Brooklyn Nights

"Brooklyn Nights"
Demo by Lady Gaga
Recorded2012-2013
GenreArena rock
Songwriters
Producers
  • Lady Gaga
  • DJ White Shadow

"Brooklyn Nights" is an unreleased song by American singer Lady Gaga, written during the recording sessions for her third studio album, Artpop (2013). The song was considered for the album's twelfth track slot, but Gaga ultimately chose "Mary Jane Holland" and decided to continue working on it. Gaga co-wrote the song with DJ White Shadow, Nick Monson, and Dino Zisis, and co-produced it with DJ White Shadow. Described as an arena rock ballad with guitar-driven instrumentation, "Brooklyn Nights" features lyrics about lost love and emotional vulnerability.

A snippet of "Brooklyn Nights" surfaced online in February 2014, and the full song leaked the following month. It subsequently gained popularity among Gaga's fans and went viral on TikTok in 2024. Critics compared its sound to Gaga's earlier work on The Fame (2008) and commented on its stylistic differences from Artpop. In March 2025, while promoting Mayhem, Gaga posted a playlist on her YouTube channel that included a demo of the song under the title "Blade of Grass".

Gaga first performed "Brooklyn Nights" live in August 2014 during a show on the ArtRave: The Artpop Ball in Melbourne, Australia, and performed it again in December 2025 during the Mayhem Ball in the same city. On the occasion, Gaga explained that she wrote "Brooklyn Nights" out of homesickness during a period of major changes in her early adulthood, but found it too difficult to release.

Background and development

Gaga during the promotion of Artpop in October 2013

Work on Lady Gaga's third studio album, Artpop (2013), began shortly after the release of her second album, Born This Way (2011). During the Born This Way Ball (2012–2013), Gaga continued writing material for the project and worked with several producers, including Fernando Garibay, DJ White Shadow, Madeon, and Zedd. In December 2012, she said that she had written around 90 songs for Artpop, although she had yet to decide which ones would make the final track listing. Gaga wrote it with DJ White Shadow, Nick Monson, and Dino Zisis, and co-produced it with White Shadow, while Monson and Zisis contributed additional production. Digital Spy, Capital and MuuMuse reported that Gaga wrote "Brooklyn Nights" in 2010.

On September 19, 2013, Gaga first mentioned "Brooklyn Nights" during a question-and-answer session on Twitter, describing it as "danceable" but also "melancholy and personal". She also conveyed the song's emotional nature, saying that she needed "a whole box of tissues" and "a hug under a disco ball" for it. Billboard published excerpts from the lyrics, including "I found an old pair of keys in my purse / That opened the walkup we shared" and "I didn't brush my hair / And my lashes are falling".

On October 10, 2013, Gaga revealed the track listing for Artpop, which did not include "Brooklyn Nights". The song had been considered for the album's twelfth track slot alongside "Mary Jane Holland", which ultimately took the position. Gaga left "Brooklyn Nights" off the album because she wanted to continue working on it. According to Billboard, she had planned to release a finished version as a bonus track through the Artpop app during the album's promotional cycle, a plan she later reiterated to fans on Twitter. The app launched alongside the album in November 2013 with interactive content and additional features, but the planned release of unreleased tracks, including "Brooklyn Nights", never materialized. Gaga also discussed the possibility of releasing a second volume, known as Artpop: Act II, featuring songs that had been left off the album. In October 2013, she said she had numerous songs prepared for the project, and in March 2014, she confirmed that she had a second act in mind, although it was never released.

In December 2025, Gaga explained that she had written "Brooklyn Nights" because she missed home amid the changes she experienced during her early adulthood. She described it as "some of the most important music" she had created, but said it had been "too difficult to release".

Leak and reception

A 30-second snippet of "Brooklyn Nights" surfaced online in February 2014, and the full song leaked the following month. Alex Panisch of Out compared it to "a deep cut from The Fame" and wrote that its resemblance to that era of Gaga's music made its exclusion from the more conceptual Artpop understandable. In a review for MuuMuse, Bradley Stern described the song as a bittersweet arena rock ballad with a guitar-driven sound, comparing its chorus to those of "Speechless" and "You and I". He also characterized its lyrics as more emotionally vulnerable than those of "Donatella" and "Mary Jane Holland", likening the song to a somber sequel to "Summerboy" and "Boys Boys Boys" from The Fame. French broadcaster TF1 Info described "Brooklyn Nights" as a "synthetic ballad" about a youthful romance and argued that it "should have been included" on Artpop, noting that it contrasted with Gaga's increasingly provocative image.

In April 2018, another recording appeared on Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music, and other streaming platforms under the name Stefani Germanotta, Gaga's birth name. Shazam identified the track as a demo of "Brooklyn Nights", although its appearance on these platforms did not constitute an official release. In a 2023 interview with MTV News, co-writer Monson said that the song remained one of his favorite songs of his career. He also explained that several tracks recorded during the Artpop sessions had been left off the album because they had a more pop-oriented sound or deviated from the electronic direction the album ultimately took.

The leaked track went viral on TikTok in 2024. Gil Kaufman of Billboard and Harrison Brocklehurst of The Tab described it as "one of Gaga's fans' favorite unreleased songs". In his ranking of Gaga's best and worst songs, Christopher Rosa of Glamour also called for "justice" for the song. In March that year, singer Slayyyter posted a TikTok video lip-syncing to the song and praised its bridge as "the greatest bridge from the greatest unreleased song of all time". Gaga said she loved the video, which, according to Billboard, excited fans who recognized the song. In May, she also responded to another fan's video, saying that "Brooklyn Nights" "has a special place in my heart". In March 2025, Gaga posted a YouTube playlist of unreleased demos ahead of Mayhem, including "The Greatest Thing" and "Brooklyn Nights", which appeared as "Blade of Grass" in the playlist's thirteenth position.

Live performances

Gaga first performed "Brooklyn Nights" live on August 24, 2014, during a concert on her fourth headlining tour, the ArtRave: The Artpop Ball, at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia. She performed a shortened version of the song a cappella. On December 5, 2025, Gaga performed it again at the Marvel Stadium in Melbourne during the opening show of the Australian leg of her eighth headlining tour, the Mayhem Ball. The performance took place during the piano segment, in which she performed surprise songs from across her discography after "Die with a Smile" (2024). Gaga said that she had prepared the song during that day's soundcheck and learned after performing it that some fans had heard her from outside the stadium. She also recalled that she had not realized her previous performance of "Brooklyn Nights" had taken place in Melbourne, eleven years earlier.

References

  1. 1 2 Knopper, Steve (July 30, 2013). "Eight Things We Know About Lady Gaga's 'ARTPOP'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 27, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
  2. ↑ Vena, Jocelyn (December 6, 2011). "Lady Gaga Says Next Album Is 'Beginning To Flourish'". MTV News. Archived from the original on October 12, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
  3. ↑ Vena, Jocelyn (November 28, 2011). "Lady Gaga 'Doing Prep' for Tour, Next Album". MTV News. Archived from the original on December 11, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2026.
  4. ↑ Munzenrieder, Kyle (April 13, 2021). "Will Lady Gaga's 'Artpop Act II' See the Light of Day?". W. Archived from the original on October 18, 2026. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Brooklyn Nights (Legal Title) - BMI". Broadcast Music, Inc. Archived from the original on January 13, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2026.
  6. 1 2 Stevenson, Mike (April 7, 2023). "Unreleased Lady Gaga Songs You've Never Heard Before [LISTEN]". Music Times. Archived from the original on October 18, 2026. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 Mlnarik, Carson. "Lady Gaga's 'Artpop,' Misunderstood In Its Time, Foretold Pop's Future". MTV News. Archived from the original on March 12, 2024. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Lady Gaga – Brooklyn Nights (2018)". Dork. Archived from the original on October 17, 2026. Retrieved October 25, 2026.
  9. 1 2 Rigby, Sam (March 16, 2014). "Lady Gaga song leaks online - listen". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on October 20, 2026. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
  10. 1 2 "Lady Gaga Shoots New Music Video As Unheard Song 'Brooklyn Nights' Leaks Online - Listen". Capital. Archived from the original on October 24, 2026. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 Stern, Bradley (March 15, 2014). "#StopTheVomitStartTheMusic: Lady Gaga's "Brooklyn Nights" Surfaces". MuuMuse. Archived from the original on March 14, 2026. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
  12. ↑ Lady Gaga [@ladygaga] (September 20, 2013). "i combine those 2 things. all the songs are private. one song *brooklyn nights* you can dance to it, but its melancholy and personal" (Tweet). Retrieved October 24, 2026 – via Twitter.
  13. ↑ Lady Gaga [@ladygaga] (September 20, 2013). "just brooklyn nights. and i need a whole box of tissues for that song. and a hug under a disco ball" (Tweet). Retrieved October 24, 2026 – via Twitter.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kaufman, Gil (March 20, 2024). "Slayyyter Lip Synched to Unreleased Lady Gaga Song 'Brooklyn Nights' and Mother Monster Loved It". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 3, 2026. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
  15. ↑ Coulehan, Erin (October 10, 2013). "Lady Gaga Posts 'Artpop' Track List". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 6, 2025. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
  16. ↑ Lopez, Korina (October 14, 2013). "Lady Gaga holds 'Artpop' court on Twitter chat". USA Today. Archived from the original on October 25, 2026. Retrieved October 25, 2026.
  17. ↑ Cashmere, Paul (December 5, 2025). "Lady Gaga Delivers a 'Twice-in-a-Lifetime' Moment For Melbourne With Brooklyn Nights #REVIEW". Noise11. Archived from the original on December 8, 2025. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
  18. 1 2 Ayers, Mike (October 14, 2013). "15 Things Gaga Revealed About 'Artpop'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 16, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
  19. ↑ Lipshutz, Jason (October 14, 2013). "Lady Gaga Hints at 'ARTPOP' Sequel During Twitter Q&A". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
  20. 1 2 3 Alonso, Sebas E. (April 17, 2018). "'Brooklyn Nights' de "Stefani Germanotta" aparece en Spotify" ['Brooklyn Nights' by "Stefani Germanotta" appears on Spotify] (in Spanish). Jenesaispop. Archived from the original on September 24, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Lady Gaga : une suite à « ARTPOP » ?" [Lady Gaga: a sequel to "ARTPOP"?] (in French). NRJ. October 15, 2013. Archived from the original on August 11, 2024. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Lady Gaga's late Sunday night Twitter chat". canada.com. October 14, 2013. Archived from the original on October 25, 2013. Retrieved October 25, 2026.
  23. ↑ Lipshutz, Jason (April 7, 2014). "Lady Gaga Wants 'ARTPOP' Sequel Out 'Soon'". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 9, 2014. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
  24. ↑ Guillén, Raúl (April 18, 2017). "'The Cure' de Lady Gaga: ¿agradable pero intrascendente o inminente hit?" [Lady Gaga's 'The Cure': pleasant but inconsequential, or an imminent hit?] (in Spanish). Jenesaispop. Archived from the original on June 11, 2026. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
  25. 1 2 Hirst, Jordan (December 6, 2025). "Lady Gaga performs long-lost track at first Aussie MAYHEM Ball show". QNews. Archived from the original on December 29, 2025. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
  26. 1 2 Chrisfield, Bryget (December 5, 2025). "Lady Gaga Kicks Off Australia Tour in Melbourne: Live Review". Rolling Stone Australia. Archived from the original on January 18, 2026. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
  27. ↑ Malec, Brett (March 17, 2014). "Lady Gaga Shares Naked Bathtub Selfie After Puking Performance at SXSW; New Song Leaks". E!. Archived from the original on October 18, 2026. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
  28. ↑ Panisch, Alex (March 17, 2014). "LISTEN: Lady Gaga's Leaked 'Brooklyn Nights'". Out. Archived from the original on October 26, 2026. Retrieved October 26, 2026.
  29. ↑ ""Brooklyn nights", le titre inédit de Lady Gaga fait surface sur le web" ["Brooklyn Nights," an unreleased track by Lady Gaga, surfaces online]. TF1 Info (in French). TF1 Group. March 18, 2014. Archived from the original on October 25, 2026. Retrieved October 25, 2026.
  30. ↑ Paraíba, Jornal da (April 17, 2018). "Lady Gaga lança música 'Brooklyn Nights' com nome de batismo" [Lady Gaga releases song 'Brooklyn Nights' under her birth name]. Jornal da Paraíba (in Brazilian Portuguese). Mundiware Elite CS. Archived from the original on October 25, 2026. Retrieved October 25, 2026.
  31. 1 2 3 Brocklehurst, Harrison (March 3, 2025). "Lady Gaga uploaded new Mayhem album to YouTube early - here's why it's not what it seems". The Tab. Archived from the original on October 18, 2026. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
  32. ↑ Rosa, Christopher (December 31, 2019). "The 10 Best (and Worst) Lady Gaga Songs of All Time". Glamour. Archived from the original on October 25, 2026. Retrieved October 25, 2026.
  33. 1 2 Esguerra, Rad (May 22, 2024). "Lady Gaga Acknowledges Unreleased 'Brooklyn Nights' Song From the ARTPOP Era". Music Times. Archived from the original on October 19, 2026. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
  34. ↑ Varvaris, Mary (December 6, 2025). "Lady Gaga's Australian Tour Setlist Revealed | The Music". The Music. Archived from the original on December 6, 2025. Retrieved October 25, 2026.
  35. ↑ Carrall, Charles (December 5, 2025). "Lady Gaga review – the Mayhem Ball shows Mother Monster is still the reigning queen of spectacle". The Guardian. Archived from the original on October 24, 2026. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
  36. ↑ Glynn, Leah (December 6, 2025). "Everything you need to know about the Lady Gaga concerts in Melbourne". Time Out. Archived from the original on December 9, 2025. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
  37. ↑ Phillips, Greg (December 6, 2025). "The Mayhem Ball - Lady Gaga - Marvel Stadium, Melbourne". Australian Musician. Archived from the original on October 18, 2026. Retrieved October 24, 2026.