Disease (song)

"Disease" is a song by Lady Gaga. It was released on October 25, 2024, through Interscope Records, serving as the lead single from her upcoming seventh studio album, MAYHEM, which it will be released in March 7^th, 2025. The track was written and produced by Gaga, Andrew Watt and Cirkut, with additional co-wrote by Michael Polansky.

The song marks a return to Gaga’s pop roots, following the release of her surprise jazz project Harlequin and the premiere of her film Joker: Folie à Deux earlier in 2024.

Background and Development

Gaga first hinted at new music while celebrating her 38th birthday on March 28, 2024, stating that she was working on some of her "best music in as long as [she] can remember." In July 2024, she posted updates from a recording studio, fueling further speculation about her next project. Shortly after collaborating with Bruno Mars on the song "Die With a Smile" , she confirmed plans to release new music in October, coinciding with her promotional campaign for Joker: Folie à Deux.

Teasers and Promotion

On September 3, 2024, Lady Gaga posted on her social media a picture of an itinerary with dates related to the campaign for Joker: Folie à Deux, along with a section called "Important Dates", where there was 2 dates noted in the paper, the first the release date for the film, but also a then unknown October date that was for the "LG7 first single".

One of the last teasers for Harlequin posted on September 23, 2024 had the text that said "Still not October", hinting that what she was posting around September had nothing to do with the single or even related to the seventh studio album.

On October 18, 2024, streaming platforms updated Gaga's discography to hint at the release of "Disease." Notably, fans noticed that the first letters of seven tracks from different Gaga previous albums spelled out the word "disease" — "dANCE IN THE DARK", "i LIKE IT ROUGH", "sINNER'S PRAYER", "eNIGMA", "aRTPOP", "sMILE" and "eLECTRIC CHAPEL". Three days later, Universal Music Group launched a pre-save website linked to Spotify and Apple Music, where the title of the song appeared in reverse and officially confirming the release date 10.25 — October 25.

On October 21, 2024, an 11-song playlist titled ".com" was posted on Lady Gaga's Spotify account, with the first four songs spelling "GAGA" — "Government Hooker", "Always Remember Us This Way, "G.U.Y." and "Americano" and the next seven spelling out “disease” in lower case letters. Fans discovered website gagadisease.com featured the glitching phrase "I could play the doctor" which led users to linked URLs, such as icouldplaythedoctor.com, where the message "I can cure your disease" appeared. Typing these phrases as URLs led fans to more pages containing lyrics and teasers, including: "If you were a sinner / I could make you believe / Lay you down like 1, 2, 3 / Eyes roll back in ecstasy / I can smell your sickness / I can cure ya / Cure your disease." Several hours later Gaga also shared a promotional poster with the song’s global release dates and timing on her social media platforms.

Release

Digital Release

Release history

Country	Date	Version(s)	Format	Label	Catalog #	Barcode
	October 25, 2024	Main	Digital download • streaming	Interscope	N/A
			Contemporary hit radio
			Radio airplay	Universal
	November 13, 2024	The Antidote Live	Digital download, streaming	Interscope
	November 20, 2024	The Poison Live

Performances

Studio Performances

Filmed in Malibu, California at Woodshed Studios, Gaga released two live versions of "Disease", one performed on piano and the other on electric guitar. The live versions were accompanied by their respective visual videos and digital instrumental versions.

The Antidote Live

On November 13, 2024, a live version subtitled "The Antidote Live", produced by Gaga, was released for digital download and streaming by Interscope and to Italian radio airplay by Universal. The video for "The Antidote Live" version features Gaga performing a stripped-down rendition of "Disease" on a black grand piano with acoustic guitar accompaniment and a backing track.

Dress by Collina Strada.

The Poison Live

Another live version, subtitled "The Poison Live", was released digitally on November 20 by Interscope. In the video for "The Poison Live" version, she performs an electric guitar rendition with assistance from guitarist Tim Stewart.

Vintage unsigned dress and boots by Celine.

Lyrics

Music video

Premiere date October 29, 2024 Director(s) Tanu Muino Fashion director Nick Royal and Peri Rosenzweig as Hardstyle Choreographer Parris Goebel Director of photography Marcell Rév

Credits

• Director - Tanu Muino
• Director of photography - Marcell Rév shot on Kodak Motion Picture Film
• Creative - Todd Tourso and Mel Roy for mt.la studio
• Production Company - UnderWonder Content in association with HPLA Production
• Director Representation - HART Represents
• Executive Producer - Frank Borin, Ivanna Borin and Ryan Hahn for UnderWonder Content
• Producer - Jason Baum for UnderWonder Content
• Production Design - Brielle Hubert
• Editor - Taylor Alexander Ward
• VFX - Skulley Effects
• Colorist - Tim Masick for Company 3
• Color Producer - Alexandra P. Garcia Ortiz for Company 3
• Sound Design - Nick Kold for Onlyu-studio
• Photographer - Jasmine Safaeian
• Choreographer - Parris Goebel
• Choreographer Assistants - Gab Robert and Jessica Toatoa
• Body double - Lexee Smith
• Mistress - Jessica Toatoa
• Styling - Nick Royal and Peri Rosenzweig as Hardstyle
• Makeup - Sarah Tanno-Stewart for Haus of Gaga
• Makeup Assistants - Phuong Tran and Tara Lang Shah
• FX Makeup - Kerrin Jackson for The Makeup Refinery
• Hair - Frederic Aspiras for Haus of Gaga
• Hair Assistants - Ivan Castro for Le Métier de Beauté and Florido Basallo for The Only Agency
• Nails - Miho Okawara
• 1st AD- Joe Suarez
• Prod Sup. - Sina Pars
• Prod Coordinator - Chris Fish
• Stunt Coordinator - Pat Romano
• 1st AC - Brad Peterman
• Gaffer - Will Reid
• Key Grip - Jeff Kunkel

The accompanying music video was released on October 29, 2024 as part of the double feature, alongside a live performance of "Die With a Smile" from Las Vegas. Prior to the video's release, Gaga shared a personal message on Twitter, offering insight into the video’s themes:

“	I think a lot about the relationship I have with my own inner demons. It’s never been easy for me to face how I get seduced by chaos and turmoil. It makes me feel claustrophobic. Disease is about facing that fear, facing myself and my inner darkness, and realizing that sometimes I can’t win or escape the parts of myself that scare me. That I can try and run from them but they are still part of me and I can run and run but eventually I’ll meet that part of myself again, even if only for a moment. Dancing, morphing, running, purging. Again and again, back with myself. This integration is ultimately beautiful to me because it’s mine and I’ve learned to handle it. I am the conductor of my own symphony. I am every actor in the plays that are my art and my life. No matter how scary the question, the answers are inside of me. Essential, inextricable parts of what makes me me. I save myself by keeping going. I am the whole me, I am strong, and I am up for the challenge. Happy Halloween.	”
—Lady Gaga via Twitter on October 29, 2024

Promotional Images

• Photography by Jasmine Safaeian.

Synopsis and fashion credits

1. Vintage dress from Replika Vintage.
2. Vintage underwear from Replika Vintage and necklace by Shaun Leane.
3. Shirt and skirt by Maximilian Raynor, boots by Vivienne Westwood from The Arc London, and hat by Stephen Jones.
4. Custom bandage co-ord by HARDSTYLE x Samuel Lewis and custom choker by Dilara Findikoglu.
5. Custom blazer by Dilara Findikoglu, vintage dress by Yohji Yamamoto and two sleeves by Comme des Garçons from A FETISH ARCHIVE, dress by Meruert Tolegen, boots by Vivienne Westwood and vintage belt by Maison Martin Margiela from The Arc London, custom gloves by Wing & Weft, hat by Stephen Jones, custom gimp mask by HARDSTYLE, custom neckpiece by HARDSTYLE x Samuel Lewis, and custom grill by DOSIS G6C.
6. Custom dress by HARDSTYLE x Samuel Lewis, socks by Wolford, and custom gloves by Wing & Weft.
7. Gown and headpiece styled around her waist by Charles de Vilmorin, coat by Comme des Garçons from The Arc London, and skirt by Meruert Tolegen.

Behind the Scenes

Stills

Deleted Scene

The official audio for "Disease," published on YouTube on 7 March, 2025, is accompanied by visually modified clips from the music video, one of which includes previously unseen footage from the official "Disease" music video shoot. In this clip, Gaga is being dragged across the asphalt by one of her legs.

Trivia

• Disease, the lead single of MAYHEM is notable for being the first single from Gaga not to be performed live first on television as part of its promotion. Instead, "Abracadabra," the album's second single, was the first to receive a live television performance.

Credits

Songwriter	Lady Gaga, Andrew Watt, Henry Walter and Michael Polansky
Publishing	SG Songs Worldwide LLC (BMI) / Sony/ATV Songs LLC Michael Polansky (BMI) Andrew Watt Music (BMI), administrated by Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing (BMI) Henry Walter, Cirkut Breaker LLC (ASCAP), administrated by Universal Music Corp.
Producer	Lady Gaga, Andrew Watt and Cirkut
Lead and background vocals, synth pad	Lady Gaga
Drums, percussion, bass, electric guitar and synths	Andrew Watt
Drum programming, bass programming, synths and keyboard	Cirkut
Studio technician	Marc VanGool
Engineer	Paul LaMalfa
Assistant engineer	Tyler Harris
Additional engineer	Marco Sonzini
Recording studio	Shangri-La Studios, Malibu, CA
Mixing engineer	Serban Ghenea at Mixstar Studios, Virginia Beach, VA
Mixing assistant	Bryce Bordone
Mastering engineer	Randy Merrill at Sterling Sound, Edgewater, NJ

Era Discography Videography Performances The MAYHEM Ball Fashion Media "Disease" "Abracadabra" "Garden of Eden" "Perfect Celebrity" "Can't Stop the High" "Vanish Into You" "Killah" (feat. Gesaffelstein) "Zombieboy" "LoveDrug" "How Bad Do U Want Me" "Don't Call Tonight" "Kill for Love" "Shadow of a Man" "The Beast" "Blade of Grass" "Die With a Smile" (with Bruno Mars)