Lady Gaga, ‘Hair’ – Song Review

Lady Gaga sings that she wants to be as free as her 'Hair' on the fourth song to see release from her 'Born This Way' album.

The RedOne-produced track follows the successful template established by 'Born This Way,' 'Judas' and 'The Edge of Glory': Slowly-building verses and big, soaring choruses designed to have fans singing along.

The song takes Gaga back to her childhood, singing about the importance of self-expression:

"Whenever I dress cool my parents put up a fight / And if I’m a hot shot, my mom will cut my hair at night / And in the morning I’m short of my identity / I scream, 'Mom and Dad, why can’t I be who I want to be?'"

As a dance beat kicks in, she sings, "I just wanna be myself and I want you to love me for who I am / I just wanna be myself and I want you to know I am my hair."

Whirring synths join the party as Gaga delivers the hook, "I've had enough, this is my prayer / That I'll die living just as free as my hair."

There's a lot going on musically, but it all seems to work. While we're not hearing the KISS and Iron Maiden influences Gaga described, the song does include brief sections where the music slips into industrial rock territory.

Like 'The Edge of Glory,' 'Hair' features sax whiz Clarence Clemons, best known for his work as part of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, though his sax flourishes are more subtle here.

Gaga has said she believes every song on the new record is strong enough to be a single. The deliciously '80s-sounding 'Hair' certainly fits that category.

'Born This Way' comes out one week from today.

Listen to Lady Gaga, 'Hair'