Harlequin [Red LP]

by Lady Gaga

Overview

Unexpected and announced right before release, Harlequin is a breath of fresh air in Lady Gaga's catalog, unhindered by the expectations of a typical "Lady Gaga Pop Album" and perhaps the multifaceted artist at her most free. Tapping into her theatrical side, this companion piece to the Joker: Folie à Deux film (and not the other, actual official soundtrack) blurs the line between the persona (Harleen "Lee" Quinzel, aka Harley Quinn) and the person (Gaga). Take this as the debut album from the character of Harley Quinn, as played by Lady Gaga. Putting on that mask, she's free to step outside of the mainline Gaga album trajectory and get playful. In the role of Lee, an in-character Gaga is allowed to say the quiet parts of her own experiences out loud (more so than she allows herself on her proper albums), and it's wonderfully liberating to hear her express these feelings with a wink and a smile. There are bright and brash show tunes ("That's Entertainment") and American Songbook standards ("Good Morning," "Get Happy"), often spun into sweaty New Orleans jazz send-ups, and it's done with more accessible ease than her Tony Bennett collaborations. On the other end of the spectrum, the quieter, lush arrangements are the real draw. Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" is given space to breathe, a piano-backed standout that's so engrossing it transports listeners to a smoky Parisian lounge, while "World on a String" (her spin on Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler's "I've Got the World on a String") hypnotizes with soulful guitar wizardry and a light gospel touch. Grand showpiece "The Joker" could have been on Joanne, as an edgy, feral blast with a booming vocal performance as intense as the showstopper on "Shallow." Similarly, "Happy Mistake" (one of two Gaga originals) is another powerful showcase of her ever-evolving vocals, which nearly eclipse the dour acoustic guitar and swirling atmospheric production. Top to bottom, this is a coveted no-skips effort, elevated by the fun, liberated approach that helps the listener escape reality and push the limits like the characters in the film. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

Product Details

Release Date:	10/11/2024
Label:	Interscope Records
UPC:	0602475052876

Tracks

1. Good Morning
2. Get Happy (2024)
3. Oh, When The Saints
4. World On A String
5. If My Friends Could See Me Now
6. That's Entertainment
7. Smile
8. The Joker
9. Folie à Deux
10. Gonna Build A Mountain
11. Close To You
12. Happy Mistake
13. That's Life

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Lady Gaga   Primary Artist,Vocals
Daniel Foose   Bass,Double Bass,Vocals (Background)
Benjamin Rice   Drums,Guitar,Percussion
Zach Dellinger   Viola
Alex Smith   Organ,Piano,Conductor,Wurlitzer,Vocals (Background)
Steve Kortyka   Piano,Conductor,Saxophone,Vocals (Background)
Jacob Scesney   Saxophone
Jacob Braun   Cello
Skye Miles   Vocals
Jason Levi   Trumpet
Rahmaan Phillip   Violin
Shigeru Logan   Violin
Rebecca Sabine-Ramsey   Violin
Darius Wright   Vocals
Ashley Wigginton   Vocals
Bethany Mennemeyer   Violin
Brandon Lamonte Hawkins   Vocals
Chanel White   Vocals
Ciara Green   Vocals
David Phillippus   Trombone
Elyse Branch Clardy   Vocals
Jadah Cheri Ellis   Vocals
Kirby Galbraith   Trombone
Latoya Walker   Vocals
Leslie Stackhouse   Vocals
Naoko Taniguchi   Violin
Seth Fetzer   Vocals
Shyra Adamson   Vocals
Tianna Heppner   Viola
Torin Derek   Vocals
Tyler Wigginton   Vocals
Eun Mee Ahn   Violin
Brian Scanlon   Saxophone
Curt Miller   Trombone
Charlie Bisharat   Violin
Adrienne Woods   Cello
Andrew Martin   Trombone
Craig Gosnell   Trombone
Michael Bearden   Piano,Conductor
Brian Newman   Trumpet,Vocals (Background)
Songa Lee   Violin
David Campbell   Piano,Conductor
Adam Schroeder   Saxophone,Clarinet (Bass)
John Pollock   Viola
Dan Falcone   Trumpet
Robert Schaer   Trumpet
Matthew Funes   Viola
Rick Keller   Clarinet,Saxophone
Rob Mader   Saxophone
Gil Kaupp   Trumpet
Maya Magub   Violin
Nathan Tanouye   Trombone
James Mason   Saxophone
Tom DeLibero   Trumpet
Kerenza Peacock   Violin
Ryan Dragon   Trombone
Phillip Levy   Violin
Alex Iles   Trombone
Tim Brooks   Vocals
Giovanna Clayton   Cello
Donald Barrett   Drums,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Isrea Butler   Trombone
Lauren Cordell   Violin
Eric Tewalt   Clarinet,Saxophone
Benjamin Jacobson   Violin
Ana Landaurer   Violin
Jon Morgan   Vocals
Tim Stewart   Guitar
Christopher Williams   Vocals
Rashawn Ross   Trumpet
Nicole Garcia   Violin
Rusty Higgins   Saxophone
Wayne Bergeron   Trumpet
Jamie Hovorka   Trumpet
Michael Valerio   Contrabass Recorder
Juliette Jones   Violin
Tereza Stanislav   Violin
Sal Lozano   Flute,Saxophone
Mark Cargill   Violin
Moonlight Tran   Cello
Daniel Fornero   Trumpet
Dan Higgins   Saxophone

Technical Credits

Daniel Foose   Co-Arranger
Geoffrey Parsons   Composer
Benjamin Rice   Engineer,Producer,Co-Arranger
Josh Connolly   Assistant Engineer
Alex Smith   Co-Arranger,Recording Arranger
Steve Kortyka   Co-Arranger,Recording Arranger
Danny Jonokuchi   Co-Arranger
Michael Tucker   Composer
Emily Lazar   Mastering Engineer
BloodPop   Producer
Patrick Hundley   Assistant Engineer
Bryce Bordone   Mixing Assistant
Noah Hubbell   Engineer
Bella Corich   Assistant Engineer
Nacio Brown   Composer
Daniel "Chief" Van Billiard   Assistant Engineer
Michael Polansky   Composer,Co-Arranger
Ted Koehler   Composer
Anthony Newley   Composer
Hal David   Composer
Dorothy Fields   Composer
Brian Newman   Co-Arranger
Lady Gaga   Composer,Producer,Co-Arranger,Vocal Producer
Joe Dougherty   Engineer
Jason Ruder   Producer
David Campbell   Producer,Recording Arranger
Paul Lamalfa   Vocal Engineer
Miguel Lara   Assistant Engineer
Stefani Germanotta   Composer
Donald Barrett   Co-Arranger
Kaleb Rollins   Vocal Mixing
Traditional   Composer
Harold Arlen   Composer
Kelly Gordon   Composer
Tim Stewart   Co-Arranger
Cy Coleman   Composer
Charlie Chaplin   Composer
Dean Kay   Composer
Leslie Bricusse   Composer
Josh Turner   Composer
Kevin Harp   Engineer
Arthur Freed   Composer
Arthur Schwartz   Composer
David Boucher   Engineer
Burt Bacharach   Composer