Figuring Out Gaga

This really has nothing to do at all with Las Vegas, but I just have to comment on last nights MTV Video Music Awards. Especially some observations I have about Lady Gaga’s performance of her song, Paparazzi.

Like many, I used to think that Lady Gaga was a little nuts. Although her music technically falls into the pop music category, she stands so far outside the norm that for a long time, I was really puzzled by her success. Her music is good, and fits in with the mainstream enough that she gets plenty of airtime on the radio- but her odd wardrobe and costume choices have always been so ‘out there’ that for awhile I thought her only appeal was the simple novelty, and that she would come and go like a flash in the pan.

However, after the VMA show last night, I realized that her outlandish costumes and eccentricity is precisely why she’s become so popular. I think everyone is trying to figure her out, and see what she’ll do next.

I was extremely impressed by her performance of Paparazzi last night – especially the bloody ending to the song. The sudden blood that blossomed across her chest and started running down her body during the ending of the performance brought shocked murmering from the crowd, which was noticable when I went back to watch the video a second time. To people who aren’t that familiar with the theme of the song, I could see where it might look like an accent or even that she might have been shot. But thats the point. The song is about how fame can become dangerous and deadly. I read somewhere that she said in an interview that its about how Lady Diana died.The official video (not the live performance) was done brilliantly.  Shot like a mini film, the beginning tells a little bit of a story before the song even starts.

I also noticed something else really interesting just now, that prompted this post. I had read that Lady Gaga did several costume changes during the award show last night, and that one of her outfits included a golden Phantom Of The Opera style mask. I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but as I was watching the performance again just now, I was thinking about how the very beginning reminded me of a scene change in a musical production or play.. it started off with her slowly singing a few lines of Poker Face, sort of like she was recapping her story.

“Amidst all of these flashing lights, I pray the fame won’t take my life..” That final line she sang most definitely reminded me of the introduction to the next scene of a play, and was very opera-esque. It only became obvious then- I’m such a huge Phantom Of The Opera fan, that I can’t believe I didn’t make the connection before now. The elaborate mask she was wearing- which I had previously dismissed as just another quirky part of her wardrobe- was actually a masquerade mask.. the stage set was a grand, double staircase- similar to the one in “Masquerade” by Phantom Of the Opera. And there on the ground behind her was a chandelier, laying on its side.

Just in case Youtube takes down the video I’m trying to embed, you can also view it by following this link, and you’ll see what I mean.

I guess this also explains why she was wearing a Phantom style mask earlier that night- although I’m curious what made her decide to reference Phantom Of The Opera in her performance. But I thought this was interesting- especially since I had not heard of anyone else mentioning it before.

And in case you haven’t seen the original video, I’m posting it here also. Its very good!

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~ by Nika Dreamscape on September 15, 2009.