Lady Gaga, nostalgia, and the ‘reheated nachos’ phenomenon in pop culture

When Lady Gaga released her latest album Mayhem, it was met with immediate comparisons to her earlier works, The Fame and Born This Way. Fans and critics alike pointed out that Abracadabra echoes the pulsating electropop sound that defined Gaga’s early career and helped shape mainstream pop in the late 2000s. In a conversation with Entertainment Weekly, the discussion quickly shifted towards whether Gaga was “reheating her own nachos” – a phrase that has gained traction as a way to describe artists revisiting, or even recycling, their past work. Responding to the commentary, Gaga defended her creative choices, stating, “I invented them and am proud of them,” a pointed remark challenging the idea that revisiting one’s past automatically equates to a lack of originality.

What does it mean to reheat one’s nachos?

The term “reheating nachos” didn’t emerge from the depths of music academia or music critique – it actually started as an internet joke. In 2023, a moment from the reality show Baddies West unexpectedly became a viral sensation when cast member Natalie Nunn was caught eyeing Stunna Girl’s plate of nachos. A seemingly trivial moment, it quickly evolved into a meme, with social media users reinterpreting the image to represent desire, imitation, or even creative redundancy. Over time, the phrase “reheating someone’s nachos” became shorthand for critiquing artists or public figures who appear to be repackaging past successes rather than pushing the envelope creatively. 

According to Indy100, “Nachos are very tasty, especially when they’re freshly made. But sometimes when you try to reheat them, they’re not quite as good compared to the first time around, but the dish still has the essence of the original.” In this analogy, the original work is akin to a fresh plate of nachos – crisp, flavourful, and exciting – while the reimagined version retains the essence of the original but may not always match its initial appeal.

When reheating nachos is bad

Case in point? According to a Medium review, the Gossip Girl reboot, for example, struggled to capture the essence of the original series, leading to its cancellation after two seasons. Similarly, the 2018 Charmed reboot attempted to modernise the late ‘90s classic with a more diverse cast and contemporary themes, but it ultimately failed to make a lasting impact. A Vulture critic described it as “a hollow celebration of sisterhood,” arguing that it lacked the compelling storytelling that made the original beloved. And how can we forget the Sex and the City reboot, And Just Like That…? While it attempted to breathe new life to the beloved ‘90s series, it was met with criticism for its inconsistent character development, divisive new additions, and forced attempts at social relevance. From Miranda’s unexpected personality shift to Che Diaz’s polarising presence, the show left many long-time fans disillusioned.

When it’s hot, it’s hot

Moving on from the negatives, there’s also Blackpink’s Lisa, for instance, who released her solo single Moonlit Floor, which interpolates Sixpence None the Richer’s 1997 hit Kiss Me. According to a 2024 People Magazine feature, this nu-disco and dance-pop track reimagines the original’s gentle melody into an upbeat rhythm, introducing it to a new audience while maintaining its nostalgic charm. Similarly, Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter album included a reinterpretation of Dolly Parton’s classic Jolene, altering the lyrics and production to transform the song from a pleading ballad into a bold declaration.

In cinema, Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu (2024) is another example of a modern retelling that garnered some praise. A remake of the 1922 silent horror classic featuring Lily Rose Depp, Bill Skarsgard, Nicholas Hoult, and Willem Dafoe, Eggers’ film sought to honour the haunting atmosphere of the original while reimagining it for a contemporary audience. Reviews, such as this one by The Guardian last December, complimented its eerie, visually stunning aesthetic, stating that “there’s a terrible beauty to it all and a seductive quality that makes Eggers’s febrile gothic nightmare a hard thing to shake.”

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So is reheating nachos always a bad thing?

With all that being said, revisiting past material is nothing new. Pop culture thrives on sequels, reboots, and remakes, while pop music constantly cycles through eras, with artists drawing inspiration from earlier sounds and aesthetics (just reflect how often Hollywood’s rising starlets have attempted to channel Marilyn Monroe or Audrey Hepburn for a second). The real debate isn’t whether nostalgia is inherently bad – it’s about execution. A successful homage breathes new life into familiar themes with creativity and authenticity, bridging generations in a way that feels fresh and engaging. But a formulaic rehash that leans too heavily on past success without offering anything new risks either missing the mark entirely or feeling forced in its attempt to be ‘woke’ and contemporary, ultimately coming across as inauthentic.

Of course, sometimes the best way forward is to ditch the nachos entirely. Not every revival is worth pursuing, and in some cases, the industry would be better off making tacos or even nyonya kueh instead. In the end, whether “reheating nachos” remains a lasting phrase or fades into digital obscurity, it has, for now, sparked an amusing and insightful discussion about the fine line between artistic homage and creative stagnation.