Lady Gaga announces surprise ‘Joker 2’ companion album ‘Harlequin’
It appears that we can expect not just one, but two albums from Lady Gaga in the next few months...
The conclusion of 2024 is set to be quite hectic for Lady Gaga, bringing excitement and happiness to her dedicated fans, affectionately called 'Little Monsters.'
The singer and actress revealed that she was getting ready to release the first single from her upcoming seventh studio album in October. However, Mother Monster just shared the unexpected news that she has released a soundtrack called ‘Harlequin.’ This album is a companion piece for the new movie Joker: Folie À Deux, which is the sequel to the Oscar-winning film from 2019, Joker.
'Harlequin' is set to launch on Friday, September 27, just one week ahead of the debut of Joker: Folie À Deux. The album will include 13 tracks, each a fresh recording of timeless songs such as 'That’s Entertainment' that are featured in the movie. Check out the complete tracklist below.
Gaga joins Joaquin Phoenix in the follow-up film, where she takes on a revamped role of the cherished comic book character Harley Quinn. In this iteration, she portrays Harleen "Lee" Quinzel, an arsonist who is an avid admirer of the Joker.
Joker: Folie À Deux has been described as a "jukebox musical," incorporating several musical performances where the Joker and Lee perform classic show tunes through singing and dancing.
The movie debuted in the competition at the Venice Film Festival. In our review, we highlighted that Gaga stood out as one of the film's key strengths, yet we felt she was underutilized in a supporting role instead of taking center stage alongside the lead.
We previously mentioned that the bold choice to include musical numbers doesn't quite succeed, as they don't enhance the story or develop the characters. Instead, they seem more like a rationale for the director to include Lady Gaga. To make matters worse, the selected songs are overly obvious; tracks like "That’s Entertainment," "I’ve Got the World on a String," "What the World Needs Now," and "Gonna Build A Mountain" feel forced and indicate that Phillips struggled with the plot, resorting to adding songs to fill time.
Check out our complete review of this disappointing and oddly repetitive sequel, which still ranks among the most awaited releases of 2024.
Here’s the list of songs featured on ‘Harlequin’:
2. Find Joy (2024)
3. Oh, When the Saints This classic song has long been a favorite among many, often sung at various gatherings and events. Its uplifting melody and powerful lyrics evoke a sense of unity and hope. The tune speaks to the spirit of camaraderie and the celebration of positive values that bring people together, making it a timeless anthem for communities everywhere.
4. A Globe at Your Fingertips
5. If My Friends Could Witness My Current Situation
9. Shared Delusion Between Two People
10. Planning to Create a Mountain
11. Near You
This album marks Gaga's first release since 2021's 'Love For Sale', which she worked on alongside the late Tony Bennett. The last solo studio project she put out was 'Chromatica' in 2020.
Gaga's latest album filled with original songs is being dubbed "LG7," unlike her upcoming project labeled "LG6.5," which she refers to as "Harlequin." She has shared that the lead single from her seventh studio album is set to be released in October, with the complete album expected to come out in February.
'Harlequin' will be released this Friday, while Joker: Folie À Deux is set to premiere in theaters around the globe on October 4.
