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Zombieboy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Zombieboy"
Song by Lady Gaga
from the album Mayhem
ReleasedMarch 7, 2025 (2025-03-07)
StudioShangri-La (Malibu)
GenreDisco
Length3:33
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)

"Zombieboy" is a 2025 song by Lady Gaga, originally released on her studio album Mayhem. The disco song is a tribute to model Rick Genest.[1] It was written and produced by Lady Gaga, Andrew Watt and Cirkut, with James Fauntleroy providing additional songwriting. "Zombieboy" was mixed by Serban Ghenea and mastered by Randy Merrill.

The song has inspired a dance trend on social media.[2][3]

Production and composition

[edit]
Co-writers Andrew Watt (left) and Henry Walter, also known as Cirkut (right)
"Zombieboy" is a tribute to model Rick Genest (1985–2018), who appeared in the music video for Lady Gaga's 2011 song "Born This Way".

Lady Gaga wrote and produced "Zombieboy" with Andrew Watt and Cirkut, while James Fauntleroy provided additional songwriting. Paul Lamalfa recorded the track at Shangri-La Studios in Malibu, California; Marco Sonzini provided additional engineering, while Tyler Harris worked as the assistant engineer. "Zombieboy" was mixed by Serban Ghenea at Mixstar Studios in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and mastered by Randy Merrill at Sterling Sound Studios in Edgewater, New Jersey. Gaga additionally played Rhodes piano and keyboards; Watt played drums, percussion, bass guitar, electric guitar, and keyboards; and Cirkut played synthesizer and keyboards and provided drum and bass programming. Bryce Bordone worked as the assistant mixing engineer, and Marc VanGool served as the studio technician.[4]

"Zombieboy" is 3 minutes and 33 seconds long.[5] The song is a tribute to model Rick Genest (1985–2018), who appeared in the music video for Gaga's 2011 song "Born This Way".[6][7] Pitchfork described the track as a "glitzy disco bop" with a "double dutch chant".[8] Paper magazine said the song "sounds like a long-lost '80s New York club classic".[9] Billboard described "Zombieboy" as "groovy".[10] Stereogum believed that it has a "swaggering bassline and shimmering synths", and "sounds like a post-apocalyptic roller disco as Gaga begs for the affection of a man who's long gone".[11] Autostraddle called it "disco-guitar" and "foot-tappingly percussive".[12] Hypebeast said the song adds "disco-driven energy" to the album.[13]

Reception

[edit]

Out magazine said the song was "instantly iconic".[14] The Guardian said "the Chic-style disco of 'Zombieboy' is unexpectedly disrupted by a widdly-woo hair metal guitar solo. Equally, it is smart enough to marshal its star's diversity".[15] Sommer Wagen of the Minnesota Daily said the song has a "sparkling disco melody" and opined, "The track stands apart from the rest of the album and is by far its most exciting non-single track."[16] One writer for Vogue said "Zombieboy" and "Garden of Eden" are "sexy pop bangers certain to be hits in all the gay clubs".[17] The Observer said the song "is Gaga at her most hypnotic, blending horror and romance into a seductive anthem" and opined, "the track feels like a successor to 'Monster' from The Fame Monster."[18]

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Mayhem.[4]

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "Zombieboy"
Chart (2025) Peak
position
Brazil (Brasil Hot 100)[19] 95
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[20] 85
Global 200 (Billboard)[21] 76
Greece International (IFPI)[22] 42
Portugal (AFP)[23] 103
UK Streaming (OCC)[24] 76
US Billboard Hot 100[25] 85
US Hot Dance/Pop Songs (Billboard)[26] 6

References

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  1. ^ Prance, Sam (March 7, 2025). "Who are Lady Gaga's 'Zombieboy' lyrics about? The emotional meaning behind the song explained". Capital. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  2. ^ Aniftos, Rania (March 18, 2025). "Lady Gaga Hops on the 'Zombieboy' Dance Trend". Billboard. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  3. ^ Watts, Marina (March 19, 2025). "Lady Gaga Puts Her Paws Up for the 'ZombieBoy' TikTok Dance Trend". People. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Gaga, Lady (2025). Mayhem (vinyl liner notes). Interscope Records. 602475451099.
  5. ^ Gaga, Lady (March 7, 2025). "Mayhem". Apple Music (US). Archived from the original on March 8, 2025. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  6. ^ Camp, Alexa (March 6, 2025). "Lady Gaga 'Mayhem' Review: An Album That Falls Short of Its Title". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on March 7, 2025. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  7. ^ Mier, Tomás (March 6, 2025). "Lady Gaga Found 'Peak Confidence' on 'Mayhem': 'Now I Really Feel Like Myself'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 6, 2025. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ D'Souza, Shaad (March 7, 2025). "Sound Off: 10 Songs You Need to Hear Now". Paper. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  10. ^ Daw, Stephen (March 7, 2025). "Lady Gaga Brings Anarchy to Pop Music With Chaotic New Album 'Mayhem': Stream It Now". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 9, 2025. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  11. ^ Gordon, Arielle (March 6, 2025). "Lady Gaga Finds Magic In The Mayhem". Stereogum. Archived from the original on March 8, 2025. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  12. ^ Rubino, Stef (March 7, 2025). "Lady Gaga's 'Mayhem' Is a Return To Form AND an Evolution in Sound". Autostraddle. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  13. ^ Ki, Adelle (March 7, 2025). "Lady Gaga Reignites Her Pop Empire with 'Mayhem' Album". Hypebeast. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  14. ^ Henderson, Taylor (March 7, 2025). "Listen to new tracks from Lady Gaga, Dolly Parton, and BANKS". Out. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  15. ^ Petridis, Alexis (March 6, 2025). "Lady Gaga: Mayhem review – a fabulous return to her freaky first principles". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  16. ^ Wagen, Sommer (March 17, 2025). "For an album titled 'Mayhem,' Lady Gaga plays it disappointingly safe". The Minnesota Daily. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  17. ^ Allaire, Christian (March 6, 2025). "On 'Mayhem,' Lady Gaga Crafts Perfect Pop for a Chaotic World". Vogue. Archived from the original on March 6, 2025. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  18. ^ Collins, Caroline (March 19, 2025). "'Mayhem': A Lady Gaga renaissance". The Observer. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  19. ^ "Lady Gaga Chart History (Brasil Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  20. ^ "Lady Gaga Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  21. ^ "Lady Gaga Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  22. ^ "Official IFPI Charts − Digital Singles Chart (International) − Εβδομάδα: 11/2025" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on March 19, 2025. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  23. ^ "Top 200 Singles Semana 11 de 2025" (PDF). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. March 20, 2025. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 20, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  24. ^ "Official Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  25. ^ "Lady Gaga Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  26. ^ "Lady Gaga Chart History (Hot Dance/Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
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