"Shadow of a Man" is a 2025 song by Lady Gaga, recorded for her seventh studio album Mayhem (2025). It was written and produced by Gaga, Andrew Watt, and Henry Walter, also known as Cirkut. The track was first teased in the concert special, Gaga Chromatica Ball (2024). It is a disco and electropop song that delivers a message of women's empowerment.
Music journalists had a generally positive reception towards "Shadow of a Man", and highlighted Michael Jackson's influence on both the production and Gaga's singing style. Gaga has performed the song live in 2025 during various concerts in promotion of Mayhem, including Coachella 2025.
Release and composition
"Shadow of a Man" was written and produced by Lady Gaga with Andrew Watt and Cirkut.[2] It was first teased with a short audio clip from the song which played at the end of Gaga Chromatica Ball (2024), a concert film of Gaga's 2022 stadium tour in support of the album Chromatica (2020).[3] The full track was released in 2025 as the eleventh track of her studio album Mayhem's standard edition.[4]
Talking about the song shortly after the album's release, Gaga said, "In my career, I was often the only woman in the room, and this record was a chance to proclaim that I've learned how to dance in the shadow of those men".[5] She also said it is the track from Mayhem which probably best represents where she is in her life right now.[6]Beats Per Minute interpreted the song's lyrics as a message of empowerment, particularly for pop artists facing constant scrutiny and questions about their relevance.[7]Billboard highlighted how Gaga critiques the unequal pressures placed on female artists—expected to work harder for less recognition in "Shadow of a Man". As the song builds to an intense, high-energy chorus, she pushes back fiercely, refusing to keep taking the blame for things that weren’t her fault ("I don't wanna be the one to fall on the knife.")[8]Black Girl Nerds found "Shadow of a Man" Gaga's most introspective song to date, writing that it not only references how Gaga has grappled with feeling overshadowed by male artists throughout her career, but also addresses the complexities of identity and personal growth.[6] In a round-table discussion by Atwood Magazine, Kevin Cost interpreted the song's general message as "I am me, and not a single person can darken my light."[9]
"Shadow of a Man" received comparisons to the music style of Michael Jackson (pictured in 1983).
According to Billboard, "Shadow of a Man" layers shimmering electropop synths and disco-inspired guitars,[8] described by The Independent as "gurning" guitars.[10]Sputnikmusic opined that both "Shadow of a Man" and "LoveDrug" create a sonic thread by blending a slightly dark ABBA-inspired vibe with "Ratatat-esque guitar licks".[11] For Stereogum, the track "recalls the locomotive house of French Touch", a sound Gaga already delved into with Chromatica.[12] The Evening Standard felt Gaga was "re-visiting some of her biggest hooks" on Mayhem, including "Shadow of a Man", which "samples from her Beyoncé collab hit "Telephone".[13]
"Shadow of a Man" was heavily compared to the singing style and catalogue of Michael Jackson. Pitchfork and Rolling Stone described the track as "Michael Jackson-tinged"[14] and "Michael Jackson-infused", respectively.[15]Beats Per Minute opined the track blends dark disco elements with sonic influences reminiscent of classic Michael Jackson.[7]The Times said "Shadow of a Man" has "the urgent swagger of Bad-era Michael Jackson",[16] while a Vulture article called it "a sleek, Thriller-inspired track about dancing through adversity".[17] For Paste, the song is "pure Michael Jackson, so much so that you half-expect to hear a 'Shamona!' or 'Hee-hee!' in the background".[18] Both Consequence and Attitude recognized the presence of Michael Jackson's "spirit" in "Shadow of a Man", with Consequence describing it as if he briefly inhabited the studio during production, while Attitude praising how Gaga captures Jackson's energy without losing her own distinctive edge.[19][20]
Critical reception
Mary Siroky of Consequence described the song as "emotionally resonant" and noted that it represents the undeniable peak of the album's energy.[5][19]AllMusic's Neil Z. Yeung found it an "effortless pop anthem".[4]Variety's Steven J. Horowitz felt the track "struts with the type of cool of wearing sunglasses at night".[21] Gary Grimes of Attitude singled out "Shadow of a Man" as a standout moment on Mayhem, which amplifies the album's momentum and pairs well with the lead single "Disease". He felt the closing electric guitar riff adds a memorable punch, leaving listeners wanting more of that sound.[20] According to Beats Per Minute, "Shadow of a Man" is an "addictive", "defiant and triumphant" track, and suggested that it would have made an excellent album closer and is a strong candidate for a future single.[7] For David Cobbald of The Line of Best Fit, tracks such as "Zombieboy" and "Shadow of a Man" are "top scoring on the record".[22]
Screen Rant's Chris Hedden opined "Shadow of a Man" is "an empowering bop that reminds the listener that with the talent she has, Lady Gaga won't be put into anybody's shadow. Whether they be men or otherwise."[23]Elle included the song in their list of the best new songs they heard in March 2025, saying "With rapid-fire lyrics and an infectious energy, it's one of the high points of her latest album."[24] Alim Kheraj of Dazed wrote that Mayhem shows a confident maturity, and "Shadow of a Man" stands out, as in the hands of a "less assured artist", it "could easily have slipped into either self-pity or saccharine self-empowerment, but instead we find Gaga as the emboldened final form last seen strutting away from fires of the 'Marry The Night' video."[25] A writer for the Iowa State Daily found "Shadow of a Man", "The Beast", and "Blade of Grass" to be standouts, and said: "All of these showcase Gaga's great lyricism and they break down the album's themes. 'Shadow of a Man' is pretty explanatory for what it means just from the title."[26]
Billboard's Stephen Daw ranked "Shadow of a Man" as the fifth-best track on Mayhem, highlighting its message of female empowerment and the "bulldozing chorus".[8] According to Vulture's Kristen S. Hé, the song is "infectious, but it arguably suffers the most for being cut from the same cloth as Mayhem's other disco-funk tracks."[17] For Peter Piatkowski of PopMatters, "Shadow of a Man" is "perfectly serviceable MTV-pop", which "sounds like warmed-over 1980s dance-pop karaoke."[27]The Independent's Adam White opined that "Michael Jackson would be proud" of the track, which is "not Gaga at her best, but a shimmering bit of Eighties disco funk all the same."[28] Ludovic Hunter-Tilney of Financial Times felt that "Shadow of a Man" is "impressive" in imitating Michael Jackson, "but with scant purpose beyond that."[29] In Billboard's March 2025 poll of fans' favorite track on the album, "Shadow of a Man" ranked in the top three.[30]
In the United Kingdom, the song reached number 41 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart,[34] number 42 on the Singles Sales Chart,[35] and number 93 on the UK Streaming Chart.[36] Elsewhere in Europe, it peaked at number 120 in Portugal,[37] number 164 in France,[38] and number 43 on the Greece International Chart published by IFPI.[39] It also appeared on several airplay tallies, reaching number 55 in Russia,[40] 59 in Romania,[41] 136 in Belarus, and 84 on the CIS Airplay chart.[42]
Across Latin America, the track topped the Peru Anglo chart[43] and reached number two on the Venezuela Anglo Airplay ranking,[44] both compiled by Monitor Latino. On Billboard’s Global 200, "Shadow of a Man" debuted at number 85.[45]
Live performances
The first live performance of "Shadow of a Man" was during her 2025 promotional concerts for Mayhem, which included a headlining set at Coachella 2025.[46][47] Gaga performed it as a mash-up with fellow Mayhem track "Kill for Love".[48]
1 2 "Top Singles (Week 11, 2025)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on March 18, 2025. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
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