Nov. 4, 2024
By Alexandra Ruiz
Staff Writer
If you like the musical theater film “Joker: Folie á Deux,” which came out on Oct. 4, you’ll love the iconic singer-songwriter Lady Gaga’s latest album.
The album, titled “Harlequin,” contains a mix of covers and two original songs. It consists of 13 tracks that embody Gaga’s portrayal of Harley “Lee” Quinn, the agile and eccentric supervillain in DC comics and movies.
The album begins with a cover of “Good Morning.” Originally performed by Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney in 1939, the song is a smooth, jazzy opener that sets the tone for the rest of the album.
“Harlequin” maintains an old Hollywood vibe, with covers of Garland’s “Get Happy,” which was released in 1950, and “That’s Entertainment,” which was released in 1960. Gaga makes the vocals in both of these songs seem effortless, transporting listeners to a different era.
“The Joker” is the track that separates “Harlequin” from a typical jazz album. Gaga turns “The Joker,” which was originally written and sung by Shirley Bassey in 1968, into an energetic pop song. With cool lyrics and funky beats, it sounds similar to the songs on Gaga’s previous albums.
“The Joker” is the best track on the album because it has a memorable tune and reflects Harley’s descent into madness.
Gaga makes the vocals in both of these songs seem effortless, transporting listeners to a different era.
The original songs, “Folie á Deux” and “Happy Mistake,” which were both written by Gaga, capture Harley’s misunderstood and lovestruck nature.
In French, “folie á deux” means a delusion or mental illness shared by two people. The fast-paced waltz sounds like it belongs in a Tim Burton film because of its unsettling mood. Singing, “They might say that we’re crazy / but I’m just in love with you,” Gaga depicts a scene in which the Joker (Joaquin Phoenix) and Harley are in a romantic fantasy in Arkham State Hospital, a mental institute.
“Happy Mistake” is a moving track in which Gaga sings, “I feel so crazy / My head is filled with broken mirrors.” This connects to Harley’s confusion about her identity and the reason for her morally questionable behaviors.
Gaga ends the album with her rendition of Frank Sinatra’s 1966 classic, “That’s Life.” The song is all about getting back up after falling down, a message conveyed in the lyrics, “Each time I find myself flat on my face / I pick myself up and get back in the race.” In this song, Gaga demonstrates amazing talent with difficult runs that show her vocal range.
Overall, “Harlequin” is a great album that highlights Gaga’s ability to present a character through music. Her representation of Harley empowers women by revealing a strong character who overcomes adversity and prejudgments, and her songs move listeners to appreciate every note of her musical masterpiece.
