She left everyone she loves at home. But no matter where she is, with recordings like “Gypsy”, she is loved, be it by the people she left behind or the adoring fans she calls little monsters.

“Gypsy” is a song from Lady Gaga’s 2013 album, Artpop. The track was written and produced by Gaga and French DJ Madeon, an artist she also worked with in “Venus“. The writing credits extend to DJ White Shadow and RedOne. RedOne, famously the first word to come out of Lady Gaga’s mouth in “Just Dance”, extends his contributions to her recordings for her third consecutive studio effort.

The joy and sorrow of pursuing personal dreams

Pursuing a dream while needing to make sacrifices along the way is a reality of life no one can escape. Time, money and sleep are just some of the luxuries we give up. But the consistent trade off amongst those who are still in a journey is the time spent with loved ones. Attending celebrations, going to family gatherings or simple friendly coffee catch ups become a rarity. And the choice always has to be weighed with the loneliness that creeps in.

But this order of life makes sense. It’s by coincidence but all the words that come out of Stefani’s mouth, I can relate to. My dreams aren’t my partner’s nor my friends’. Nor should I expect them to align. I don’t want to be alone forever. But I love gypsy life. I don’t perform in stadiums around the world, but my personal dream is visiting all the countries in the world. I’ve lived overseas for close to eight years now. And it’s as fulfilling as it is difficult.

There are many travellers in my life and the world in general. I cannot find a song more apt in capturing the joy and sorrow that such a life entails.

The parallel universe of alternate singles

Fans like myself have this weird obsession of having our favourite tracks from albums be released as official singles. Is it the desire to have everyone else hear what I’m hearing or is it the constant obsession to be validated by the rest of the world? I don’t know but I still get the feeling. And knowing that was almost a possibility for “Gypsy” but never the reality stings.

In fact, three of my personal picks were at one point in contention to be singles but ended up getting dropped. These were “Aura“, “Venus” and “Gypsy”. Instead, the world got “Applause”, “Do What U Want” and “G.U.Y.” I understand the rationale but the what ifs still cross my mind.

The anthem for the fans

I would love to see Lady Gaga perform live. And unfortunately, I have not seized an opportunity to do so. But one of the things I enjoy most in a concert is the sense of community and belonging that fills the air for the two or three hours that an artist is on stage. And one of the most effective tools is an anthem built for stadiums.

“Gypsy” has the makings of an anthem. The song was written from an artist’s perspective with her fans in mind, making the connection to the song’s lyrics instant. There is a build up, from a simple piano instrumentation at the beginning to a full blown electro pop track right after. There are stuttering hooks that fans sing along to (credits to RedOne’s signature writing I believe). She name drops territories she’s visited or intends to (and fans like myself eat up the fact that she pays homage to her worldwide reach). The bridge hits a climax that will heighten the emotions around the venue and get everyone on a high. And the overall vibe is just grand and triumphant.

Conclusion

Lady Gaga is a wandering woman. She’s got the whole world in front of her. She’s without a home.

In some ways, I see my life narrated by her. But the track “Gypsy” ultimately made me feel seen and at home.