Talk:Harlequin (Lady Gaga album)

Studio album or soundtrack album?

ahould Harlequin be considered a soundtrack album in the same sense as Madonna's I'm Breathless or Beyonce's The Gift? Both of those projects were companions to films 2601:140:9001:4510:CD2A:6DF3:FAD5:1DAF (talk) 02:14, 25 September 2024 (UTC)

I personally think it should be considered a soundtrack album, as it is a companion album of songs from the film as well as songs inspired by the film, which fits the definition of a soundtrack album. It is very similar to I'm Breathless, Madonna's companion album for Dick Tracy which was categorized as a soundtrack album while the film also had its own soundtrack album as well.Flabshoe1 (talk) 16:18, 25 September 2024 (UTC)

Another example: Beyoncé's album, The Lion King: The Gift, is considered a soundtrack album for The Lion King (2019), even though that film had its own soundtrack album too. AG202 (talk) 05:22, 27 September 2024 (UTC)

I would argue that it should be listed as solely a soundtrack album, and not a studio album, similarly to I'm Breathless, The Lion King: The Gift (as mentioned above by users), Black Panther: The Album and Suicide Squad: The Album. This isn't the same as the Purple Rain album, in which the film and album were both made specifically as companions. — Artmanha (talk) 17:48, 29 September 2024 (UTC)

The soundtrack album article offers a definition by BBC: 'By convention, a soundtrack record can contain any kind of music including music "inspired by" but not actually appearing in the movie.' The album is generally associated with the film and referred to as a 'companion album' to Joker. Based on this, I think we can assume it is a soundtrack of sorts. ArturSik (talk) 00:54, 30 September 2024 (UTC)

Lady Gaga was in Kimmel last night and she specifically said it's NOT a soundtrack and is just inspired by her experience making the movie. 96.253.20.151 (talk) 00:13, 3 October 2024 (UTC)

Didn't she say its not THE soundtrack of the album? She never specified that it's not a soundtrack of some kind. Read here: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lady-gaga-happy-mistake-performance-kimmel-1235121340/ Kirtap92 (talk) 07:10, 3 October 2024 (UTC)

She said it was a concept record. It doesnt say Joker anywhere on it, she was inspired to write and perform the album based on her experience making the movie. Outside of that it has nothing to do with the movie. It should be under her studio albums. 96.253.20.151 (talk) 13:08, 3 October 2024 (UTC)

I think the album should be categorised as both a soundtrack album and studio album. It does share similarities with other "music from and inspired by the film" soundtrack projects (particularly the aforementioned I'm Breathless); quoting Gaga: "It’s a companion album for the film, so it has so much of the music that’s in Joker, as well as some original pieces that I wrote for the film." The album was also promoted as a Lady Gaga project (LG 6.5). Theknine2 (talk) 13:23, 6 October 2024 (UTC)

Lady Gaga herself called this album "LG6.5". An album between studio albums. If it was a studio album, she would've called it "LG7", but "LG7" is reserved for another project.

Source:

https://youtube.com/KEwEUvw-7A0?si=7ehRBSp-GxkqGtb3 Factual888 (talk) 20:19, 7 October 2024 (UTC)

Rolling Stone says "it’s not a soundtrack album in the traditional sense." Gaga herself is implying by referring to it as "LG6.5" that it is not quite a studio album. So it is in between the two. Gaga's upcoming 2025 album is one she's calling "LG7".[1] There's no right answer to the stated question of studio or soundtrack. I would call this a compilation because of the cover songs. Note that there is a completely different album out as the soundtrack to the film: Joker: Folie à Deux (Music From The Motion Picture) by Interscope. Which means the Gaga album is not the official film soundtrack. Binksternet (talk) 20:47, 7 October 2024 (UTC)

Someone mentioned before, but The Lion King: The Gift by Beyoncé is considered a soundtrack album, while the film has a soundtrack as well. Other examples mentioned above. Kirtap92 (talk) 12:30, 8 October 2024 (UTC)

Do we have URLs from reliable sources that actually call Harlequin a soundtrack album, apart from her fans not wanting it to be a studio album? ℛonherry☘ 17:04, 8 October 2024 (UTC)

Also, arguments about Beyonce's album or Madonna's album, citing their soundtracks, are not useful. That's WP:WHATABOUT. Is The Lion King album a featured article? If not, then it can't be used as a precedent here. Such categorisations must be discussed case-by-case. The topic is about Lady Gaga's Harlequin and unless there are some reliable sources explicitly calling it a soundtrack album, it can't be categorised as such. ℛonherry☘ 17:11, 8 October 2024 (UTC)

"The singer, who announced that she will be dropping the first single from her forthcoming seventh studio album next month, just announced “Harlequin,” a soundtrack album titled to the forthcoming film “Joker :Folie et Deux,” in which she stars with Joaquin Phoenix." - Variety: https://variety.com/2024/film/news/lady-gaga-joker-2-album-harlequin-13-songs-1236154532/

"Harlequin is not the highly anticipated follow-up to 2020’s Chromatica; she told AP that LP #7 is arriving in February and has promoted Harlequin as “LG 6.5.” It features mostly covers of standards that serve as the soundtrack to Joker: Folie à Deux, and several are billed as interpolations that find Gaga getting co-writing credits." - Stereogum: https://www.stereogum.com/2282089/stream-lady-gagas-new-album-harlequin/music/

"Now Gaga’s silky tones are caressing 11 song standards and two original numbers for her “Harlequin” album, soundtrack to “Joker: Folie a Deux,” coming this week." - Roger Friedman of Showbiz411: https://www.showbiz411.com/2024/10/01/lady-gaga-adds-her-name-tech-fiancees-to-four-legacy-songs-on-outstanding-hit-harlequin-album

"Gaga is starting the celebration early with Harlequin, her companion album for the movie containing soundtrack songs and two new original tracks." - Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/cmalone/2024/09/27/lady-gaga-previews-joker-folie--deux-with-companion-album-harlequin/ Debyf (talk) 19:08, 8 October 2024 (UTC)

Also the Official Charts Company: Jokes on you! As Joker: Foile a Deux arrives in cinemas this week, Lady Gaga’s accompanying soundtrack album Harlequin is so far expected to debut at Number 25 in the UK following a surprise digital-only release.[2] Bluesatellite (talk) 22:22, 8 October 2024 (UTC)

Variety and the Official Charts Company are good sources to supports its position as a soundtrack album, as they explicitly call it a soundtrack album. The other sources are not. The rest make indirect claims like "contains songs that serve as the soundtrack". Nevertheless, I think the infobox can stick with the soundtrack categorization based on Variety and the OCC. ℛonherry☘ 13:23, 9 October 2024 (UTC)

Release date for CD and Vinyl outside US

According to her official online shops and Universal music online shops outside US, the release date for the CD and vinyls is 11 October, being US the only country where the album will theoretically be shipped by September 27. Thus, I think this should be noted in the release section, specifying that the release date of the physicals is 27 Sept only for US and 11 Oct for the rest of the world. Nympho 87 (talk) 06:27, 28 September 2024 (UTC)

Album genre

The album is classified as pop on streaming and music services [Source 1], [Source 2].

The artist refers to it as a "vintage pop" album. According to the second paragraph of the entry: Described by Gaga as "vintage pop", Harlequin consists of songs featured on the film's soundtrack, as well as two original songs with different a production. It expands on Gaga's venture into jazz music, also including elements of rock, soul, gospel and doo-wop in its composition. [Source 3]

There seems to be a fan-driven debate attempting to reclassify the album as jazz, which does not align with its actual genre. 2804:29B8:50B0:1E83:60BE:CA8A:4582:A44C (talk) 02:16, 29 September 2024 (UTC)

Why is it classified as edm and dance on here? There are no electronic or dance songs. 47.205.7.29 (talk) 20:01, 29 September 2024 (UTC)

That was a vandalization done by 5.173.190.5. 2804:29B8:50B0:1E83:6088:9A8A:7F27:8F5D (talk) 20:14, 29 September 2024 (UTC)

Can any moderator edit this page with these accurate sources? 150.165.144.21 (talk) 11:57, 30 September 2024 (UTC)

The album has been described by Gaga as "vintage pop" as it contains the covers of traditional pop songs, not modern pop. The album is also heavily jazz-influenced, as described by The Rolling Stone: "Lady Gaga stays in character on Harlequin. It’s her companion to Joker: Folie a Deux, inspired by her role as Harley Quinn. But it’s a luxuriant album of jazzy swing, mostly standards, right in her sweet spot." [Source 1] Even Billboard has categorised it as such and the album has appeared on its Jazz Albums Chart. [Source 2] Apple Music classifies it as Jazz. [Source 3] Janahones (talk) 00:53, 9 October 2024 (UTC)

Page protection

I think the page should be protected and restricted from IP users editing. There are some users who keep reverting edits without considering the discussions happening in the talk page, and some are even vandalizing it. What do you think? — Artmanha (talk) 14:25, 7 October 2024 (UTC)

Album number

There are a lot of efforts to number the album. If it is numbered as a studio album, I think it should say "eighth" with a footnote explaining that it was marketed as "LG6.5" and that it is her sixth solo album. Adadiamond13 (talk) 07:15, 8 October 2024 (UTC)

There are multiple sources proving that Harlequin is being referred as LG6.5 by Lady Gaga herself (it's not fan fiction like some editors claimed). Her sixth studio album (LG6) is Chromatica and her seventh studio album (LG7) is being released next February. Consequence (https://consequence.net/2024/09/lady-gaga-harlequin-joker-album/) says: "On social media, Gaga is referring to Harlequin as LG6.5, distinguishing it from the 2025 release, which she has described as LG7 (her seventh album)"; NME (https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-lady-gaga-dance-with-fans-at-harlequin-listening-party-in-london-3797465) says: "She’s previously revealed plans to release a new album of original material in 2025, describing it as LG7 – her seventh album – as opposed to ‘Harlequin’, which she’s calling LG6.5"; Uproxx (https://uproxx.com/pop/lady-gaga-harlequin-teaser-video-louvre/) says: "Then, billboards teasing something called “LG6.5” began to surface. Shortly after, Gaga revealed that “LG6.5” refers to Harlequin, a companion album tied to her role as Harley Quinn in the movie Joker: Folie à Deux."; Exclaim! (https://exclaim.ca/music/article/lady-gaga-announces-new-album-harlequin-out-this-friday) says "Lady Gaga Announces New Album 'Harlequin' Out This Friday - She's dubbed it 'LG6.5'. Debyf (talk) 18:43, 8 October 2024 (UTC)