Lady Gaga Says Fiancé Michael Polansky Talked Her Out of MakingMayhema Grunge Album

Mar. 15, 2025

Lady Gaga and Michael Polansky in Venice in September 2024.Photo:Franco Origlia/Getty

Franco Origlia/Getty

Lady Gaga’sMayhemalmost sounded very different.During her interview withThe New York Timespublished on March 8, the"Rain on Me"singer revealed that herfiancé Michael Polanskytalked her out of makingMayhema “grunge” album.“Michael was in the studio every day with me. He oversaw the whole process of making the record, completing it, helping me to shape the sound of the record creatively,” Gaga, 38, said.“It was an amazing thing to do with your partner, because when I start to doubt myself, there is nobody that’s going to call me on it better than he is.“Lady Gaga and Michael Polansky in Venice in September 2024.Stefania D’Alessandro/WireImageWhen asked for an example, the14-time Grammy winnersaid: “There was one point where I almost turned the whole album into a grunge record.” Gaga noted that there’s “plenty of grunge” onMayhemand said the moment of inspiration came after working on"Perfect Celebrity.““I was like, ‘Oh, everything should be this’ and [Polansky] said, but there’s so much other amazing music that you’ve made, and it’s all you. You don’t have to try to be something.“Gaga continued, “I thought that was really astute, and I was happy it happened because often I will run with my crazy idea and then sometimes regret that.“Michael Polansky and Lady Gaga in London in September 2024.Karwai Tang/WireImageNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Polansky alsomade sure that a fan-favorite track ofMayhemstayed on. During Gaga’s appearance on the podcastLas Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, she revealed that"How Bad Do U Want Me"almost didn’t make the cut.“Oh my God, I almost didn’t put that on the album,” Gaga said of the “total hyper-pop” song.“I was not sure that I should put that on the record, and Michael was like, ‘You have to — your fans are going to love that song.' “Lady Gaga and Michael Polansky in Venice in September 2024.Jacopo Raule/FilmMagicGaga was hesitant to release the synth-heavy track because she said she would get a “weird reaction” from fans to a “really super pop” song.“I felt this way about ‘Just Dance,’ so thank God I didn’t listen to myself then,” she said of the 2008 song.

Lady Gaga’sMayhemalmost sounded very different.

During her interview withThe New York Timespublished on March 8, the"Rain on Me"singer revealed that herfiancé Michael Polanskytalked her out of makingMayhema “grunge” album.

“Michael was in the studio every day with me. He oversaw the whole process of making the record, completing it, helping me to shape the sound of the record creatively,” Gaga, 38, said.

“It was an amazing thing to do with your partner, because when I start to doubt myself, there is nobody that’s going to call me on it better than he is.”

Lady Gaga and Michael Polansky in Venice in September 2024.Stefania D’Alessandro/WireImage

Stefania D’Alessandro/WireImage

When asked for an example, the14-time Grammy winnersaid: “There was one point where I almost turned the whole album into a grunge record.” Gaga noted that there’s “plenty of grunge” onMayhemand said the moment of inspiration came after working on"Perfect Celebrity.”

“I was like, ‘Oh, everything should be this’ and [Polansky] said, but there’s so much other amazing music that you’ve made, and it’s all you. You don’t have to try to be something.”

Gaga continued, “I thought that was really astute, and I was happy it happened because often I will run with my crazy idea and then sometimes regret that.”

Michael Polansky and Lady Gaga in London in September 2024.Karwai Tang/WireImage

Karwai Tang/WireImage

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Polansky alsomade sure that a fan-favorite track ofMayhemstayed on. During Gaga’s appearance on the podcastLas Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, she revealed that"How Bad Do U Want Me"almost didn’t make the cut.

“Oh my God, I almost didn’t put that on the album,” Gaga said of the “total hyper-pop” song.

“I was not sure that I should put that on the record, and Michael was like, ‘You have to — your fans are going to love that song.' "

Lady Gaga and Michael Polansky in Venice in September 2024.Jacopo Raule/FilmMagic

Jacopo Raule/FilmMagic

Gaga was hesitant to release the synth-heavy track because she said she would get a “weird reaction” from fans to a “really super pop” song.

“I felt this way about ‘Just Dance,’ so thank God I didn’t listen to myself then,” she said of the 2008 song.

source: people.com