Lady Gaga surprised us all when she came out with her hit album “Joanne.” Not only is this album edgy, but it’s definitely different from anything she has ever released. It is a rollercoaster of emotions but nonetheless the wait is worth it.  

“Joanne” kicks off with a bang, “Diamond Heart,” a loud, edgy song; however, it is one of the only songs of this kind.

The next song does not meet the high expectations set during the first track. “A-Yo” is personally not my favorite song and the tune is actually annoying after a few listens. It reminds me of a pop rendition on Hoedown Throwdown by Hannah Montana.

“Joanne” has a great melody and is so different from anything she’s ever recorded. This song really captures a woman and her desire for adventure; it’s dedicated to her late Aunt Joanne, who the album is also named after.

“John Wayne” has an old western beat, clearly alluding to Wayne’s starting roles of western men in the 1950s. This song wasn’t my favorite at first, but after forcing myself to listen to it a few times it became quite catchy and definitely has a badass vibe.

“Dancin’ in Circles” has a very interesting beat different from the rest of the album. It’s a very seductive song where Gaga sings about touching herself and “funking downtown,” but is overall a catchy yet scandalous song.

One of the most meaningful songs on the album, “Million Reasons” really pulls at your heartstrings. With a sense of heartbreak mixed with resentment, she turns to God in this song to help her. Gaga’s looking for just one reason to stay, even though she has a million reasons to leave.

“Sinner’s Prayer” again has a very old western vibe to it. This song is most definitely a love song written for a man.

“Come to Mama” is another with a 50s aura to it. It makes you feel like you’re at an old hair salon gossiping with girls. Lady Gaga’s voice is filled with empowerment and reminds you to live with no judgement with the lyric “the only prisons that exist are ones we put each other in.”

“Hey Girl,” featuring Florence Welch, is such a girly song and makes you want to go on a long drive with your bestfriend, screaming the lyrics out of the windows. It’s very delicate and comforting.

The album ends on a serious note with “Angel Down,” the ballad Gaga wrote about gun violence. In an interview, she revealed the song was a tribute to Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old African American teen shot and killed in Florida in 2012.

Three additional songs are included in the album’s deluxe edition and are definitely worth a listen.

“Grigio Girls” is about women coming together and forming strong bonds. Gaga encourages women to build each other up, not tear each other down.

“Just Another Day” reminds me of a song that would be in the beginning a cliché

British romance movie. That about sums it up. There’s not much else to it.

The final track is a very raw version of “Angel Down” that gives you a glimpse of Gaga’s powerful voice.

No matter your prior opinions of the artist, Lady Gaga’s “Joanne” is definitely worth a listen and I believe everyone can get something out of the lyrics. The album is available on iTunes for $9.99, or $11.99 for the deluxe.

by EMMA KACHMAR