by Lady Gaga is already a megastar, but she is also a versatile musician who has not fully explored all of her musical potential. She is known for her catchy pop songs, high-energy dance tracks, glam rock inspired theatrics, and meaningful ballads. But there are still so many genres that Gaga could conquer next with her powerhouse vocals, songwriting prowess, and chameleonic persona.
Classical Music
While Lady Gaga is best known for her radio-friendly pop hits, she actually has formal training in classical piano and vocals. She once said “I studied classical piano, and that’s what I thought I would do with my life…play classical music.” With her impressive vocal range and ability to adapt her voice, Gaga would shine in the classical genre. She could breathe new life into classical pieces with her unique and expressive vocal styling.
Gaga could also collaborate with an orchestra to rearrange and perform orchestral versions of her popular songs, similar to what Metallica and many other rock bands have done with symphony orchestras. Hearing “Bad Romance” or “The Edge of Glory” backed by violins and cellos would be a truly epic experience. Classical music tends to be associated with a sophisticated yet stuffy reputation that could benefit from Gaga’s bold, boundary-pushing approach. Lady Gaga could make classical music feel more accessible, especially for younger generations.
Gaga could also write and compose original classical pieces. Her compositions would likely incorporate pop elements like catchy melodies and modern lyrics while still utilizing the gorgeous instrumentations of classical music. Gaga has talked about how iconic composers like Beethoven and Mozart were revolutionary in their time, just as she aims to be revolutionary in hers. She could follow in their footsteps composing entirely new contemporary classical works. The combination of her musical training and knack for writing hits makes Lady Gaga the perfect artist to lead this classical crossover revolution.
Jazz Music
While Lady Gaga’s edgy pop spectacles may seem worlds away from smooth jazz, she actually has the vocal chops and flair for improvisation that would allow her to thrive in a jazz setting. Gaga showcased her impressive scatting abilities and jazz vocal stylings when she performed a duet of “Bang Bang” with Tony Bennett. She held her own vocally when singing beside a legendary jazz icon, proving her voice can adapt to the swinging rhythms and vocal acrobatics jazz music demands.
Gaga could release a jazz album of standards performed in her own unique style, or even record a duets album with contemporary jazz musicians. Her piano skills would also come in handy comping behind jazz instrumentalists during live performances. And just imagine Gaga scatting her way through an improvised solo over a smoking saxophone!
The thematic style of jazz music would be an exciting new mode of expression for Gaga to explore her artistry in a different framework. The introspective poetics and focus on conveying raw human emotion in jazz would allow Gaga to showcase not just her vocal talent, but her skill for connecting with listeners in a poignant, meaningful way. Jazz collaborations would open the door for Lady Gaga to be taken more seriously as a complete musician and performer.
Country Music
While EDM beats and glittery outfits may be Gaga’s bread and butter, she has the songwriting substance to create authentic and meaningful country music. Country places a strong emphasis on storytelling through lyrics, something Gaga has proven skilled at in her career. Songs like “You and I”, “Million Reasons”, and “Joanne” demonstrate Gaga’s chops at writing rootsy, from-the-heart lyrics in her already released discography.
Gaga grew up listening to legends like Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton. She has cited country music as an inspiration for her 2019 album A Star Is Born soundtrack, which featured laid back country-pop tracks like “Always Remember Us This Way.” Gaga could easily transition into more traditional country styles like classic country or bluegrass. Her emotional vocal delivery would sound gorgeous on stripped down country ballads accompanied by just an acoustic guitar or fiddle.
Lady Gaga has the image of an edgy, avant-garde pop star, but she is also incredibly down-to-earth and relatable as seen in her documentary Gaga: Five Foot Two. These qualities would actually make her very well-suited to the genre. Country music fans value authenticity and humility. Gaga is talented enough vocally and lyrically to create great country music while still bringing her own colorful personality to the genre. An artist like Gaga could help push country forward into a new era while still paying respect to its roots.
Hip Hop Music
Lady Gaga is no stranger to rap features, having collaborated with artists like Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, and Nicki Minaj over her career. But she has yet to really dive headfirst into hip hop as a lead artist. With her swagger and dynamic vocal skills, Gaga would kill it if she decided to get more involved in rapping.
Gaga possesses the type of larger-than-life persona and ability to shape-shift between different aesthetics that would make her an exciting presence in the hip hop world. Her penchant for taking on different personas like her alter ego Jo Calderone shows she could create cool rapper personas too. She also has a boldness to address issues through her art. Hip hop is the perfect medium for Gaga to speak out on causes she cares about and continue to be a powerful voice for outcasts.
Based on her melodic rap cameos on other artists’ tracks, Gaga clearly has flow and rhythm. She could release her own rap-heavy tracks featuring wordplay and fast-paced lyrics. And Gaga’s vocals would sound amazing on hip hop ballads or R&B crossover tracks. She already possesses so many qualities of a great hip hop artist from the image to the attitude to the voice. Lady Gaga diving headfirst into hip hop would be unexpected but could result in some absolutely killer tunes.
Electronic Dance Music
As one of the reigning queens of pop, Lady Gaga already has major dance floor anthems under her belt like “Just Dance”, “Poker Face” and “Bad Romance.” She clearly knows how to create a throbbing synth hook, four-on-the-floor beat, and lush EDM production. But most of her existing dance songs still live within the overall pop or rock genres. Gaga has yet to unleash her full EDM potential.
EDM is broad term referring to electronic-influenced styles like house, techno, trance, dubstep, drum and bass, and more. Gaga mainly sticks to pop-friendly takes on house music in her existing discography. She could explore diversifying into darker, grittier EDM styles like industrial, brostep, or psytrance. Collaborating with artists from electronic-focused subcultures could push Gaga’s sound in thrilling new directions.
Gaga also possesses the grandiose theatricality of her live shows and avant-garde personal style that could make her a fixture at music festivals. She would fit right in at an EDM festival rocking elaborate costumes and dishing out high-energy bangers. Imagine Gaga unleashing her unbridled self at a rave – it would be a match made in heaven.
The Visual Side of New Genres
An essential aspect of Lady Gaga diving into new genres would be developing the visual components to match. A large part of her artistry has always been creating over-the-top fashion, elaborate music videos, colorful performances and conceptual imagery tailored to each release. She would need to do the same exploring different genres.
For classical music, Gaga could deliver performances in gorgeous gowns fit for a philharmonic hall. Or put her own spin on traditional opera costumes and props. For country, Gaga could embrace western motifs like cowgirl hats, boots, jeans, and pastel colors. For EDM and hip hop, she could create show-stopping festival gear and streetwear-inspired urban looks.
No matter what new genre Lady Gaga enters, you can bet she would bring her signature theatricality, creativity, and eye for spectacle. The visuals are just as important as the music when it comes to the Gaga experience. She clearly has a boundless imagination to develop her aesthetic to match any sound.
Why She Should Keep Pushing Herself in New Directions
While Lady Gaga has achieved massive success already, she likely has no plans to slow down artistically. Gaga has spoken before about her love of reinvention and desire to constantly push herself as an artist. She seems to truly enjoy taking risks and subverting expectations. That is evident in the way she approached her jazz collaboration with Tony Bennett as something totally unexpected, yet she pulled it off flawlessly.
Exploring new genres would be the next logical step in Gaga’s artistic evolution. She has mastered pop, rock, and dance styles over the course of six albums. Trying out different musical styles would display Gaga’s incredible versatility. It could also help her reach new audiences and fanbases outside of her typical pop market. Staying stagnant is one of the biggest pitfalls for an artist. Lady Gaga likely understands that venturing into new territory is key to maintaining a long, relevant career at the cutting edge of music.
Lady Gaga often uses her music to spread messages of empowerment and acceptance. Her taking on traditionally “stuffy” or exclusive styles like classical and jazz shows others they can find personal meaning and enjoyment in these genres too. She breaks down barriers through her genre crossing. And again, she could make styles like classical and jazz feel more accessible, especially for younger generations.
Gaga is clearly an artist who follows her passion. If she feels compelled to explore a new genre or style, she will throw herself into it with gusto. For an artist like Gaga, it seems chasing her inspiration takes priority over trends or playing it safe commercially. As long as she can keep making honest music that connects with her soul, her fans will continue supporting her no matter what sound she takes on.
There are no limits to where Lady Gaga could go next! She has achieved so much already in the realms of pop, rock, and dance music. But her immense talent could translate seamlessly into any genre. Classical, jazz, country, hip hop, EDM, and more – the possibilities are endless. Gaga is sure to continue surprising us by taking on unexpected new challenges. But there is no doubt that she has the voice, songwriting capability, flair for visuals, and relentless work ethic to succeed at whatever she tries her hand at. The only question is, what genre will she conquer next?
