The highly anticipated release of ‘ Joker 2: Folie À Deux (42%) ‘ has brought with it not only the return of Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, but also the addition of Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. Known for her powerful voice and stage presence, Gaga has surprised audiences by revealing the drastic changes she made to her singing approach to fit this role. The Grammy-winning singer and actress has explained how she transformed her vocal technique to fit the darker, more minimalist tone of the film.
How did Lady Gaga change her singing technique for ‘Joker 2’?
Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, shared in an interview with CNN that she had to let go of many of the aspects that have defined her as a performer throughout her musical career. For her role in ‘Joker 2: Folie à Deux’, Gaga explained that she worked to unlearn many of the techniques she usually employs when singing live or on her records.
“The whole spectacle, the whole bravery of being on stage, all the things that I do as Gaga that come naturally to me, I tried to completely strip those things away,” she said in an interview. The artist, known for her powerful voice and refined technique, had to adjust her singing to fit the breathy, low-key style required by her character, Lee Quinzel, aka Harley Quinn. This change was key to reflecting the chaos and emotional fragility that accompanies her character in the story.
Why did Lady Gaga choose a different vocal technique?
The approach of ‘Joker 2’ is completely different from that of a conventional musical film. Unlike her performances as a singer, in which she strives for flawless vocal technique, Gaga decided to perform her duets with Joaquin Phoenix from an emotionally fractured perspective. To achieve this, she said she tried to “breathe incorrectly” and avoid the vocal placements she normally uses to project her voice on stage.
“I tried not to do any vocal placement in my throat the way I would when I’m on stage,” Gaga explained. The idea behind these changes was to show a more vulnerable, less controlled version of Harley Quinn, in tune with the breathy singing style of Phoenix, who also opted for a more visceral and less technical delivery in his musical scenes.
How do Gaga and Phoenix’s performances sync up in the film?
Lady Gaga’s character, Lee Quinzel, not only changes vocally, but also in her connection to Phoenix’s Joker. The duets between the two characters reflect their stormy emotional relationship and also their harmony in madness. The pair share a singing style that shies away from technical perfection and focuses more on conveying their characters’ fragility and disconnection from reality.
Lady Gaga has shown a whole new side to her performance as she adapts her voice for ‘Joker 2: Folie à Deux’. Her efforts to break away from her usual vocal control and embrace a more emotional, less structured technique reflect the depth of her commitment to the character and the film’s dark narrative.
Read more: Lady Gaga Says She Was Laughing Her Head Off On The Set Of ‘joker 2’ Alongside Joaquin Phoenix
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