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  • Pop Base: Joker: Folie à Deux's London Premiere, Bella Hadid Returns to the Runway, Chappell Roan Addresses Fake Narratives and Much More!

Pop Base: Joker: Folie à Deux's London Premiere, Bella Hadid Returns to the Runway, Chappell Roan Addresses Fake Narratives and Much More!

Author

Katie Macbeth
September 27, 2024

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Lady Gaga Serves Joker-Face at London’s Folie à Deux Premiere

Image: Gareth Cattermole / Getty

Ahead of its highly anticipated October 4th release, the stars of Joker: Folie à Deux descended upon London's Leicester Square for a dazzling premiere. Lady Gaga, the film's enigmatic Harley Quinn, made a show-stopping entrance in a jaw-dropping floor-length red gown. The bold silhouette, complete with dramatic shoulder details, perfectly complemented her vibrant red bob and striking blue eyeshadow.

At the premiere, Gaga revealed more details about her upcoming studio album, code-named ‘LG7’, announcing to interviewers that it is set for release in February 2025, with its lead single arriving ‘very soon’. 

Following the glamorous premiere, Lady Gaga continued her London takeover with an intimate listening party in Soho. A select group of dedicated Little Monsters were treated to a sneak peek of Harlequin, the highly anticipated companion album to her portrayal of Harley Quinn in Joker: Folie à Deux.

The exclusive event was filled with excitement and energy as Gaga danced, mingled with fans, and signed merchandise. Attendees had the opportunity to hear new tracks from the album, immersing themselves in the world of Harley Quinn and experiencing Gaga's musical vision firsthand.

Lady Gaga's Harlequin album was released today - two days after its announcement. The project, previously teased through cryptic billboards in New York City and Los Angeles as "LG6.5," is a musical exploration of Gaga's iconic portrayal of Harley Quinn in Joker: Folie à Deux. Comprising 12 covers and 1 original song, Harlequin offers a fresh perspective on the beloved DC Comics villain.

Bella Hadid Returns to The Runway Following Two-Year Hiatus

Image: Getty Images

After a two-year hiatus, supermodel Bella Hadid made a stunning comeback to the Paris Fashion Week runway at the Saint Laurent show. Known for her captivating presence and collaborations with renowned designers like Vivienne Westwood, Victoria Beckham, and Versace, Hadid's absence from the catwalks had been keenly felt by fans and industry insiders alike. The model had previously paused her fashion career to prioritize her health, openly discussing her ongoing battle with Lyme disease.

Hadid's return to the runway was nothing short of triumphant. She graced Anthony Vaccarello's burnished bronze set in a sleek black suit and tie, her hair pulled back in a chic ponytail and accessorized with vintage-inspired tinted glasses. The ensemble, reminiscent of the '70s wardrobe of Yves Saint Laurent himself, perfectly embodied the spirit of Vaccarello's collection. As Saint Laurent described, the modern woman's "artful sophistication coexists with instinctual desire," a sentiment that resonated deeply with Hadid's powerful presence on the runway.

Beyond her modelling career, Bella Hadid has embarked on a new entrepreneurial venture: Orebella. Pronounced "aura-bella," this fragrance-focused beauty brand offers a trio of captivating scents: Window2Soul, Salted Muse, and Blooming Fire. Launched earlier this year, these perfumes capture the essence of floral, woody, and tropical notes, respectively, inviting wearers to experience the world through a sensory journey.

Chappell Roan Address People’s Fake Narratives Around Her Political Stance

Image: Evan Agostini / Invision

Chappell Roan has been in the spotlight this week after sharing a TikTok video where she revealed her decision to vote for Kamala Harris in the upcoming election. However, she clarified that she wouldn't officially endorse the Democratic presidential candidate due to what she described as 'questionable policies from both parties -- including those that affect transgender & Palestinian people'.

@chappellroan

Im done talking about it. If you dont get what im saying from this, its a lost cause. And im not forcing you to agree with me. This is my ... See more

Earlier in the week, Roan emphasized the importance of actions over words and endorsements in another social media post, following widespread criticism from fans worldwide.

The controversy surrounding Roan's political stance began when she expressed her reluctance to be pressured into endorsing a candidate for the 2024 presidential election in an interview with The Guardian. This drew criticism from some who highlighted the significant differences between Republican and Democratic positions on LGBTQ+ issues.

In her TikTok video, Chappell Roan encouraged her fans to engage in critical thinking, educate themselves about what and who they are voting for, and ask questions about the options given to them. 

New Music Friday

It’s a folie à deux.

Lady Gaga released Harlequin, the companion album for the upcoming Joker: Folie à Deux in which she plays the notorious character Harley Quinn. She teased the project on Instagram through a couple different video posts including apparent lyrics. The posts were just vague enough to believe they might be relevant to the singer’s next full-length album, LG7. If you’re a “Little Monster” – the name specially given for participants in Gaga’s fan domain – you have some pretty exciting times ahead. The singer/actress announced LG7 is coming February 2025. In the meantime, though, you have Harlequin to bridge the tiny gap. The album is mainly covered songs of classic musical numbers with two new original songs by Gaga. (“Happy Mistake” and “Folie à Deux.”) The orchestration is pretty spectacular all throughout the album, and the singer’s voice is, of course, upmost endearing bringing these songs to their new and wild life. While these songs aren’t necessarily original, Gaga gives them plenty of her own beautiful flair. We’re plenty happy to wait for LG7.

SOPHIE, the posthumous album by the pioneer Sophie was released. The singer passed away January of 2021 from a tragic accident. Her legacy is certain to be remembered forever.

“TIMELESS” is our second glance into The Weeknd’s new album Hurry Up Tomorrow, just after his recent single “Dancing In The Flames.” It’s a collaboration with Playboi Carti, and it’s a little confusing at first. It seems more like Carti’s song as The Weeknd doesn’t come in until after a minute or so. All the same, though, the song feels like a classic endeavor by the singer. The Weeknd’s trap skills are seemingly endless.

Leon Thomas released his new album MUTT. You might recognize him from Nickelodeon’s hit show “Victorious” in which he played Andre, or you might know his name from writing credits across many different artists. He’s produced for Drake, Post Malone and even won a Grammy for his work on SZA’s “Snooze.” The record has a nice feeling to it, and Thomas’ cleverness is in every corner. Our favorite is “DANCING WITH DEMONS” which begins with an audio clip from the film Howl’s Moving Castle.

Tommy Richmond, known for his single “MILLION DOLLAR BABY,” released his album COYOTE. This record is actually pretty well put together melody wise. He does eighties synth pop quite good.

The Kid Laroi and Gunna got on a remix together for “BABY I’M BACK.” They seem to be really living it up.

Amber Mark’s “Won’t Cry” is nice. Right off the start, the song feels exciting. “I won’t cry / Waste of time,” she sings over the most excellent pop disco design. The chorus is a tuneful one, and the production is just brilliant.

For our favorite release this week, though, we’ll have to give it to Lady Gaga’s cover of Nat King Cole’s “Smile.” The original conveys such heartening sorrow, and Gaga successfully wraps this same valiance so well in the most wonderfully knotted suit tie.

And so we’ll smile.

—Dawson Therre

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