The Nov. 11 release date of Lady Gaga’s ARTPOP album is quickly approaching, and days after releasing the Jeff Koons-helmed album artwork, the pop superstar has shared the lyric video for new song Aura as well as the full “ARTPOP” track list. The lyric video, released late on Wednesday (Oct. 9), is a tie-in with Gaga’s upcoming film “Machete Kills,” due in theaters on Friday.In many respects, “Aura” (which leaked online in full earlier this week) is a close cousin to “Born This Way” single “Judas,” with Gaga turning the title into a melismatic chant, manipulating her vocals into a salacious sneer during the verses and turning earnest on the hook, during which she asks, “Do you wanna see me naked, lover? Do you wanna peek underneath the cover? Do you wanna see the girl who lives behind the aura, behind the aura?” The lyric video is essentially a long commercial for Robert Rodriguez’s new gonzo action flick, which apparently includes a scene in which Cuba Gooding Jr. tears off his face to reveal his true identity: Lady Gaga!
“Aura” is the lead track on Gaga’s “ARTPOP” album, which received an official track list in a delicious Gaga-ian way. “To announce the ARTPOP tracklist I’ve commissioned a mural by my most dedicated Los Angeles fans,” Gaga wrote on Twitter. “Known as the LA Rivington Rebels, they’ve been sleeping outside of the Record Plant (my studio) for a month! Sleeping bags, booze & all.”
The members of the Rebels then tweeted out the track list and mural — the former includes a song titled “Do What U Want” featuring R. Kelly, and another called “Jewels N’ Drugs,” with T.I., Too $hort and Twista. “Applause,” which is the final track on the upcoming album, holds steady at No. 9 on this week’s Hot 100 chart.
Check out the full “ARTPOP” track list below:
1. Aura
2. Venus
3. G.U.Y.
4. Sexxx Dreams
5. Jewels N’ Drugs feat. T.I., Too $hort & Twista
6. MANiCURE
7. Do What U Want feat. R Kelly
8. ARTPOP
9. Swine
10. Donatella
11. Fashion!
12. Mary Jane Holland
13. Dope
14. Gypsy
15. Applause