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"Joanne" or "Joanne (Where Do You Think You're Goin'?)" is a title track by Lady Gaga from her fifth studio album, Joanne written by Lady Gaga and Mark Ronson and produced by Ronson and Bloodpop. The song is a down-tempo country ballad and a tribute to Gaga's deceased paternal aunt Joanne Germanotta. The song was released as a single in Italy on December 22, 2017. A reworked piano version of the song was released worldwide as the final single from the album on January 26, 2018. The song won a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance at the 61st Grammy Awards.

Background

The song pays tribute to Gaga's aunt, who died due to lupus at the age of 19. She passed away before Gaga was born, however she often claims that her paternal aunt is an important figure in her life and also an inspiration for the entire album.

Gaga said: “I realized my father's sister Joanne, who'd died at 19, had instilled her spirit in me. She was a painter and a poet – and I had a spiritual vision I had to finish her business."

Gaga has called the song "the true heart and soul of the record". Joanne is also one of Gaga’s middle names.

On October 27th, 2016, before a performance of "Joanne" during her Dive Bar Tour Lady Gaga shared some thoughts about this song in the context of the whole Joanne album pointing out the healing aspect of it:

This song is so important to me. This is the title track from the album. And the thing is that, you know, when we made this song, we just thought it was a beautiful song. And we just thought it was an honest song. But after this record came out, and everybody heard this music, and came to my father's restaurant in New York, Joanne [Trattoria], to celebrate. I saw a look in my dad's eyes that I've never seen in my whole life. Because when my dad was really young, he lost his sister Joanne. And I think sometimes-- I used to wonder, if I ever got to meet my real dad, you know? Because sometimes things happen to you that are so hard in your life that you die too, or a part of you dies. And after this record came out, I swear that part of my dad came back to life. And I hope that when you hear it, when you’re with your families and you think about the loss that you've had or depending loss in your life, I hope this song can maybe heal you, like it healed me and my family. This is "Joanne".

Lady Gaga on Dive Bar Tour

Release

Digital release

Joanne Piano version cover Label: Interscope
Format: Digital
Released: January 26, 2018
Barcode: None
Photography: Collier Schorr
Design: N/A
No. Title Length
1. "Joanne (Where Do You Think You're Goin'?)" [Piano Version] 04:39

Release history

Country Date Format
Italy Italy December 22, 2017 Contemporary hit radio (Album version)
Worldwide Worldwide January 26, 2018 Digital download (Piano version)

Live Performances

Calendar Dates Show Television Channel Country
2016
Nov 4 news zero Nippon TV Japan
Dec 2 Alan Carr's Happy Hour Channel 4 United Kingdom
2018
Jan 28 60th Grammy Awards CBS Us

Tour Dates Performances

Lyrics

Take my hand, stay Joanne
Heaven’s not
Ready for you
Every part
Of my aching heart
Needs you more
Than the angels do

Girl
Where do you think you’re goin’?
Where do you think you’re goin’
Goin’, girl?
Girl
Where do you think you’re goin’?
Where do you think you’re goin’
Goin’, girl?

If you could
I know that you’d stay
We both know
Things don’t work that way
I promised I
Wouldn’t say goodbye
So I grin
And my voice gets thin

Girl
Where do you think you’re goin’?
Where do you think you’re goin’
Goin’, girl?
Girl
Where do you think you’re goin’?
Where do you think you’re goin’
Goin’, girl?

Honestly, I know where you’re goin’
And baby, you’re just movin’ on
And I’ll still love you even if I can’t
See you anymore
Can’t wait to see you soar

Girl
Where do you think you’re goin’?
Where do you think you’re goin’
Goin’, girl?
Girl
Where do you think you’re goin’?
Where do you think you’re goin’
Goin’, girl?

Take my hand, stay Joanne
Heaven’s not
Ready for you
Every part
Of my aching heart
Needs you more
Than the angels do

Girl
Where do you think you’re goin’?
Where do you think you’re goin’
Goin’, girl?
Girl
Where do you think you’re goin’?
Where do you think you’re goin’
Goin’, girl?

If you could
I know that you’d stay
We both know
Things don’t work that way
I promised I
Wouldn’t say goodbye
So I grin
And my voice gets thin

Girl
Where do you think you’re goin’?
Where do you think you’re goin’
Goin’, girl?
Girl
Where do you think you’re goin’?
Where do you think you’re goin’
Goin’, girl?

Honestly, I know where you’re goin’
And baby, you’re just movin’ on
And I’ll still love you even if I can’t
See you anymore
Can’t wait to see you soar

Girl
Where do you think you’re goin’?
Where do you think you’re goin’
Goin’, girl?
Girl
Where do you think you’re goin’?
Where do you think you’re goin’
Goin’, girl?

Call Me Joanne
Xo Joanne
Xoxo Joanne

Music video

Joanne_(Piano_Version)
Premiere date January 26, 2018
Director(s) N/A
Fashion director Tom Eerebout at Haus of Gaga
Choreographer N/A
Director of photography N/A
  1. Lady Gaga wears a maxi gown by Ossie Clark, and sunglasses by Hilton.
  2. Lady Gaga wears a catsuit and blazer by Saint Laurent, accessories by Alexander McQueen, and a hat by Gladys Tamez.
  3. Lady Gaga wears a blazer, jeans and boots by Saint Laurent, a scarf by Guy Laroche, and a hat by Gladys Tamez.
  4. Lady Gaga wears a gown by Ulyana Sergeenko.

Credits

Written by Lady Gaga and Mark Ronson
Produced by Mark Ronson, Lady Gaga and BloodPop®
Recorded by Joshua Blair and Dave Russell, assisted by David "Squirrel" Covell & Johnnie Burik at Shangri-La Studios, Malibu, CA Us
Justin Smith & Joshua Blair at Pink Duck Studios, Burbank CA Us
Mixed by Tom Elmhirst and assisted by Joe Visciano & Brandon Bost at Electric Lady Studios, New York, NY Us
Mastered by Tom Coyne and Randy Merrill at Sterling Sound, New York NY Us
Track Participants Mark Ronson — Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Mellotron Strings
BloodPop® — Keyboards, Rhythm Track for GenPop Corp.
Lady Gaga — Percussion
Harper Simon — Guitar
Published by
  • Sony/ATV Songs LLC / House of Gaga Publishing LLC (BMI)
  • Imagem CV/Songs Of Zelig (BMI) (Songs Of Zelig administered worldwide by Imagem CV)

Piano version

Written by Lady Gaga and Mark Ronson
Produced by Lady Gaga, DJ White Shadow, Nick Monson & Mark Nilan Jr.
Mixed by Benjamin Rice
Piano Mark Nilan Jr.

Reference

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