My very detailed C2C experience!

[Katie14 4,828]

Last night’s concert was incredible. It was so different seeing them live than in a video. The sound quality at The Kennedy Center was fantastic. You could hear every subtle note that would normally sound thin and washed out in a video. This was my first time seeing Gaga live. The aura surrounding Gaga is pretty incredible and sort of unexplainable. When I first saw her standing at the side of the stage right before singing “Anything Goes” she looked like a statue. She didn’t look real. The way that she walked on and off the stage was very fascinating to me. She walked with long and slow strides like complete royalty. She moved with this heaviness, confidence, and steadiness. I really can’t even describe it properly. When she was performing she moved quicker. It was really interesting.

The audience was probably 90%-95% Tony fans. I know I shouldn’t be making that judgment but honestly there aren’t that many Gaga fans who are over the age of 60. Of course there are some but it isn’t typical. Also, I could tell the audience was more familiar with Tony’s solos than Gaga’s. Whenever he started singing his signature songs there were “oos” and “ahhs” coming from the audience in anticipation. I think the bigger and/or outdoor venues attract a younger crowd. Literally the average age of the audience was around 60- 70. A man in front of me had binoculars.

 I saw Lady Gaga’s parents in the audience. They had balcony seats and I had seats in the orchestra so I could see them perfectly from where I was sitting. I was shocked to see them walk in and sit down. I knew they would be there since it was the last show but I didn’t expect I would be able spot them and see them so clearly. Her Mom recorded Gaga singing the new song at the end as well as her singing Happy Birthday to Tony with her phone. It was really cute to see that. I was very tempted to take a picture of them before the show started but I figured that would be really rude. They actually probably wouldn’t even notice but I would have felt bad.

Special and funny moments and comments from Gaga:

-Gaga singing two new songs

-Tony got 3 or 4 standing ovations. Gaga got 2, one for “Lush Life” and one for “La Vie En Rose”.

-A girl a few rows ahead of me screamed, “I love you Gaga” at one point. Everyone laughed and Gaga smiled and said, “You are so sweet. I love you too”.

-Gaga said she was sad the tour was ending and she said she doesn’t know what she is going to do when she wakes up tomorrow morning. The same girl screamed, “make a new album!” Gaga laughed and I think she might have said, “I am” but I’m not sure.

- Before singing “Every time We Say Goodbye” she said thank you to the audience for coming and for supporting art in schools (I guess she was referring to Tony’s support for arts in schools and was extending this to his fans?). She said, “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the support of art in schools. The first time I sang this song I was 14. Who would have thought I would be singing it now on tour with Tony Bennett?” Then everyone laughed.   

-Before singing, “Lush Life”, Gaga was talking about Tony. She said, “When he’s not singing he’s painting and when he’s not painting he’s singing. Its so incredible to be in the presence of such a legend and genius.” She then said that she was really sad before and she was a mess. She was wondering why Tony would want to sing with her. Tony said she is just a sophisticated lady. She then said that Tony never judges her. She sat down at the piano with her back against Mike and the audience started laughing because she was leaning on him. She then talked about Mike saying she loves to sing this song with him playing the piano because he understands her.

-At one point during “Lush Life” Gaga was leaning up against the wall all the way at the side of the stage. The people sitting in the balcony right above her couldn’t see so they were literally leaning over the balcony so they could see her. It was really funny.

-Before “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered”, Gaga said “ I know most of you are here to see Tony and that’s ok. You are probably wondering why the girl who wore the meat dress is singing with Tony Bennett.” Then she said she is a better jazz singer than she is a pop singer.

-At the very end, while the band was playing the final bit of “It don’t mean a thing if it aint got that swing” and everyone was standing and clapping, Gaga screamed, “Everybody stop!” Everyone immediately shut up. I didn’t know Gaga was surprising Tony with the cake so I had no idea what was going to happen. I don’t remember exactly what she said. I think she thanked Tony and the audience and then she said, “This is our last show.  I’m so happy that we are ending it here in Washington DC because jazz is  such a huge part of American history.” She said Tony’s birthday is in a few days and she said she wants to sing him a song. She then started serenading him with a new song. She then said something about a surprise for his birthday and she was like, “bring it out. I want him to see it”. ( I think the people backstage were kind of hesitant about bringing a flaming cake on stage). She finished the song as they brought it out. She walked over to the cake and pointed to the figurines and said, “This is you and me and Asia and Happy”.  It was so adorable. Then she sang Happy Birthday with the entire audience. After we finished, the band started playing “It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Aint Got That Swing” and Gaga was ready to sing again. She sang one line, “makes no difference if its sweet or its hot” but Tony didn’t start singing again with her. It was kind of awkward haha. They both waved goodbye after the song ended and then they were gone.

I loved Gaga’s comments throughout the concert. She said a bunch of new things last night, which was fun. She was extremely sweet, humble, charming, and funny.” She expressed her respect and appreciation for Tony Bennett for collaborating with her quite a bit. Her admiration for him was extremely apparent.

Tony pretty much says the exact same things at every show. The only thing he said this time that was different was, “Its Frank Sinatra’s 100th birthday today. We are all going to Vegas to celebrate”.

The whole experience was magical. I went with my Dad who is not a fan of either artist. He doesn’t dislike either of them. He just doesn’t really know much about them. Before the concert he said, “ Lady Gaga is apparently quite talented but she is just ridiculous”.  My Dad didn’t talk to me at all during the show but after Gaga finished singing “La Vie En Rose” he said, “That was good” in a sort of shocked/impressed way. He said it like a fact, not an opinion. After the show was over I asked him how it was. He said it was excellent and Gaga singing “That French song” was the best moment of the night. He said “she brought the house down with that song”. He was also very impressed with Tony singing “Fly Me To the Moon” without a microphone.

As we were leaving I was trying really hard to listen in on everyone’s conversations but it was hard to hear. Everything I did hear was positive. I heard people talk about how good “the French song” was. Someone else said the show was outstanding. I am so happy I went. My memories of the concert will last forever.

I had been looking forward to this concert since buying the tickets a few months ago. I thought I would be sad this morning because now I don’t really have anything big to look forward to anymore. But, I’m not sad. I am very excited to see what Gaga is going to do next. I feel like she has so many doors open for her now.

Sorry this ended up being a novel but I think its an interesting read if you want a detailed recount of the entire experience.

 

Edit: I found some videos:

 

 

[ViviLittleM 3]

what were the two new songs?

[Morphine Prince 105,627]

Sounds like an amazing experience! Thanks for sharing, it was a nice read. 

[ViviLittleM 3]

thank you for this

[Katie14 4,828]

what were the two new songs?

The one from the instagram video and "Beginning to See the Light" (I think that's what its called).

[ViviLittleM 3]

The one from the instagram video and "Beginning to See the Light" (I think that's what its called).

Thank you!

[GlamGorgeousGG 220]

She didn’t look real. The way that she walked on and off the stage was very fascinating to me. She walked with long and slow strides like complete royalty. She moved with this heaviness, confidence, and steadiness. I really can’t even describe it properly. When she was performing she moved quicker. It was really interesting.

I noticed this, too.  I could see her entering and exiting clearly from where I sat.  She walked off the stage with confidence, head held high, composed and with purpose.  You think she'd be scrambling off so she could make her costume change.

Great write-up! 

[Bad Bromance 5,809]

‌@Katie14 thank you so much for the wonderful recap of your experience at the last C2C show!  I'm glad Gaga got two standing ovations and that everyone liked her rendition of La Vie en Rose.

This album and this tour will certainly open many doors for Gaga.  Her future is looking so bright!    I'm so proud to be a Little Monster! 

[Katie14 4,828]

I noticed this, too.  I could see her entering and exiting clearly from where I sat.  She walked off the stage with confidence, head held high, composed and with purpose.  You think she'd be scrambling off so she could make her costume change.

Great write-up!

I was wondering if she practiced entering and exiting like as if its some type of performer’s technique ( like when dancers at competitions walk on and off stage walking in a specific way) or does she just naturally walk and hold herself like that?

[GlamGorgeousGG 220]

I was wondering if she practiced entering and exiting like as if its some type of performer’s technique ( like when dancers at competitions walk on and off stage walking in a specific way) or does she just naturally walk and hold herself like that?

I think it is definitely a technique that she learned since it is so deliberate. 

She also steadied herself/composed herself a little dramatically before she sang La Vie En Rose.  I assume that's something she was taught as well.

[CannaeDrive 3,412]

Thank you so much for sharing this exceptional experience to see Gaga live. Seems like "Lush Live" and "La Vie en Rose" are the standout performances of this tour.