Video Vanguard: Lady Gaga Addresses Self-Hatred Through Choreography in “Abracadabra”

When presented with the category “dance or die,” Lady Gaga chooses dance to battle her self-deprecative voice in the “Abracadabra” music video.

Written by Rachel Yost

Lady Gaga’s remarkable performance in “A Star Is Born” left the world hungry for more from the legendary artist. Despite this, Gaga took a well-deserved break in order to come back even stronger than before. She released her 2020 album Chromatica, but quickly renewed her restful status. Now, she has made her groundbreaking return. With the Grammy awards in full swing, Lady Gaga shocked the world by dropping “Abracadabra.” In true Gaga fashion, she turned heads and delighted audiences with this transcendent release, making it the second single on her upcoming album Mayhem.

Alongside the song, an astoundingly impressive music video was dropped, engaging the audience and clarifying what the true meaning of the release is. The video begins with an assertion of danger and threat. “Dance or die,” a version of Gaga adorned in red announces to a sea of dancers dressed in white. While it may seem that the “lady in red” commands the worshipping crowd below her, an alarming zoom to Gaga dressed in white contrasts red Gaga’s demanding tone. As dancers burst into chaotic yet technically precise movement, the artist’s stillness among the frenzied movement puts both versions of herself on an even playing field, symbolizing the beginning of the relentless battle for power over the mind in “Abracadabra.”

In an interview with Elle, Gaga discussed how the version of herself in red represents her negative self-image, and the version dressed in white is the pure and free identity combating her own self-destructiveness. The version of her in white is orderly and confident, while simultaneously being consumed by negative thoughts. The version of her in red is defensively fighting against self-assured confidence. In the interview, Gaga commented that “The lady in red is all of you that puts you to the test.” The character represents her internal monologue asking “Are you good enough? Can you handle it?” Opposing this monologue, she says, is a version of her in white that “peer[s] up at the negative backtalk, all of the doubt, and facing all that side of [her], she completely comes through.” There are numerous instances in which the choreography illustrates how challenging this internal battle is. As the song’s beat kicks in, Gaga in white strides through the sea of dancers, ready to face her opponent. Within an instant, this sea of people surrounds and overwhelms her. Consumed by the forceful and almost assaulting manner of the back-up dancers, a metaphor emerges for how intrusive thoughts can attack at the most inopportune moments, even in the height of triumph.

Gaga and choreographer Parris Goebel utilize group and partner choreography strategically for the “Abracadabra” music video. The partner dancing simulates dueling sides whereas the group choreography both supports and drags down Gaga, creating a juxtaposition that captures Gaga’s inner struggle. The first instances of partner choreography are filled with striking, choppy, and combative movement, inciting a feeling of competition. Shots of group work are interspersed between this series of partnering, showing dancers surrounding the singer tightly, grasping onto her for support while simultaneously elevating her. The stark difference between these alternating shots is symbolic of an attempt to gain hope and mental freedom amid a hailstorm of ruinous thoughts. The next dance scene features a few dancers in the center of the floor, confined by crowds, reading as an audition. They showcase their most powerful, hurtful skills, demonstrating to Gaga what detrimental effect they can have on her. Her reaction is to ignore them, which implies her making an attempt to block them out. Instead, she continue her relentless effort to both sustain a positive headspace and deter her spiteful internal narrative.

In one section of the video’s choreography, Gaga is hyperreactive to the dancers’ motions, almost as if she is being controlled by them. With every knock of the dancers’ heads, she thrashes her body forward. The dancers grasp on to her and let her go, swaying her in different directions. Inclination to believe the worst about oneself, more often than not, overpowers any inclination to believe the best. The mind has a way of pulling focus and attention towards all the aspects of oneself that may be perceived as negative, rather than recognizing the positive. The dancers pulling Gaga in this scene represents how internalized self-hatred will keep the mind from believing these positive thoughts, which creates a pattern of self-doubt. This visual illustrates how easily one’s internal monologue can be convinced of false or hyperbolized information about one’s self concept.

A sacrificial quality in numerous scenes throughout the video evokes the opening message from Gaga in red: “dance or die.” Towards the ending, a newly outfitted version of Gaga in white is circled by dancers, all chanting the lyrics of the song in a rhythmic pattern. The jarring quality of this scene combined with Gaga’s abrasive scream suggests a desire for freedom from her traitorous mind.

The dancers seem to have a reliance on Gaga, as if she is their savior. As some desperately cling on to her, and then viciously pull away, an imbalanced relationship comes into view. Though Gaga in white represents clarity of mind, the way she is drowned by dancers symbolizes an inability to overpower her negative self-perception. In an interview with In Style Magazine, Parris Gobel describes Gaga in white as a “virgin Gaga that is stepping into a world she's never experienced before, and being challenged to dance or die.” The innocence associated with virginity is so apparent in this section’s choreography, as Gaga is carried and placed by others, lacking control of her own actions. The synchronicity of the dancers’ movements creates the visual of a wave gaining momentum to overtake Gaga, which pairs with her panicked mannerisms alluding to a feeling of dread. She is swept up by this wave, but quickly regains control by centering herself in the formation. Broken by her bellowing cry, Gaga in white demonstrates a collaborative nature, dancing alongside the dancers instead of submerged by them. This transformation represents how easily one can be brainwashed into feeling powerless over their own self perception

Order and mayhem share a distinctive relationship in this video. The presence of military-esque formations in the beginning juxtaposed with the hectic nature of the formations towards the end illustrate a notable evolution of Gaga’s mental state. An abundance of neat and orderly rows invoke a notion of serenity. Though the choreography itself is not necessarily calming, the larger image has a more satisfying effect, representative of a purer state of mind. The scene where Gagain red appears in formation with dancers of her own serves as the turning point from order to mayhem within one’s mind. Surrounded by dancers in black, Gaga and the herd hunch over and move toward the screen menacingly. The image is overwhelmingly frightening, intentionally alarming the audience. This scene shares its threatening quality with an ambush of self–hatred and doubt. After the chanting ritual scene, the visuals consist of quick panning shots, showcasing all the video’s characters. Intentionally creating this mixture of dancers, Gagas, stillness, chaos, order, and mayhem represents that while the mind will most likely never be entirely free of invasive negativity, there is a way to find a healthy equilibrium without feeling burdened by self-imposed hostility. At the conclusion of the video, the Gaga in red surrenders by bowing her head as Gaga in white looks up sharply, signifying her victory.

While Gaga will likely elaborate on her battle with self-hatred on her upcoming album, Mayhem, the triumphant ending of the “Abracadabra” video provides much-needed satisfaction. Even if she embarks on different themes in Mayhem, Gaga continues her legacy of creating art that goes beyond the limitations and depths of any genre through innovative choreography and thoughtful symbolism.

AESTHETICSAfterglow ATXMarch 7, 2025rachelyost