"Abracadabra" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Lady Gaga for her studio album, Mayhem (2025). It was written and produced by Gaga, Andrew Watt, and Cirkut, with additional songwriting credits to members of Siouxsie and the Banshees, as it incorporates elements from their 1981 single "Spellbound". Musically, it is a dance-pop, synth-pop, and electropop track whose lyrics, according to Gaga, reflect on facing life’s challenges and finding a sense of magic in them. The song was released through Interscope Records on February 3, 2025, as the album’s second single.
The track received critical acclaim, with reviewers praising its production, rhythm, songwriting and chorus, which were described as "catchy", "brilliant", and "energetic". Commercially, it peaked at number five on the Billboard Global 200 and reached the top ten in several countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, while charting within the top twenty in the United States.
An accompanying music video, co-directed by Gaga, Parris Goebel, and Bethany Vargas, depicts a dance battle between two contrasting personas of the singer and premiered on February 3, following a teaser aired during a commercial break at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards. Critics praised its theatrical style and cinematography, drawing favorable comparisons to some of Gaga’s earlier work. Gaga performed "Abracadabra" on Saturday Night Live, The Howard Stern Showand the MTV Video Music Awards 2025. She also sang it as part of the opening act for several concerts promoting Mayhem, including during The Mayhem Ball tour, and incorporated a remix of the track by French producer Gesaffelstein as a show interlude, which was released on digital platforms.
Development and release
Gaga first spoke about her new music in March 2024, when she said she was "writing some of the best songs I can remember", and later revealed that she had begun working on her next album in mid-2022 during The Chromatica Ball.[2][3] In late July of that year, she performed at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics and, while in the city, surprised her fans by sharing snippets of two unreleased songs, including "Abracadabra".[4] According to Billboard, the previews featured "a production with pounding beats and powerful synthesizers".[4] Shortly after Gaga announced on January 27, 2025, that her next studio album would be titled Mayhem,[5] it was revealed she would premiere a new single and video during the 67th Annual Grammy Awards on February 2.[6][7][8][9][10]
Composition
"Abracadabra" contains an interpolation of "Spellbound" (1981), co-written and performed by Siouxsie Sioux (pictured)
"Abracadabra" was written and produced by Gaga, Andrew Watt, and Cirkut. Additionally, Siouxsie and the Banshees members Susan Janet Ballion, Peter Edward Clarke, Steven Severin, and John McGeoch received songwriting credits, as it incorporates elements from their 1981 single "Spellbound".[11] The song is a fast-tempo electropop,[12]synth-pop,[13] and dance-pop[6] track with electronic, industrial, pop rock and acid house influences. Sheet music published by Musicnotes denotes the song in common time and in the key of F Dorian. Gaga's vocal range spans from the low-note of B♭3 to the high-note of F5.[14] The song is structured around two verses and also incorporates refrain, pre-chorus, chorus, post-chorus and bridge segments.[15][16] Instrumentally, the song features pulsating beats, hypnotic synths, a thumping bass line, and punchy piano chords.[17][18][19] Gaga's vocal delivery in the song has been described as "dramatic" and "full-throated", although she also employs a more "ethereal" tone during the song's bridge.[20][21][22]
Lyrically, the term abracadabra is used throughout the song to represent magic. The words appear in the song's chorus – "Abracadabra, amor-ooh-na-na, abracadabra, morta-ooh-ga-ga" – which references Gaga's own name (...ga-ga) and also includes the Latin words "amor" and "morta", which can be translated as "love" and "death" respectively.[23][18][24] In addition, the term "abracadabra" is incorporated into the song's post-chorus, albeit with "broken syntax".[16] In the song's refrain, a "lady dressed in red" is mentioned, which Gaga described as representing every individual's "internal monologue" asking if they are good enough.[25] She further explained, "In many ways, the song is about how to deal with that challenge to yourself. [...] I wanted to explore the question: 'What does it feel like to thrive rather than just survive all the time?'". Screen Rant felt that the lyrics carry "a deeper message than a superficial reading suggests", referencing the importance of ignoring negative voices and embracing the power of dance and artistic expression,[26] while Elite Daily theorized that the use of the word "amor" could also serve as a hidden nod to "Bad Romance", as its reverse spelling ("roma") is a recurring word in that chorus.[27]
Many journalists have compared the song's dark and theatrical style to Gaga's earlier songs, including those from The Fame Monster (2009) and Chromatica (2020).[28] In an interview with The Howard Stern Show, Gaga said the song came together quickly, with the track, verses, and chorus taking about 30 minutes to complete. She contrasted this with other songs from Mayhem, which sometimes took longer to finalize.[29] Producer Andrew Watt described the recording sessions as "spontaneous", recalling that:
Gaga had an idea, grabbed the mic and started flowing in the studio. Once there's that initial spark, she always runs to the piano and it turns into a song, then we build chords and add the synth layers.[30]
Critical reception
"Abracadabra" received universal acclaim upon its release,[31] with critics highlighting its production, energy, and catchy chorus. Many compared it to Gaga's early works, noting its influence from late-2000s dance-pop, as well as its continuation of the dark electronic sounds explored in "Disease". Larisha Paul of Rolling Stone noted that Gaga is "always drawing upon her knowledge of the history of music" and described the song as "a showcase of her return to dark pop that pays homage to the influences that shaped her career".[32] Kyle Denis of Billboard described the track as an "explosive new dance-pop single" and highlighted its "high intensity", while pointing out that it builds upon the dark electronic elements introduced in her previous release, "Disease",[6] while Stephen Daw felt that Gaga "takes the familiar sounds of The Fame Monster (2009), Born This Way (2011) and Artpop (2013), cuts them up and casts a spell to create an absolute pop smash".[33] Robin Murray of Clash described "Abracadabra" as "a thrilling piece of pop music that moves from light to shadow with expert control".[34]L'Officiel editor Alessandro Viapiana highlighted its "piercing rhythm and pulsating synthesizers, accompanied by a hypnotic voice that almost seems to evoke a ritual."[35]The Independent's Adam White believed "Abracadabra" feels "a tad like what would happen if somebody asked a computer to pop out a Lady Gaga song – from the gibberish chorus to the squawks, howls and bellows of Gaga's vocal – but it's also such a mad rush that it feels like a major return to form."[36]
In their review, DIY wrote: "Make no mistake—Lady Gaga is back. Her latest single, 'Abracadabra', is an unrestrained dancefloor anthem that takes us straight back to her The Fame Monster days in the late 2000s", adding that it revolves around a "brilliantly nonsensical yet irresistibly catchy chorus".[37]Jenesaispop named it the song of the day on February 3, 2025, stating it "feels like stepping back into 2009, but with a production refined for today's era", while describing it as "a full-fledged dark electropop banger in classic Gaga style".[38]Pitchfork's Walden Green remarked Gaga had not released a single "this good" since 2013's "G.U.Y.", writing, "'Abracadabra' delivers a latex-tight hook in true Born This Way fashion, though a closer listen reveals traces of over a decade of artistic reinvention: a touch of Chromatica in the house piano, and a full-throttle vocal turn that unmistakably stems from serious theatrical training.[21]Bustle noted the track is "a dancefloor smash tailor-made for her fans", and noted "as the title suggests, Gaga casts a spell with her new single, commanding listeners to dance all night."[39] A Vulture article in 2025 called it Gaga's eight best song from her discography, saying: "she's never written a witchy house symphony quite like this. After accusations of being an occult practitioner in the 2010s, it's ironic that the song in which she actually casts a spell is one of her most life-affirming tracks."[40]Screen Rant considered it Gaga's best single since Born This Way (2011), praising it as "authentic" and a return to her dark pop roots.[41]L'Officiel described it as an "electropop anthem" with ritualistic undertones,[42] while HuffPost called it an "infectious" track that recalls the energy of The Fame (2008) and Born This Way.[43]The Statesman highlighted its "quintessential Gaga maximalism",[44] with Marie Claire dubbing it a "vampiric dance anthem".[45] Writing for GO, Abbie Thompson emphasized its "catchy chorus, vibrant house beats and piercing rhythm", predicting it would become a staple in queer nightlife.[46]Salon's Coleman Spilde regarded the song as a nostalgic return to Gaga's early sound, pointing to the europop-inspired basslines and phonetic chants reminiscent of "Bad Romance" (2009) and "Judas" (2011).[47]
Commercial performance
On its release day, "Abracadabra" recorded 4.92 million streams on Spotify, marking Gaga's biggest debut on the platform with a solo song.[48] Internationally, the song debuted at number ten on the Billboard Global 200 with 47.7 million streams, becoming the second top-ten entry from Mayhem and of Gaga's career, after "Die with a Smile".[49] In its second week, the song rose to a new peak of number five on the Billboard Global 200 with 78.4 million streams.[50]
In the United States, "Abracadabra" debuted atop the BillboardHot Dance/Pop Songs chart and at number twenty-nine on the Billboard Hot 100 with a partial first tracking week, accumulating 13.7 million streams, 1.3 million radio audience impressions, and 10,000 downloads.[51] With this feat, Mayhem became Gaga's first album since Artpop (2013) to achieve three top-forty entries on the Billboard Hot 100 prior to an album's official release.[51][52] In its second week on the chart, the song climbed to a new peak of number thirteen. In its sixth week of charting, following the release of Mayhem, the song rose ten spots to number 19. In its 11th week on the chart, following Gaga's headlining performance at Coachella, the song climbed 12 spots to number 26.
In the United Kingdom, it debuted at number six on the UK Singles Chart after only four days of tracking, marking Gaga's 17th top-ten song in the country and third from Mayhem, after "Die with a Smile" and "Disease".[53] In its second week, the song rose to a new peak of number three on the UK Singles Chart, becoming her first solo top-five entry since "Stupid Love" (2020) and highest-charting solo entry since "Born This Way" (2011).[54][55] In Brazil, "Abracadabra" debuted at number sixteen on the Brasil Hot 100.[56] Following Gaga's show in Brazil, the song rose to a new peak of number three.[57]
Music video
Development
The music video for "Abracadabra" was directed by Gaga alongside Parris Goebel and Bethany Vargas; Goebel also served as choreographer.[58][59] The video premiered during a commercial break in conjunction with Mastercard at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards and was later released on the singer's platforms.[10] Gaga explained that the concept for the video originated after filming "Disease", when she and Goebel discussed continuing the album's narrative, exploring "these conflicting sides of ourselves that really don't make sense but just keep having this discussion".[25] She later said that they worked closely on how to translate those conflicts into choreography, noting that "there are only two options: you can dance or it's over", and recalled experimenting with wigs, makeup, and costumes in rehearsals to achieve the most impactful result.[60][61] Goebel told InStyle that after hearing "Abracadabra" she envisioned ideas for the video, saying they wanted people "to dance again and find freedom on the dance floor". She described the project as theatrical yet deeply personal, centered on creating a "club Gaga" as a world of its own.[59]
The creative process, set preparations, and rehearsals lasted approximately three weeks, while the actual shoot took place over two days at a studio in Santa Monica in early December 2024.[59][62] Gaga highlighted that sustainability was a key factor in the video's production, ensuring that only necessary materials were used and minimizing new manufacturing. Several white costumes were repurposed from old wedding dresses, deadstock fabric, and discarded textiles from her previous projects.[25] On February 18, Mastercard released a behind-the-scenes feature showing rehearsals and production details. In it, Gaga discussed the two personas she portrays in the video, "Mistress of Mayhem" and "Virgin Gaga", framing the narrative as "an inner struggle with a demon... the parts of you that challenge you make you stronger."[63] On March 29, Mastercard released an alternate cut titled "Abracadabra (Fan Version)", featuring 32 contest winners performing the original choreography under the direction of Goebel.[64]
Synopsis
Gaga during the "dance battle" sequence of the music video, where the scenes rapidly alternate between her white and red personas
The music video opens with Gaga, standing on the upper level of a grand venue, dressed in a spiked red latex outfit. She declares, "The category is dance or die", setting off an intense choreography sequence featuring a crowd of forty dancers, all dressed in white. [32] As we cut to the bold typography crafted by Ali Khazae and Throughout the video, the two versions of Gaga alternate: the white-clad Gaga exudes frenetic energy, while the red-clad version remains more composed, symbolizing a dance battle between light and darkness.[65]
Speaking to Elle, Gaga explained the video's concept revolves around "being ready to face challenges", with the lady in red daring the audience to "dance for their lives". She also described the visual as a complement to the song, stating, "When you hear 'Abracadabra' for the first time, you might think, 'What is this about? It's fun to listen to, but what does it mean?' For me, watching the video makes it clear—it's about moving forward."[25] Along with Goebel, Gaga announced a choreography contest, with a chance to be featured in an official fan video.[66]
Reception
Parris Goebel, choreographer and co-director of the video
The music video received positive reviews upon release, with critics and fans highlighting its dark and theatrical style and noting visual references to "Bad Romance" (2009),[67][6][68] while co-director Parris Goebel said such comparisons were not intentional but reflected Gaga's "personality and DNA in her work."[59] On its first day, the clip reached the top position on YouTube's trending chart and later debuted at number seven on the platform's most-viewed videos for the week of January 31 to February 6, 2025, with 15.6 million views in four days.[69][43]
Rolling Stone writer Paul highlighted the video's frenetic choreography, describing it as "an eruption of chaos and movement", while also noting that "its aesthetics reinforce the concept of Mayhem and, along with the song, recall The Fame Monster era with its dark and theatrical visual style."[32] Denis of Billboard stated that the clip evokes "Bad Romance" with "its meticulous display of the intersection of various art forms" along with "jaw-dropping high fashion" aesthetics.[6] Green of Pitchfork remarked like the music video for "Disease" it is "a high-concept production with impeccable styling. Gaga remains a step above the average pop star; her true competition is the ghosts of her own past."[21] Abbie Thompson of GO stated that "combined with intense strobe lighting and Parris Goebel's incredibly indulgent choreography, this video will surely make fans say one thing: we're back."[46] Eva Blanco Medina of Vogue España praised its striking opening, noting that the video begins with a clear message: "Dance or die", setting the stage for a "high-voltage choreographic showcase."[70] A Vulture article argued that "in pop music, the person in the spotlight is both subject and object", which is evident in the video, "where Gaga plays both the mythical lady in red casting judgment and the white witch being tormented by the manic choreography."[40]
HuffPost UK's Daniel Welsh declared it to be "one of the best music videos of her career".[43] Daniel D’Addario of Variety described the video as "a return to Gaga's most extravagant and maximalist aesthetic," praising its "grand and elaborate visual production" as well as the contrast between the two versions of the singer, dressed in white and red, which reinforce the theatricality of the concept.[71] Erin Crabtree and Eliza Thompson of Us Weekly wrote that it "features numerous dance sequences and the kind of extravagant outfits the singer favored in the early years of her career."[72] Cristina Zavala of Los 40 called it "a well-resolved play of contrasts that turns this music video into a cinematic jewel full of Gaga's trademark intensity."[73] Gina Wurtz of Screen Rant noted that while the video is "fairly simple," it impressed her because "the choreography and fashion made it so interesting," adding that "Abracadabra" marks Gaga's return to the type of choreography that defined some of her most memorable videos.[41] The music video for "Abracadabra" won two awards at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, for Best Direction and Best Art Direction.[74]
Live performances
On March 8, 2025, Gaga performed "Abracadabra" on Saturday Night Live. She appeared on stage in a sparkly red ensemble, standing inside a neon-lit, mirrored structure, accompanied by dancers dressed in black with long red wigs.[75] Chris Willman of Variety described the performance as an extension of the song's "crimson-themed music video", with Gaga and her dancersue executing synchronized, "herky-jerky" movements that maximized the limited space of Studio 8H.[76] The set design and choreography were also praised by HuffPost''s Daniel Welsh, who called the performance "a must-watch for even the most casual of Lady Gaga fans," highlighting her ability to create a visually compelling spectacle within a confined space.[77]Vulture's Ben Rosenstock underscored the "cramped glass-house choreography" as a key element of the performance, emphasizing its carefully crafted visual impact.[78] On March 11, 2025, Gaga performed an acoustic version of "Abracadabra" live on The Howard Stern Show.[79]
In April–May 2025, "Abracadabra" was performed as the second song of Gaga's promotional concerts for Mayhem, which included a headlining set at Coachella 2025. Rolling Stone's Tomás Mier opined Gaga "channeled a Victorian-eraopera singer in a dark parallel universe" for the song.[80] The concert also debuted a remix version of "Abracadabra" by French producer Gesaffelstein in an interlude, which was released on digital platforms on the same day.[81][82] On May 13, 2025, Gaga performed "Abracadabra" during a five-song set at the YouTube Brandcast event, held at the Geffen Hall in New York City. The performance featured cinematic staging and opened the showcase.[83] On May 31, 2025, Gaga took part in Netflix's Tudum event with a special performance inspired by Wednesday, where she emerged from a coffin bearing the inscription "here lies the monster queen" to perform "Abracadabra" and "Zombieboy", accompanied by dancers with a gothic aesthetic reminiscent of the Addams Family.[84] On September 7, 2025, Gaga performed "Abracadabra" as part of a pre-recorded segment for the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, filmed during her Mayhem Ball concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City, along with "The Dead Dance".[85] She appeared atop the massive red gown that opened her tour shows, with the performance highlighted by various outlets as one of the night's most memorable moments.[a]
↑ Holian, Danielle (February 4, 2025). "Lady Gaga Makes a Spellbinding Return to Dark Pop With "Abracadabra"". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved February 4, 2025. "Abracadabra" pulls listeners into a pulsating realm of electronic house influences and thumping bass lines. The track's hypnotic synths and infectious rhythm recall the best of Gaga's earlier works.
↑ Kelia (March 9, 2025). "Lady Gaga Releases MAYHEM—A Defiant, Eclectic Return to Pop". Out Now Magazine. Retrieved March 11, 2025. The album features previously released singles "Disease" and "Abracadabra," both of which have been met with widespread acclaim
↑ Nordyke, Kimberly; Carson, Lexi; Schaffstall, Katherine; Fell, Nicole; Lewis, Hilary (September 8, 2025). [ttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/music/music-news/2025-mtv-vmas-best-moments-1236364528/ "2025 MTV VMAs: Most Memorable Moments of the Night"]. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 21. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 7. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
↑ "Top Singles (Week 7, 2025)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on February 20, 2025. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
↑ "מדיה פורסט – המצעד הבינלאומי השבועי – Week 15 – 06/04 – 12/04/2025"[Media Forest – International Weekly Chart – Week 15 – 06/04 – 12/04/2025] (Select the year 2025 and the option "15 06-04-25 12-04-25" from the stretched lists, then click "שירים מובילים - רדיו - בינלאומי" to see the chart.) (in Hebrew). Media Forest. April 13, 2025. Archived from the original on December 3, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 19. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 7. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
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