I’ve got to be honest, I was never the biggest Gaga fan. I always wrote off little miss Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta as just another Britney-esque popstar that made mainstream, catchy, billboard hits and exploited her body and voice in order to be noticed. Someone who I expected to fail once her shock factor wore off. Someone who was all show and no substance.
Boy, was I wrong.
There was always that subtle connection between me and the popstar that allowed me to relate to her. I, like Gaga, went to an all-girl’s school in New York, the city where I was born and raised. I, like Gaga, have always been fascinated by music, and spent many a year grueling over piano keys. I, like Gaga, appreciate (and at times even attempt!) a crazy fashion statement – although let’s not kid ourselves here, I’ve never taken it to as great a height as she.
I believe it’s important to connect to the artists you respect in some personal fashion. Take away everything I said above, and I would still fight for the greatness that is Lady Gaga.
Gaga’s performance last night at Madison Square Garden shook some sense into me, put me in my place, and reminded me how close-minded it is to judge a musician without knowing anything more about her or her music than just the joy it brings to many a dance club go-er or gossip magazine reader.
Lady Gaga blew one and all away with strong vocals that didn’t fail her once throughout her entire two-plus hour performance. The dance choreography was praise-worthy, yet she didn’t sacrifice her melodies for an extra arm pump or body roll. Gaga paused every so often mid dance move to belt out some earth shattering arpeggio. That, if anything, was something I appreciated, that perhaps her popstar counterparts would not always do. It is clear that Gaga is about the music. I too was practically in tears when the weepy eyed Gaga exclaimed how happy she was to be on stage at the infamous Madison Square Garden, a place she had attended throughout her youth to see her idols perform, a place she always hoped she too, could one day conquer.
Not only was I happily surprised by her strong musical ability that is especially apparent during her slower ballads, but the girl seriously does know how to put on a show. Shocking? Yes. Never in my life did I think a petite, blonde, twenty something year old would rock my world in such a way. Monsters, lights, fire, smoke, crazy costumes and stage sets were present during every song, but so were profanity, fake (I hope) blood, crotch grabbing, gay makeouts… Gaga may have a teenage following, but she sure won’t let that hold her back from doing exactly what she wants on stage.
One of the more heartwarming moments during the performance (blood and heartwarming moments, at the same concert? Oh yeah, it’s possible) was when she declared that a certain sum earned from the concert would be donated to her favorite charity – a charity that helps homeless gay youth get their life back on track after being thrown out on the streets by un-accepting parents. The cries of support and happiness that came from the audience (the majority of which was filled with Gaga clad gay men) was so powerful, that that alone could have won me over.
All in all, it was a claw bearing, outfit changing, music singalong, chaotic experience that I will definitely remember for the rest of my life.
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