Should Have Been Bigger: Lady Gaga’s “The Cure” Deserved More

Mike Nied | September 24, 2019 3:53 pm

Lady Gaga always leaves us guessing what she will do next. Since the launch of her career, the icon has surprised us more times than I can count. She’s also displayed the ability to hop across genre lines with impressive dexterity and ease. That’s exactly what she did when she live-premiered “The Cure” during a headlining set at Coachella in 2017. After dabbling in Americana on her fifth LP Joanne the year prior, Mother Monster returned to her dance-pop roots on the soulful and loved-up bop.

Laying her voice over lush beats she co-produced with Detroit City and Nick Monson, Gaga delivers some very sweet promises. “So baby tell me yes. And I will give you everything. So baby tell me yes. And I will be all yours tonight,” she coos. The proclamation “I will be right by your side” comes as the production reaches a fever pitch under her voice. From there, the diva celebrates the healing qualities of love. “If I can’t find the cure, I’ll… I’ll fix you with my love. No matter what you know, I’ll… I’ll fix you with my love.”

“And if you say you’re okay, I’m gonna heal you anyway. Promise I’ll always be there. Promise I’ll be the cure.” Sugary-sweet and anthemic, the track felt like an instant hit. And it could have been if it had gotten a bit more of a promotional push. “The Cure” peaked within the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, Gaga never unveiled a video for the single. Perhaps she was too busy getting ready for her starring role in A Star Is Born? Whatever the reason, this really was a missed opportunity to send her back to the upper reaches of the charts.

Of course, it didn’t take Gaga long to land on her next smash. This year, she returned to the pinnacle of the Hot 100 with “Shallow.” And she’s sure to do so again when she finally gets around to releasing her long-awaited sixth LP. Hopefully the graceful production and lyrical maturity of “The Cure” offers up a hint of what to expect from her new solo material. While we wait to find out, revisit the single below.

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