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Upon its release on Artpop, the song received mixed reviews from music critics. Some compared it to the best tracks off of Gaga's previous album, Born This Way, while others criticized the song for its length, lyrics, and sound. "Mary Jane Holland" was performed as part of the setlist of Gaga's fourth headlining tour, ArtRave: The Artpop Ball (2014).[3]
Development of Gaga's third studio album, Artpop (2013), began shortly after the release of her second record, Born This Way (2011), and by the following year, the album's concepts were "beginning to flourish" as Gaga collaborated with producers Fernando Garibay and DJ White Shadow.[4][5][6] In the meantime, the singer also worked with French disc jockey Madeon. This was his first experience collaborating with a vocalist face-to-face.[7] On MTV News he clarified that he had "always wanted to work with pop artists and my #1 on my list was Lady Gaga. So when I had the opportunity to do that, I was really thrilled."[8] Having mutual respect for each other's work, Gaga praised Madeon's production skills, saying, "He is so amazing. He has such an understanding of music at such a young age. He reminds me of myself so much. He's obsessed, so obsessed with music."[9] Madeon was associated with co-writing and co-producing three songs on Artpop—"Venus", "Mary Jane Holland" and "Gypsy".[8]
Mid-August 2013, Lady Gaga revealed the song title and shared two lines from the lyrics of "Mary Jane Holland" on Twitter.[10][11] On October 29, 2013, as a part of sneak peeks from Artpop, she shared a two-minute preview of the song.[12][13][14]
Lyrics and composition
"Mary Jane Holland" is the twelfth track on Artpop.[12] An EDM song,[15] it is named after her alter ego, "Mary Jane Holland", who is a marijuana addict from Amsterdam, who does not care about what is popular at the moment. Holland is also referenced in the song ("If you meet me and Mary Jane in Holland tonight").[12][16][17] With its lyrics talking about using marijuana,[18] "Mary Jane Holland" is described as a "pro-marijuana anthem" by Chris Bosman, writing for Time.[19][20] "Mary Jane Holland" is a song about escapism, connecting it to not having to depend on constant validation.[16] The song also talks about loss of identity, multiplicity as an artist and consists of "squelchy rhythms"; Robert Craig Baum described the song's tune as a "No Exit" of fashion.[15][21] Baum additionally described it as a "recovery tune", where Gaga becomes something more than just "fashion" The song presents itself as a Faustian wager where Gaga is faced with temptations.[21] "Mary Jane Holland" ends with Gaga lighting up a cigarette of marijuana, losing herself and fully becoming Holland in the process.[21][22][23]
Critical reception
In his review of Artpop, Bosman criticised the length of "Mary Jane Holland", further elaborating that the song "could easily have chopped a verse and maintained the same effect".[19] Spencer Cornhaber, writing for The Atlantic, noted the explicit "desperation" of "Mary Jane Holland", as well as comparing the song to the music of rock band Kiss.[16] In 2022, Thiago Nolla from Cinepop listed Mary Jane Holland as one of Lady Gaga's 10 most underrated tracks, describing it as a "synesthetic, futuristic, and metalinguistic track".[24]
In a less positive review, NME's Kate Lloyd deemed "Mary Jane Holland" an "awry" attempt to be "serious", as the topic in question is "vague".[22] In a ranking of Artpop, Wolfgang Ruth, writing for Vulture, ranked "Mary Jane Holland" 12th out of 14, comparing the climax of this song to that of "Marry the Night" (2011).[25] Sal Cinquemani, writing for Slant Magazine, compared the song to "standout tracks" on Gaga's sophomore album, Born This Way (2011).[26]The Guardian's Michael Cragg criticized "Mary Jane Holland", calling it "cluttered".[27]
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