| "Gypsy" | |
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| Song byLady Gaga | |
| from the albumArtpop | |
| Released | November 6, 2013 |
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| Genre | |
| Length | 4:09 |
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| Audio video | |
| "Gypsy" onYouTube | |
"Gypsy" is a song recorded by American singerLady Gaga, for her third studio albumArtpop (2013). It was written and produced by Gaga with French DJMadeon, with additional writing credits fromRedOne andPaul "DJ White Shadow" Blair. The song was developed with Madeon after Gaga'sBorn This Way Ball tour performance in France. "Gypsy" was described by Gaga asArtpop's most personal song; she elaborated that it was about travelling the world and the loneliness associated with it. AEuropop andelectropop song, "Gypsy" is a 1980s style "anthemic" track with piano and guitar instrumentation, and lyrically talks about Gaga's fans as being the people she feels closest to. The track was mistakenly assumed to be the third single from the album whenInterscope Records listed it on theirSoundCloud page reserved for future releases.
"Gypsy" received generally positive reviews from music critics who praised the composition, the simplicity of the production, the anthemic nature, as well as it being reminiscent of Gaga's own song, "The Edge of Glory". Gaga first performed the song during a listening party forArtpop in Berlin, while wearing a mustache. Subsequent performances happened at herArtRave album release event, on theSaturday Night Live television show, theLady Gaga and the Muppets Holiday Spectacular Thanksgiving special, as well as the encore on her 2014ArtRave: The Artpop Ball world tour.
Development of Lady Gaga's third studio album,Artpop, began shortly after the release of her second one,Born This Way in 2011, and by the following year, the album's concepts were "beginning to flourish" as Gaga collaborated with producersFernando Garibay andDJ White Shadow.[1][2][3] As Gaga travelled the world for herBorn This Way Ball tour, she also collaborated with producerRedOne, working remotely with each other. "We've been sending ideas. We couldn't get together in the studio, but we've been sending ideas back and forth, and it's very focused on writing really good songs and, of course, with the vibe of different sounds, different kinds of productions," RedOne clarified.[4]
In the meantime, Gaga also worked with French DJMadeon. This was his first experience collaborating face-to-face with a vocalist.[5] He clarified withMTV News that he had "always wanted to work with pop artists and my #1 on my list was Lady Gaga. So when I had the opportunity to do that, I was really thrilled." Madeon was associated with co-writing and co-producing three songs onArtpop, "Venus", "Mary Jane Holland" and "Gypsy".[6] In August 2013, while being interviewed by French radio station,Fun Radio, Gaga confirmed that she had recorded "Gypsy" with Madeon and RedOne, as well as White Shadow.[7] Having mutual respect for each other's work, Gaga praised Madeon's production skills saying, "He is so amazing. He has such an understanding of music at such a young age. He reminds me of myself so much. He's obsessed, so obsessed with music."[7] "Gypsy" was described asArtpop's most personal song, about travelling the world and the loneliness associated with it. The song showcases Gaga's fans as being the people with whom she feels at home.[8]
In January 2014,Interscope Records had uploaded "Gypsy" to theirSoundCloud account under the list ofsingles they would send forradio play. This led to media speculation that "Gypsy" would be released as the third single fromArtpop, following "Do What U Want".[9] Gaga also announced plans to film a new music video, which tied in with the single release rumors.[10] In March 2014,NBC announced that the nextArtpop single would be "G.U.Y." instead of "Gypsy" and that they would premiere its music video on March 22.[11]
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Gaga did not spare any free time for the song's recording and would usually start the sessions after the Born This Way Ball show performances were over. Madeon noted: "She would still give everything – even on the demo take! She's really impressive."[5] Madeon's production onArtpop differs from his usual work. According Dylan Farella ofDancing Astronaut, the song "take[s] the mood ofArtpop from ballad to anthem".[12] On French radioHit West, Madeon recalled that in September 2012 he had gone to see Gaga at her Born This Way Ball show at Paris'Stade de France. After the performance, Gaga took Madeon to her hotel room. He played her some chords he had been working on for sometime. Gaga immediately started singing the main melody of "Gypsy", and then the main song "flowed out", leading them to write ademo the same night. Since Madeon had brought his computer with him, he recorded the ideas developed with Gaga so he would not forget them. Afterwards, the song went through various changes, and more musicians were added for the final version on the album.[13]
"Gypsy" was written and produced by Gaga and Madeon, with additional songwriting by RedOne and White Shadow. It wasrecorded by Dave Russell, Bill Malina, Ghazi Hourani and Benjamin Rice at theRecord Plant Studios, with additional recording carried out by Malina at CRC Studio in Hollywood, California. Andrew Robertson and Daniel Zaidenstadt assisted Rice in the recording sessions, while Steve Faye assisted Malina. Gaga did the guitar and pianoarrangements for the song alongside Tim Stewart, who worked on the acoustic guitars. Gaga also added the background vocals on "Gypsy" with Nicole and Natalie Ganther, and Lyon Gray. The song wasmixed by Manny Marroquin at Larrabee North Studios; further mixing was done by Madeon at Popcultur Studio in France. Gene Grimaldimastered the song at Oasis Mastering Studios, in Burbank, California.[14]
"Gypsy" is aEuropop[15] andelectropop song[16] withclassic rock andhouse influences.[17][18] Adam Markovitz ofEntertainment Weekly said "Gypsy" contains "barroom ivory-tickling" and a swooping hook.[19]Rolling Stone described the song as an "eighties-style anthem."[20] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, "Gypsy" is written in the key ofC major and composed in thecommon time signature. The song moves at atempo of 134beats per minute, and Gaga's vocals span from G3 to D5. The song's verses follow achord progression of C−G−Fmaj7−Gsus−G, and the chorus follows with the progression G−Am−F−C (V−vi−IV−I).[21] It begins with a soft piano sound and then changes into a high-energy electro song.[22] The composition is in a sing-along style, with Gaga belting out "I don't want be alone forever, but I can be tonight" during the chorus, talking about navigating an unknown road based only on her instincts.[17] The lyrics also talk about falling in love while being true to oneself, which was the initial inspiration for the track.[8] She compares herself with "Dorothy on a yellow brick / Hope myruby shoes get us there quick", referring to the fictionalyellow brick road thatDorothy Gale followed in the 1939 filmThe Wizard of Oz.[23] The line refers to the singer approaching a crossroad in her relationships, however she feels safe with her fans. Ericka Welch ofThe Huffington Post explained that "[even] with the looming sense of loss, Gaga can't be sad when she sees all the stamps on her passport and realizes that she has the whole world in front of her."[24]
"Gypsy" received generally positive reviews from music critics. Adam Markovitz ofEntertainment Weekly considered the track one ofArtpop's best, calling it "enjoyable".[19] Caryn Ganz ofRolling Stone praised the song's simple lyrics, describing it as an: "Eighties-style anthem where Gaga admits her love of performing... [The track] works because [it wasn't] born from the chilly conceit that art and pop need an arranged marriage to get busy."[20] Mike Diver ofClash said that "Gypsy", along with "Applause" and "Mary Jane Holland", were able to "tick all of the prerequisite Gaga boxes—dazzling production, a clutch of clever couplets, choruses you can demolish a tower block with."[25] A positive review came from Bradley Stern of MuuMuse who wrote in detail:
"Gypsy" is the kind of arena anthem that already sounds like it's being belted in the middle of a sold-outMadison Square Garden. It's a slow and steady build, but once it reaches that Journey-esque chorus ("I don't want to be alone forever, but I can be... TONIGHT!", there's no going back. Cue the endless intercontinental shout-outs at the end ("I don't speak German, but I try!" — a cute nod to "Scheiße"), and you've got an instant classic fromArtpop.[26]
Sal Cinquemani ofSlant Magazine compared "Gypsy" to stand-out tracks from Gaga'sBorn This Way, and found comparisons with the song "The Edge of Glory" from it. Cinquemani felt the track was much more effective in portraying the yearning of fame, than the lead single "Applause".[27] Kevin Fallon ofThe Daily Beast compared it to the work of singerBruce Springsteen, adding that the "power ballad is the kind destined for last-call sing-a-longs at those bars with peanut shells on the floor, with Gaga belting over tickling ivories about trusting instincts and charging into the unknown."[18] Michael Cragg ofThe Guardian called "Gypsy" an "epic narrative about fame and loneliness" with the composition comparable to "The Edge of Glory" and a vocal riff similar to that of "Poker Face".[16] Comparisons to "The Edge of Glory" were also present in Robbie Daw's review of the album forIdolator.[28]
Chris Bosman ofTime, thought that "Gypsy" serves as the "epic end-of-album track" along with "Dope", but criticized the songs for not being unique enough, saying that one song would have done "the job better than both."[29] Similar thought was echoed by Andrew Barker fromVariety who found thatArtpop did not have any songs worthy of release as singles, and RedOne's contribution, "the 'Edge of Glory' sequel 'Gypsy', doesn't exactly scream 'crossover hit' either."[30]The Varsity's Iris Robin found issues of "racism and cultural appropriation" in the track when Gaga claims to "love a gypsy life", since the historical andoppression surrounding theGypsies are well-known.[31] ForThe Independent's Adam White, "Gypsy" was underwhelming, saying "it's very 'places 22nd atEurovision'."[32]
Gaga first performed "Gypsy" on a grand piano for guests at a listening party forArtpop in Berlin'sBerghainnightclub.[33] She said of the song: "I wrote this song as I was travelling around the world... They say 'a Gypsy doesn't have a home.' But I do have a home. I have a home with you always."[34][35] Seated atop a piano wearing a bra and short blond hair, Gaga performed an acoustic version of the song, singing with a heavy German accent while sporting a moustache. Brenna Ehlrich of MTV noted that: "Throughout the performance, fans looked on with tears in their eyes, watching as Gaga unfurled the simple love story with nothing but her voice and piano."[36] Malene Arpe, entertainment contributor to theToronto Star, said her performance was goosebump-inducing and caused viewers to forget about the moustache "right in the middle of her face."[37]
Gaga next performed "Gypsy" at herArtRave concert in November 2013 at theBrooklyn Navy Yard, where she sang along with a live band.[38] During the performance, Gaga gave a shout-out to artistJeff Koons, who was heavily involved in the visuals related to theArtpop era and its campaigns, and dedicated the song to him.[39] She again performed "Gypsy" on a piano on aSaturday Night Live show later that month, wearing a rainbow colored leotard with giant shoulder pads.[40] Around the one minute mark, when the tempo of the song changes from a ballad to its original anthemic composition, a band stepped onstage from the shadows behind as well as dancers, who danced and created a party atmosphere.[41] Hillary Hughes ofThe Village Voice found similarities in Gaga's vocals to those of singerLana Del Rey. She felt that "Gaga plowed into 'Gypsy' with the aplomb of a Vegas lounge goddess from the future... Girl hit her notes, and well, and I'd take 'Gypsy' over 'Applause' or 'Born This Way' any day of the week, but 'Gypsy' on SNL was a bit of a confusing display from beginning to end."[42]
"Gypsy" was performed onThe Howard Stern Show on November 12, 2013.[43] During her second Thanksgiving television special,Lady Gaga and the Muppets Holiday Spectacular, which aired onABC, Gaga sang "Gypsy" as a duet withKermit the Frog. Myles McNutt ofThe A.V. Club criticised the performance saying that "Kermit['s performance] was earnest and well [executed], but it didn't feel like the product of a Lady Gaga andthe Muppets special; it felt like Kermit making a cameo in a Lady Gaga special, a problem given the shared billing in the title."[44] ConverselyRolling Stone's Marissa Muller listed it as one of the five memorable moments from the special.[45]
Gaga performed "Gypsy" as the encore to her 2014 show atSouth by Southwest (SXSW).[46] It was also the closing song of Gaga's 2014ArtRave: The Artpop Ball tour. She sang it wearing long white wig and a dress with a long whitetrain.[47] During some of the shows, Gaga brought audience members onstage to sing the song together.[48] Rob Sheffield ofRolling Stone criticised the choice of the song as the show's finale, saying that it felt anticlimactic. "After a one-song encore of 'Gypsy', the house lights came up... it was startling to realize the show was already over. [Gaga] didn't have superstar moves or hits saved up for the big finale—she decided not to do a big finale at all," he concluded.[49]
Credits adapted from theliner notes ofArtpop.[14]
| Chart (2013) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| South Korea International (Gaon)[50] | 37 |
| US Pop Digital Songs (Billboard)[51] | 26 |
| The Fame | |
|---|---|
| The Fame Monster | |
| Born This Way | |
| Artpop |
|
| Cheek to Cheek | |
| Joanne | |
| A Star Is Born | |
| Chromatica | |
| Love for Sale | |
| Top Gun: Maverick | |
| Harlequin | |
| Mayhem | |
| As featured artist |
|
| Other songs recorded | |
| Other songs written | |
