poker Face", but it's a bit more electro-ish. It has a bit of an 80's feel. It's pretty good overall.

Listen to it here (YouTube)

Grade: A-

NOW That's What I Call Club Hits

This is the first release in a new series from the people behind the other NOW compilations. The concept of NOW That's What I Call Club Hits is a bit different from some of the other current hits compilations such as those from Ultra Records or those Total Club Hits type ones. While the song selections may be similar, those are all continuously mixed. This NOW one is unmixed for the most part. Some of the songs have been sequenced and edited in a way that there is no silence between the shift from one track to the next, but each track begins like it's supposed to.

Almost all of the songs appearing on the compilation are radio edits. Only a few are slightly longer. If those longer ones were shorter, a couple more tracks could have been included.

Here's the tracklisting:
01. Black Eyed Peas - "Boom Boom Guetta" (David Guetta's Electro Hop Remix)
02. Sean Kingston - "Fire Burning" (Dave Aude Radio)
03. Flo Rida - "Right Round" (Benny Benassi Remix Edit)
04. Pitbull - "I Know What You Want Me (Calle Ocho)" (More English Radio Edit)
05. David Guetta feat. Kelly Rowland - "When Loves Takes Over" (Electro Radio Edit)
06. Kid Cudi - "Day 'N' Nite" (Crookers Remix Radio Edit)
07. Keri Hilson feat. Kanye West and Ne-Yo - "Knock You Down" (Bimbo Jones Radio Remix)
08. Ciara feat. Justin Timberlake - "Love Sex Magic" (Jason Nevins Sex Club Radio Mix)
09. Jamie Foxx feat. T-Pain - "Blame It" (The New Devices Remix)
10. Lady Gaga - "Lovegame" (Dave Aude Radio Edit)
11. Kelly Clarkson - "My Life Would Suck Without You" (Chriss Ortega Radio Mix)
12. P!nk - "Please Don't Leave Me" (Digital Dog Radio Edit)
13. Katy Perry - "Waking Up In Vegas" (Calvin Harris Remix Edit)
14. The Killers - "Spaceman" (Tiesto Remix)
15. Kevin Rudolf feat. Lil Wayne - "Let It Rock" (Filthy Dukes [Radio])
16. Bad Boy Bill feat. Alyssa Palmer - "Falling Athem"
17. Empire Of The Sun - "Walking On A Dream" (Kaskade Remix)
18. Depeche Mode - "Wrong" (Thin White Duke Remix)
19. Jackson 5 - "Dancing Machine" (Polow Remix)

The tracklisting of the compilation is quite strong overall. Even though a majority of the songs/remixes featured have been released digitally, they have not been released on a CD of this nature unmixed. In addition to the Pop, R&B, Hip Hop, Rock and Alternative acts, some choice Dance/Electronic ones have been included, making this compilation quite eclectic.

The compilation will be released in the U.S. in both CD and digital form on September 22, 2009.

Buy and listen to clips of all the songs here (Amazon)

Grade: A

Cascada - Evacuate The Dancefloor

This is the lead single off of their still untitled third album. This song was premiered last week on UK radio. This song marks a departure in sound for the trio. Gone is the hard trance, jump-style production that was a hallmark of their last two albums. "Evacuate The Dancefloor" is a lot more Pop/R&B/Electro-ish. It immediately calls to mind some of what Lady GaGa has been doing lately. This change in direction is a good thing. It helps show that Cascada is capable of doing other styles. Vocalist Natalie sounds perfectly at home on this production. The addition of a rapper does harken back to those 'he raps, she sings' songs of the 90's, but it works on this song.

Watch the video here (YouTube)

Grade: A

Lady GaGa - Poker Face

"Just Dance" finally caught on in the U.S. after nearly eight months. The followup is "Poker Face." It is just as catchy as "Just Dance." While it does call to mind the style and structure of "Just Dance", this one isn't just a copy or knockoff. With this one, She shows her vocal range and her ability to write fun but thought-provoking lyrics. This one will be huge as well.

Watch the video here (YouTube)

Grade: A-