Shadow of a Man (song)

"Shadow of a Man"
Song by Lady Gaga
from the album Mayhem
StudioShangri-La (Malibu, CA)
GenreDisco-funk
Length3:19
Label
Songwriters
Producers
Official audio
"Shadow of a Man" on YouTube

"Shadow of a Man" is a 2025 song by Lady Gaga that was recorded for her eighth studio album, Mayhem (2025). It was first teased in the concert special Gaga Chromatica Ball (2024). Written and produced by Gaga, Andrew Watt, and Cirkut, it is a disco-funk song featuring electropop synths, with lyrics that convey a message of women's empowerment. Gaga described it as the track that most reflects where she was in her life at the time, saying the song embodied her experience of "learning how to dance in the shadow" of the men she often found herself surrounded by in her career.

Music journalists gave "Shadow of a Man" a generally positive reception, often picking it as one of the album's highlights. Michael Jackson's influence on the production and Gaga's singing style was also a common observation. Commercially, it entered several national and component charts following the release of Mayhem, including the Billboard Global 200 and the Canadian Hot 100. Between 2025 and 2026, Gaga performed the song live during various promotional concerts and the Mayhem Ball tour, with the choreography and her appearance also prompting journalist comparisons to Jackson. She also performed a reimagined rendition for Mayhem Requiem.

Release and lyrical content

"Shadow of a Man" was written and produced by Lady Gaga alongside Andrew Watt and Cirkut.[1] A short clip of the song was first teased at the end of Gaga Chromatica Ball (2024), a concert film of Gaga's 2022 stadium tour in support of the album Chromatica (2020).[2] The full track was later released in 2025 as the eleventh song on the standard edition of her studio album Mayhem.[3]

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".[4] She also stated it is the track from Mayhem that probably best represents where she was in her life at that time.[5] JT Early of 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.[6] Stephen Daw of Billboard highlighted the way in "Shadow of a Man", Gaga critiques the unequal pressures on female artists, who are expected to work harder for less recognition than are men. As the song builds to an intense, high-energy chorus, she fiercely pushes back, refusing to keep accepting blame for things that were not her fault ("I don't wanna be the one to fall on the knife").[7] Jason Collins of Black Girl Nerds found "Shadow of a Man" Gaga's most introspective song to date, writing it references the way Gaga has dealt with feelings of being overshadowed by male artists during her career, and addresses the complexities of identity and personal growth.[5] In a round-table discussion by Atwood Magazine, Kevin Cost interpreted the song's main message as: "I am me, and not a single person can darken my light".[8]

Composition

"Shadow of a Man" is a disco-funk[9][10] song featuring electropop synths[7] and "gurning" guitars.[11] Sputnikmusic's Dakota West Foss said both "Shadow of a Man" and "LoveDrug" create a sonic thread by blending a slightly dark ABBA-inspired vibe with "Ratatat-esque guitar licks".[12] According to Arielle Gordon of Stereogum, the track "recalls the locomotive house of French Touch", a sound Gaga had already explored with Chromatica.[13] The Evening Standard author India Block stated Gaga was "re-visiting some of her biggest hooks" on Mayhem, including "Shadow of a Man", which she thought "samples from her Beyoncé collab hit 'Telephone'".[14]

"Shadow of a Man" was heavily compared to the singing style and catalogue of Michael Jackson; Pitchfork's Jaeden Pinder and Rolling Stone's Richard Burn described the track as "Michael Jackson-tinged"[15] and "Michael Jackson-infused", respectively.[16] Mary Siroky of Consequence and Gary Grimes of Attitude remarked that the influence was so pronounced it seemed as if Jackson's "spirit" was summoned for the production.[17][18] Paste's Sam Rosenberg added that the song is "pure Michael Jackson, so much so that you half-expect to hear a 'Shamona!' or 'Hee-hee!' in the background".[19] Comparisons were made to Jackson's "classic" eras, in particular Thriller (1982) and Bad (1987).[6][9][20]

Critical reception

Mary Siroky of Consequence described "Shadow of a Man" as "emotionally resonant" and noted it represents the undeniable peak of the album's energy.[4][17] AllMusic's Neil Z. Yeung found it an "effortless pop anthem".[3] Variety's Steven J. Horowitz remarked the track "struts with the type of cool of wearing sunglasses at night".[21] Gary Grimes of Attitude chose "Shadow of a Man" as a standout moment on Mayhem that amplifies the album's momentum and pairs well with the lead single "Disease". He opined the closing electric-guitar riff adds a memorable punch, leaving listeners wanting more of that sound.[18] JT Early of Beats per Minute found "Shadow of a Man" to be an "addictive", "defiant and triumphant" track that would have made an excellent album closer and a strong potential single.[6] David Cobbald of The Line of Best Fit wrote that tracks such as "Zombieboy" and "Shadow of a Man" are "top scoring on the record".[22] Writing for Salon, Coleman Spilde deemed the track "sensational", noting its hook outshines anything male pop artists have put out since American singer Justin Timberlake's FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006).[23]

Screen Rant's Chris Hedden wrote that "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."[24] Billboard's Stephen Daw ranked it as the fifth-best track on Mayhem, highlighting its message of female empowerment and the "bulldozing chorus".[7] Elle included "Shadow of Man" in its list of the best new songs the reviewers heard in March 2025, saying: "With rapid-fire lyrics and an infectious energy, it's one of the high points of her latest album".[25] Dazed writer Alim Kheraj singled out "Shadow of a Man" from Mayhem for avoiding the pitfalls of melodrama or cliché, arguing that the track presents Gaga in a more fully realised form, echoing the persona she embodied in the "Marry the Night" music video.[26]

Vulture's Kristen S. Hé felt the song is "infectious, but it arguably suffers the most for being cut from the same cloth as Mayhem's other disco-funk tracks".[9] Peter Piatkowski of PopMatters described "Shadow of a Man" as "perfectly serviceable MTV-pop" that "sounds like warmed-over 1980s dance-pop karaoke".[27] The Independent's Adam White opined "Michael Jackson would be proud" of the track, and considered it a solid, if not top-tier, effort from Gaga.[10] Ludovic Hunter-Tilney of the Financial Times was more critical, noting that although "Shadow of a Man" is impressive in how closely it echoes Michael Jackson, he felt it lacked further artistic purpose.[28]

Commercial performance

During the release week of Mayhem, "Shadow of a Man" entered the Billboard Global 200 at number 85.[29] It was one of twelve tracks from the album to appear on the chart, ranking as the ninth highest-charting track among them.[30] In the United States, the song reached number two on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart[31] and number eleven on the Hot Dance/Pop Songs chart.[32] On the latter chart, Gaga simultaneously placed nine songs from the album, with "Shadow of a Man" ranking as the eighth highest-positioned track.[33] In Canada, the track debuted at number 91 on the Canadian Hot 100.[34] Across Latin America, the track topped the Peru Anglo chart[35] and reached number two on the Venezuela Anglo Airplay ranking.[36] Although it did not chart in Brazil, Pro-Música Brasil awarded the song a double-platinum certification.[37]

"Shadow of a Man" entered the UK charts for best-selling singles,[38] most-downloaded singles,[39] and most-streamed singles at lower positions.[40] Elsewhere in Europe, it peaked at number 43 in Greece,[41] number 120 in Portugal,[42] and number 164 in France.[43] It also appeared on several airplay charts, reaching number 55 in Russia,[44] number 59 in Romania,[45] number 84 in the Commonwealth of Independent States, and number 136 in Belarus.[46]

Live performances

Lady Gaga holding out her hands to her dancers on stage, wearing a black tailcoat with silver accents.
Gaga performing "Shadow of a Man" during the Mayhem Ball tour

The first live performances of "Shadow of a Man" were during Gaga's 2025 promotional concerts for Mayhem, which included a headlining set at Coachella.[47][48] Gaga performed it as a mash-up with fellow Mayhem track "Kill for Love".[49] She was dressed in a gray jacket and hot pants,[50] with Los Angeles Times's Mikael Wood describing her look as "a sexy military officer".[51] Variety's Chris Willman felt the song's "Michael Jackson-ism" was also reflected in the choreography during its live debut.[52]

The track reappeared on the setlist of Gaga's the Mayhem Ball tour (2025–2026), positioned as the opener of the penultimate act. In this iteration, it was performed independently of "Kill for Love" and featured an expanded introductory section.[53][54] Gaga wore a bespoke Louis Verdad military-inspired tailcoat, detailed with silver accents such as crystal cross appliqués. The piece featured precise, fitted tailoring with a tightly drawn waist and a flared double-tail design that extended behind her.[55] Livia Caligor of W noted how Gaga once again paid homage to Michael Jackson. She observed that in "Shadow of a Man", Gaga draws on both the sound and imagery of Jackson's work, with a silhouette reminiscent of the Dangerous World Tour and the arm bands echoing his military-style uniforms. Caligor added, "The parallel is clear: this is another artist who also blurred the boundaries between persona, performance, and pain."[55] Robin Murray of Clash called the rendition "impressive".[56]

A reimagined version of "Shadow of a Man" appeared in Gaga's live album and concert film Apple Music Live: Mayhem Requiem, which was released on May 14, 2026, and recorded during an invite-only performance at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles in January 2026.[57]

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Mayhem.[1]

Recording

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[37] 2× Platinum 80,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. 1 2 Anon. (2025). Mayhem (Liner notes). Lady Gaga. Interscope. 602475451075.
  2. ↑ Byrant, Danica. "Lady Gaga's Incredible New Album Causes Mayhem". Universal Music New Zealand. Archived from the original on March 10, 2026. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  3. 1 2 Yeung, Neil Z. (March 7, 2025). "Mayhem by Lady Gaga". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 9, 2025. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  4. 1 2 Siroky, Mary (March 6, 2025). "Lady Gaga on Mayhem and Why SNL Is One of the Only Spots She Can "Do It All in One Place"". Consequence. Archived from the original on March 18, 2025. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  5. 1 2 Collins, Jason; Broadnax, Jamie (March 6, 2025). "'Shadow of a Man': Lady Gaga's Most Truthful and Introspective Song Yet". Black Girl Nerds. Archived from the original on April 4, 2025. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 Early, JT (March 19, 2025). "Album Review: Lady Gaga – Mayhem". Beats per Minute. Archived from the original on April 30, 2026. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 Daw, Stephen (March 7, 2025). "Every Song From Lady Gaga's Mayhem Album, Ranked". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 7, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Roundtable Discussion: A Review Of Lady Gaga's Mayhem". Atwood Magazine. March 18, 2025. Archived from the original on November 26, 2025. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 S. Hé, Kristen (April 11, 2025). "Every Lady Gaga Song, Ranked A deep dive into a star who almost single-handedly raised the bar for pop music". Vulture. Archived from the original on April 23, 2026. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
  10. 1 2 White, Adam (March 8, 2025). "Lady Gaga: Every song ranked, from Born This Way to Abracadabra". The Independent. Archived from the original on May 3, 2026. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  11. ↑ Brown, Helen (March 7, 2025). "On Lady Gaga's Mayhem, Mother Monster is back in all her shock-horror-bop glory". The Independent. Archived from the original on March 8, 2025. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  12. ↑ Foss, Dakota West (March 10, 2025). "Lady Gaga - Mayhem". Sputnikmusic. Archived from the original on May 17, 2026. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  13. ↑ Gordon, Arielle (March 6, 2025). "Lady Gaga Finds Magic In The Mayhem". Stereogum. Archived from the original on May 14, 2026. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  14. ↑ Block, India (March 7, 2025). "Lady Gaga Mayhem Review: Murderous Music to Dance All Night To". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on March 7, 2025. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  15. ↑ Pinder, Jaeden (March 7, 2025). "6 Takeaways From Lady Gaga's New Album Mayhem". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on March 8, 2025. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  16. ↑ Burn, Richard (March 7, 2025). "Lady Gaga Mayhem review: An all-out pop microcosm of her career so far". Rolling Stone UK. Archived from the original on March 9, 2025. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  17. 1 2 Siroky, Mary (March 7, 2025). "In Mayhem, Lady Gaga Is Refracted and Reborn: Review". Consequence. Archived from the original on March 9, 2025. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  18. 1 2 Grimes, Gary (March 7, 2025). "Lady Gaga Mayhem review: 'Gaga in her most straightforward pop star mode since The Fame'". Attitude. Archived from the original on March 13, 2025. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  19. ↑ Rosenberg, Sam (March 10, 2025). "Lady Gaga Returns to the Pop Arena With the Familiar Yet Fun Mayhem". Paste. Archived from the original on April 20, 2026. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  20. ↑ Potton, Ed (March 6, 2025). "Lady Gaga: Mayhem review — dancefloor bangers are the diva at her best". The Times. Archived from the original on March 7, 2025. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  21. ↑ Horowitz, Steven J. (March 7, 2025). "Lady Gaga Returns to Her Dance Floor Roots — and Has a Blast — on Mayhem: Album Review". Variety. Archived from the original on March 7, 2025. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  22. ↑ Cobbald, David (March 7, 2025). "Lady Gaga's Seventh Studio Album Needs More Mayhem". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on March 9, 2025. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  23. ↑ Spilde, Coleman (March 6, 2025). "On the groove-heavy Mayhem, Lady Gaga balances two selves to become the perfect celebrity". Salon.com. Archived from the original on March 9, 2025. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
  24. ↑ Hedden, Chris (March 7, 2025). "Lady Gaga's New Album: Every Song On Mayhem Ranked". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on April 22, 2026. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  25. ↑ "These Are the Best New Songs We Heard Last Month". Elle. April 1, 2025. Archived from the original on April 3, 2025. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  26. ↑ Kheraj, Alim (March 10, 2025). "With Mayhem, Lady Gaga returns to her freaky roots". Dazed. Archived from the original on March 11, 2025. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  27. ↑ Piatkowski, Peter (March 11, 2025). "Lady Gaga's Creativity Is Trapped In Retro Sounds Now". PopMatters. Archived from the original on April 28, 2026. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  28. ↑ Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (March 6, 2025). "Lady Gaga Fails to Follow Her Own Mantra in the Risk-Averse Mayhem — Album Review". Financial Times. Archived from the original on March 6, 2025. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  29. 1 2 "Lady Gaga Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Billboard Global 200 - Week of March 22, 2025". Billboard. March 22, 2025. Archived from the original on March 22, 2025. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  31. 1 2 "Lady Gaga Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  32. 1 2 "Lady Gaga Chart History (Hot Dance/Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  33. ↑ Zellner, Xander (March 18, 2025). "Lady Gaga Charts 10 Songs on Hot 100 From Mayhem, Breaks Record on Top Dance Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 19, 2025. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  34. 1 2 "Lady Gaga Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  35. 1 2 "Top 20 Perú Anglo – Del 25 de Junio al 1 de Julio, 2025" [Top 20 Peru English – June 25 to July 1, 2025] (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. July 2, 2025. Archived from the original on July 5, 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  36. 1 2 "Top 20 Venezuela – Anglo – Del 14 al 20 de Julio, 2025" [Top 20 Venezuela – English – 14 to 20 July 2025] (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. July 15, 2025. Archived from the original on September 12, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  37. 1 2 "Brazilian single certifications – Lady Gaga – Shadow of a Man" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  38. 1 2 "Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on April 5, 2025. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  39. 1 2 "Official Singles Downloads Chart on 14/3/2025 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  40. 1 2 "Official Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on March 18, 2025. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  41. 1 2 "Official IFPI Charts − Digital Singles Chart (International) − Εβδομάδα: 11/2025" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on March 19, 2025. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  42. 1 2 "Top 200 Singles Semana 11 de 2025" (PDF). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. March 20, 2025. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 20, 2025. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  43. 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.
  44. 1 2 "Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart: Apr 10, 2025". TopHit. Archived from the original on April 11, 2025. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
  45. 1 2 "Top Radio Hits Romania Weekly Chart: May 22, 2025". TopHit. Archived from the original on June 3, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  46. 1 2 3 "Charts – TopHit – Highway to Airplay". TopHit. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  47. ↑ Frank, Jason P. (April 12, 2025). "Lady Gaga Played Chess with Her 'Poker Face' at Coachella". Vulture. Archived from the original on April 16, 2026. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  48. ↑ Paredes, Alberto (April 27, 2025). "Lady Gaga in Mexico 2025: This was her explosive concert at the GNP Seguros Stadium" [Lady Gaga in Mexico 2025: This was her explosive concert at the GNP Seguros Stadium]. La Crónica de Hoy (in Spanish). Archived from the original on April 27, 2025. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  49. ↑ Gabriel, Saulog (May 22, 2025). "Lady Gaga's Mayhem Concert Cements Her Status As One of Pop's All-Time Greats – Review". Billboard Philippines. Archived from the original on June 1, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  50. ↑ Sánchez, Jorge Emilio (April 27, 2025). "Lady Gaga, un regreso colosal en la CDMX" [Lady Gaga, a colossal comeback in Mexico City]. Excélsior (in Spanish). Archived from the original on April 27, 2026. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  51. ↑ Wood, Mikael (April 12, 2025). "Lady Gaga proves she's music's greatest kook in campy Coachella thriller". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 20, 2026. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  52. ↑ Willman, Chris (April 12, 2025). "Lady Gaga Outdoes Herself With a Coachella Spectacular That's Equal Parts Freaky and Hearty". Variety. Archived from the original on January 12, 2026. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  53. ↑ Mier, Tomás (July 17, 2025). "Lady Gaga Is a Fearless Storyteller During Her Legacy-Defining Mayhem Ball". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 26, 2026. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  54. ↑ Brandstetter, Markus (November 4, 2025). "Lady Gaga live in Berlin: Fotos, Videos und Setlist vom 4.11.2025" [Lady Gaga live in Berlin: Photos, videos and setlist from November 4, 2025]. Musikexpress (in German). Archived from the original on November 5, 2025. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  55. 1 2 Caligor, Livia (July 21, 2025). "Lady Gaga's Mayhem Ball Is a Tour Through Her Biggest Style Moments". W Magazine. Archived from the original on January 2, 2026. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  56. ↑ Murray, Robin (October 2, 2025). "Live Report: Lady Gaga – The O2 Arena, London - Reviews". Clash. Archived from the original on October 2, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  57. ↑ Bravo, Tony (May 15, 2026). "Mayhem Requiem review: Lady Gaga turns pop melodrama into high art". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on May 15, 2026. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  58. ↑ "Top Radio Hits Global Monthly Chart: April 2025". TopHit. Archived from the original on May 2, 2025. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
  59. ↑ "Top Radio Hits Romania Monthly Chart: May 2025" (in Russian and English). TopHit. June 6, 2025. Archived from the original on June 8, 2025. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  60. ↑ "Top Radio Hits Russia Monthly Chart: April 2025". TopHit. Archived from the original on May 2, 2025. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
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