5 reasons to go gaga for Gaga, live
After performing at the Grammys, the Super Bowl and Coachella this year, what else can Lady Gaga offer her Little Monsters? The short answer: More than two hours of hits and deep tracks, mixed with a variety of musical instruments (Gaga played piano, keytar and guitar), experimental films in between tunes, dance routines and a mind-blowing stage setup. The long answer: Here are five things that Gaga brought to her sold-out first tour stop, at Rogers Arena in Vancouver Tuesday, that fans can expect to see throughout her 60-stop Joanne World Tour.
1 THAT KILLER VOICE
Whether she’s accompanying herself on piano with no one else onstage (which she did for several songs including finale A Million Reasons), or belting and dancing with a full band (for Just Dance, Poker
Face, Love Game, Scheiße, the unexpected Bloody Mary, etc.) Gaga’s voice sounds pitchperfect. However, that doesn’t mean her acoustics always do.
In the first half of Gaga’s Vancouver show, drums, guitar and bass were drowning out the pop star’s vocals. Fortunately, the sound was fixed in time to hear her impressive high note on The Edge of Glory.
2THOSE
BEAUTIFUL BODYSUITS There was a white sequined bodysuit. There was a black, barely-there bodysuit. There was a red cutout bodysuit. There was a blue, structured bodysuit. There was even a black bodysuit with one floral sleeve. Gaga looked stunning in each of them.
And the outfits were versatile: Each was paired with either a voluminous skirt, sequined cape, puffy coat or fringed jacket that was added or subtracted during the costume-heavy show.
3 THE TETRIS STAGES
At first, Gaga’s stage looked like your everyday, static platform. But then, two smaller pieces rose out of it to form two additional platforms. After that, the stage went into all sorts of crazy configurations: stairs, diagonals, a place to land a bridge that dropped from the ceiling.
Yep, there was a bridge that was busy being a video monitor and color pod when it wasn’t being used as a walkway to get from one stage to another.
Suffice it to say: The show’s staging was impressive.
4THE HALFWAY POINT
The best part of Gaga’s show came at about the midway point, when Gaga took time between songs to change, and fans were treated to one of the singer’s several short film pieces. This piece — unlike the ones that had her with Pharrell and wearing rhino horns (confusing) and shrieking while walls closed in on her (disturbing) — was thrilling. It showed her growing talons and inhaling a drug that made her relive intoxicating moments onstage.
Then the real Mother Monster returned to the arena with a vengeance, performing Applause while sashaying along the aforementioned floating floral bridge. Next, after bringing a fan’s Pride flag onstage, she perfectly segued into her love-each-other song Come to Mama, and then show-stopper Born This Way. The rainbow lights were fitting.
5 THE FIERCEST DANCERS
They vogue, they twerk, they lift Gaga in the air, they pull off floral kimonos. Lady Gaga’s dancers are a joy to watch, even when they’re trying to remain hidden as they help the star disrobe.
Then there are the dancers in the audience, adorned with glitter, unicorn headpieces, gold bodysuits, pink Joanne hats and costume makeup. Gaga’s loyal Monsters in the stands are often just as captivating as the ones in her show.
Lady Gaga’s Joanne World Tour continues Thursday at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Canada.