I'm a Gaga fan. I have been since secondary school, when I first heard Bad Romance. Lady Gaga was a very controversial figure and celebrity, and her fashion sense was asinine. But I like her for her music and her talent. Not many singers back in the late 2000s (or even now) could deliver a performance as powerful as she can. Taylor Swift can't, despite her fame. There's just no comparison between these two.
But Lady Gaga has slowly retreated from the music industry and has ventured into its entertainment counterpart. She has since appeared in several films and series - including American Horror Stories, which I absolutely enjoy - and will soon appear in Joker 2.
Her last album was in 2020 - 4 years ago. I really wish she makes more, but perhaps a pause is appropriate, so that her creativity could be maximised. Chromatica was also released 4 years after its predecessor and it was marvellous - Stupid Love was catchy. Sour Candy was a unique collaboration that would have even been more wonderful had Covid not hindered a music video production, and Replay was extremely emotional. I didn't like 911 although it was ok.
But in 2022 she released a song for the movie Top Gun: Maverick. Hold My Hands was not an album, but it was the theme of the movie. And man, it was very Gaga. Mature, soulful, emotional, and like the movie, it moves every listener with its raw soul.
This acoustic version is the work of an amateur, but it somehow highlights her vocal by a vast magnitude and amplifies the emotions a few notch. This is awesome, and I wish more songs like this can be featured online. Magnificent.