Old Testament Gaga is Back with New Single 'Abracadabra'

Lady Gaga’s latest single 'Abracadabra' arrives as the second taste of her upcoming album 'Mayhem' which is due to drop on 7 March 2025.

Abracadabra is a testament to the Gaga we saw and heard 13 years ago from 'Born This Way'. It leans into the dance-pop theatrics, that you would only expect Gaga to bring, with a heavy dose of nostalgia. This new single very much feels like a blend of 'Judas' and 'Scheiße', which for the record, we are so here for.

From the first chant of Abracadabra, the song establishes itself as a hypnotic club anthem, a track that will surely be hitting every club around the world. As I said, it resonates heavily with 'Born This Way' but I also feel that influences are drawn from Gaga's 'Chromatic' Era, with its pulsing beats and an almost ceremonial intensity.

It is worth mentioning that this track does also bring an element of originality with it and that is the production - Arguably the song’s strongest asset - The song and its music video hit the listener with these dark, cinematic flourishes, giving weight to an otherwise straightforward dance track.

Now don't get me wrong, Gaga can command an audience all by herself but in this track, she is surrounded by dozens of backing dancers who visually bring this production to life, dancing in sync with the pop queen.

Lyrically, Abracadabra toys with grand themes of fate, passion, and surrender, yet never quite delivers the depth it seems to promise. Lines like “Hold me in your heart tonight, In the magic of the dark moonlight” suggest something profound, but the song’s reliance on repetition and vague lyrics leave it feeling more like an aesthetic choice than an emotional revelation. The chorus, while undeniably catchy, hinges on the symbolic phrase in a way that, over time, feels more gimmicky than enchanting or empowering.

Still, Gaga’s vocal performance is nothing short of extraordinary, as per usual. Her delivery oscillates between immediate incantation and magical melodrama, reinforcing her place as pop’s most theatrical icon. But even with her impressive vocals, the song struggles to shake the feeling of being a 'greatest hit blend' rather than a bold step forward.

I don't think the track adds to Gaga’s evolution as a pop artist, but it almost certainly reaffirms her place as one of pop's greatest stars. There’s no denying its effectiveness as a club anthem, seriously, I don't know about you but I can see myself dancing to this song until 5 am on a Saturday night. But for an artist who has continually pushed pop’s boundaries, this feels like a safe return rather than a step in a new direction.

'Abracadabra' is a solid addition to Gaga’s discography, but it leaves room for something more daring and unexpected - Which I hope we will see in the upcoming album and I cannot wait to find out.