Aura

Album: ARTPOP (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This thumping dance song finds Gaga singing about fame and adoration as she asks the listeners if they want to "see the girl who lives behind the aura." The aura is a term used within Islam, which denotes the intimate parts of the body that must be covered with clothing.

    Gaga uses the Islamic traditions that women should cover their bodies in public as a metaphor for life as a celebrity. The Mother Monster is saying that it is her choice to well the veil of fame in order to retain an aura of mystery.
  • The growling, exotic tune track was produced by Russian-German producer and DJ Zedd. He is best known for his single "Clarity," as well as co-producing Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj's hit tune "Beauty And A Beat." Zedd first linked up with Lady when his remix of her "Marry the Night" track appeared on the special edition of Born This Way. "I think 'Aura' [is] one of the most interesting and unique electronic songs ever, honestly," Zedd commented to MTV News. "It's so crossing over to, you know, there's so many guitars and it's like an oriental vibe. And there's a hard electronic drop and kind of a minimal drop in the end. I don't how to describe it, it's kind of cool."
  • The song's lyric video was directed by Robert Rodriguez and promotes his 2013 exploitation action film Machete Kills. Gaga made her first foray into acting in the movie playing the gun-toting Lady Chameleon. The song also featured in a trailer for the flick.
  • Gaga made available with the ARTPOP release an app, playable on Android and iOS. The singer worked with Max Weisel of Relative Wave who also worked on Bjork's 2011 app for her Biophilia album. It includes a glowy character named Petga, who will help the user create an aura that will grow and change as they use the app more and more.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Frankie Valli

Frankie ValliSong Writing

An interview with Frankie Valli, who talks about why his songs - both solo and with The Four Seasons - have endured, and reflects on his time as Rusty Millio on The Sopranos.

Tommy James

Tommy JamesSongwriter Interviews

"Mony Mony," "Crimson and Clover," "Draggin' The Line"... the hits kept coming for Tommy James, and in a plot line fit for a movie, his record company was controlled by the mafia.

Eric Clapton

Eric ClaptonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really write "Cocaine" while on cocaine? This question and more in the Clapton edition of Fact or Fiction.

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Men

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired MenSong Writing

Bowie's "activist" days of 1964 led to Ziggy Stardust.

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)Songwriter Interviews

The former Metallica bassist talks about his first time writing a song with James Hetfield, and how a hand-me-down iPad has changed his songwriting.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.