“They told you you weren’t pretty enough, couldn’t sing well enough, couldn’t fill a stadium, couldn’t win a Grammy...” ~Lady Gaga
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I'll admit that last night when I attended the sold out Lady Gaga show at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa with my girlfriends, I wasn't the biggest Gaga fan of our group. A 'monster' I was not. Sure I like her music - it's catchy, it totally makes you want to dance and sing - but I wasn't a full fledged parishioner of the 'Church of Gaga'. I was one of the uninitiated in the crowd.
I went because I was curious to see what kind of show Miss Gaga would put on. And oh my gawd did the woman deliver. Brilliant and awesome doesn't do it justice.
The woman can sing and damn well at that (and yes she sings - no lip synching here)...it's more controlled and powerful than you could ever imagine. She dances - go go dancer to the core- but she also has that magical ability to make you forget all the bullshit in your life for just a few hours as you take in all that she has to offer. And for a 24 year old that is very much an impressive feat.
The 'Monster Ball' show is a clear homage to Madonna (even beyond the comparisons of Gaga's latest single to Madonna's 'Express Yourself') - from the set design, the detailed storyline, the produced videos in between songs, the interaction with dancers and the audience, the cursing, the groping, the gospel inspired moment, the costume changes...it was a full out production from start to finish.
Like her idol, Lady Gaga was born to entertain the masses.
Grant it a lot of the show didn't make a lot of sense but for the sold out crowd no one really seemed to care - between the giant spider monster , Gaga's outfits and the shiny metal Jesus statue with flames shooting out of his back - there was a lot to distract from the not so coherent concert plot.
But the show also provided a message of compassion and understanding - for all those who are deemed different, misunderstood and left out. Lady Gaga is their safe haven. She embraces them all and makes them feel welcomed. And they do.
I swear I have never seen so much latex, leather, wigs, ass cheeks and boobs in Ottawa in all my life. And this was coming from the fans in the audience.
Who knew Ottawa had it in them?
I finally understood the appeal of Lady Gaga as that complete package deal last night - yes her artistic licence in her contrived attention getting appearances on red carpets and in her videos may have come in the past with the labels 'freak', 'weirdo', 'crazy', 'attention whore' but I get it now.
She's just being who she is and she is making no apologies for who she is - you either buy into her mantra of 'be yourself and be proud' or you don't.
And her fans, they get that message loud and clear and they love Gaga for spreading the word. And Gaga loves her fans in return. And together they make each other believe that anything is truly possible.
Her latest #1 hit 'Born This Way' is in part an anthem for all her fans - especially the ones who are singled out for being 'different'...and it's a great lesson and message especially for all those kids growing up who are still trying to conform and fit into what they perceive to be that 'acceptable cookie cutter mould'. In the end all those efforts to be popular, 'normal', 'straight', beautiful, perfect and skinny is just a veil...a mask...to the person that you are to the core. And all that Lady Gaga is trying to get across is no matter what you are just be yourself...be brave and be comfortable in the skin you were born in and embrace it...insecurities and all. Sounds like pretty sage and sound advice to me.
So yeah I've very much converted to the Church of Gaga...she's a petite blonde powerhouse - she knows how to entertain and you can't help but to stop what you're doing and watch it all unfold. Your jaw dropping every single time. Just the way she likes it. She's fierce that way.
Sure she's bizarre - but she's engaging, hearltfelt and sincere. There's depth to her...and in a world of vapid lyrics and misguided pop stars and Hollywood starlets she's a breath of fresh air. Hers is a party that you want to last all night long.
My only complaint about the show? The ladies behind us who asked us to sit down because we were standing and dancing and they couldn't see. Insert repeated eye rolling here.
For the record we kept on dancing and singing. I mean hello who sits at a Lady Gaga concert - it's blasphemous to do so.
Oh and Lady Gaga had the most killer boot collection ever during her costume changes. So Gaga when the tour is done, and assuming you're a size 7, you can send those boots my way.
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