Lady Gaga is one of her generation’s most powerful performers. She leaves everything on stage, uncaring about the public’s opinion. The commentary on her performances is often skewed to opposite ends. While some recognize Gaga‘s genius, others can’t seem to see past the theatrics. Find three of Gaga’s most polarizing performances, below.
Videos by American Songwriter
“Yoü and I” (2011 VMAs)
Dressed in drag, Gaga delivered a powerful performance of “Yoü and I” at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. The new look was a commentary on her male peers and the attitudes they are able to get away with, while female artists would be demonized. Her stunt was more than successful, people were confused by this performance, criticizing Gaga for her behavior. Gaga is certainly an artist with something to say. She said her piece loud and clear in the performance, below.
It’s been a long time since I came around
Been a long time, but I’m back in town
And this time I’m not leaving without you
You taste like whiskey when you kiss me, oh
I’d give anything again to be your baby doll
This time I’m not leaving without you
“Til It Happens To You” (2016 Academy Awards)
The overall impression of Gaga’s performance of “Til It Happens To You” at the 2016 Oscars was positive, but there were some that didn’t feel the power behind it. Gaga brought out a group of sexual assault survivors on stage as she belted out this Oscar-nominated track, featured in The Hunting Ground. Like the film–which touches on rape in America–this song speaks for the voiceless who have found themselves silenced by violence. While the emotion is palpable in her Oscars performance, there were some that felt this song was too vague for such an important topic.
While other inspirational Gaga songs don’t shy away from specificities, some see this track as more of a blanket statement. In a similar vein, some viewers felt the performance wasn’t particular enough for the statement to hit. Nevertheless, the majority of Gaga fans consider this one of Gaga’s most visceral moments on stage.
‘Til it happens to you, you don’t know
How it feels
How it feels
‘Til it happens to you, you won’t know
It won’t be real
No it won’t be real
Won’t know how it feels
“Paparazzi” (2009 VMAs)
Gaga’s most polarizing performance is, undoubtedly, her rendition of “Paparazzi” at the 2009 VMAs. On top of typical Gaga antics, she started “bleeding” from her chest halfway through the song. The VMA audience didn’t seem to be ready for such a blatant statement on fame and autonomy. It got Gaga landed with a slew of satanism charges from the less open-minded members of the public. However, Gaga fans consider this one of her shining moments and evidence of her uncompromising artistry.
I’m your biggest fan, I’ll follow you until you love me
Papa-paparazzi
Baby, there’s no other superstar, you know that I’ll be
Your papa-paparazzi
Promise I’ll be kind
But I won’t stop until that boy is mine
Baby, you’ll be famous, chase you down until you love me
Papa-paparazzi
(Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)
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