Little Monsters have already embraced Lady Gaga’s new album, Mayhem, but the pop icon recently revealed that one of its most talked-about tracks almost didn’t make the cut.
In an interview on Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, Mother Monster confessed that she nearly left out “How Bad Do U Want Me” from the album.
"Oh my God, I almost didn’t put it on the album," she told the hosts. “I wasn’t sure if I should, but Michael [Polansky, her fiancé] said to me, ‘You should—your fans are going to love this song.’”
When Rogers and Yang expressed shock at the idea of the track being cut, Gaga admitted that this wasn’t the first time she’d second-guessed a future hit.
"Sometimes when something is super pop, I have a weird reaction to it," she explained. “I felt the same way about ‘Just Dance’ from The Fame, so I’m glad I didn’t listen to myself back then.”
The Meaning Behind “How Bad Do U Want Me”
Reflecting on “How Bad Do U Want Me”, Gaga shared how she has often been labeled as “the bad girl” and her struggle to break free from that image, especially in her new relationship.
"I always felt that when I was interested in someone, they were actually dreaming of a ‘good girl’, and I was just the one they happened upon," she said. "But in reality, that ‘good girl’ only exists in their mind, and they’re constantly comparing me to her."
Gaga on SNL and Her Unexpected Comedy Moment
During the interview, Gaga also reflected on the importance of Saturday Night Live for both rising and established artists. She even touched on her appearance at the SNL50 concert, where she performed the legendary “D–k in a Box” alongside Andy Samberg.
"It was funny, but also scary," she admitted. “I think if you’re a comedian, being asked to do Who’s on First? is stressful, and for me, D–k in a Box is a classic. So I thought, ‘Oh my God, why did I do that?’”
However, as she walked through Radio City Music Hall, she remembered the last time she had been there—with Tony Bennett.
"Tony would say, ‘If you’re stressed, it means you care,’” she recalled.
