Just had a moment.

[giskardsb 12,565]

So, I've been on a bit of a break ( lurking, but not interacting) in order to just quit feeling like I have to engage with the negative energy this place gets at times, especially in these down cycles.  It's been useful, but I digress, because something made me want to pull myself out of my  self imposed mini-exile.

So today I was going back and reviewing a bunch of the stuff Gaga has done post-ARTPOP, which to me may be one of the most remarkable stretches I've seen from any musician in a  long long time.   

So I pulled up this video...

and as I'm watching how happy she is and how much fun she's having, performing in front of her peers and legends and respected by all, and watching her movement and admiring her innate sense of funk and groove, I just for some reason had a real moment of deep feeling of pride for our girl.

I don't know Gaga IRL obviously, and there is no particular reason I should feel pride in her accomplishments.  But I got flashbacks to pictures of her as a little girl, to her early performances in the bars of the LES, to Captivated at Tisch, to her acoustic piano performances throughout her career and her obvious desire to be taken seriously as a musician and vocalist, even though all the "pop stuff" sometimes makes people blind to what is underneath.  But mostly, in this age of ultra-manufactured pop music, label and reality show produced acts, and thin credibility for many of the "talents", it's just nice to see that once in a while a talented and driven musician who has put in the years to perfect their craft and worked their butt off slogging around bars and doing the work to rise through the system, can still actually make it and succeed.  Gaga, you did it kid.   And thanks to the remarkable work she's done in the last few years everybody knows the incredible talent she possesses.  She could even still do dance pop again, and people won't be questioning the credibility of the artist any longer, or calling her just another autotuned label puppet.

To me, performances like this are the core of who Gaga is, who she has always been.  We get wrapped up in all the stuff that goes around it, but in the last few years it's just been such a pleasure to just see Gaga really connect deeply with pure music again, and to gain the respect that she has while doing it.  I'm not trying to discount her pop stuff and I'm not here to argue that some version of Gaga is better than some other version of Gaga, but performances like this one and the Carole King tribute just show how much music runs through Gaga's soul.

Her version of You've got a Friend is a masterclass in vocal interpretation and voice control.  I could listen to the first few notes on loop forever.  I'm just happy she has gotten to the point in her career where she is recognized for her talent that makes her the A-List first call for events like this.

I am really looking forward to seeing what she has in store for us.  Have patience people, and appreciate the gift Gaga has shared to the world.

 

[Ronk 14,762]

I agree completely.   All of her post-ARTPOP performances have been amazing.  And in so many varied and spectacular venues.  It's so great she has had the chance to showcase her talent to the world, and not just the pop community.

[Rino 5,120]

I can't wait to see Gaga incorporating all the influences she went through while making post-ARTPOP tribute performances into LG5's general sound. and performances for the upcoming era, too.

just imagine the level of slayage

TAKE MY MONEY GAGA I"M READY BISH  

[Jinzo 9,639]

yaass i love this thread

[The Surrealist 27,470]

I honestly think that 'I Wish' is her best vocal performance yet. It sounded like a studio recording. 

[xdeki666 245]

1 hour ago, Sycamore said:

I honestly think that 'I Wish' is her best vocal performance yet. It sounded like a studio recording. 

this

[crisTEAne 21,059]

thank you, you just made me have my moment. 

[littlepotter 75,003]

PREACH IT SIS

I really feel like if we had more of these posts around here Gaga'd come back.

I mean imagine going to your own fan site and seeing that no one's even talking about you. And when they do, it's to mock you.

[Andreyw 4,285]

1 hour ago, skeleton.gun said:

thank you, you just made me have my moment. 

slay

 

[crisTEAne 21,059]

10 minutes ago, Andreyw said:

slay

 

shine on, doll! 

[Bad Bromance 5,809]

I was wondering where you were @giskardsb.  Can't recall the last time I saw one of your posts on any of the threads on GGD so welcome back!  Both performances that you posted are one of Gaga's best, indeed. 

My favorite Top 10 Gaga live performances are as follows...........

1.  Sound Of Music medley

2.  La Vie En Rose - Hollywood Bowl

3.  I wish - Stevie Wonder tribute

4.  You've Got A Friend - Carole King tribute

5.  Bang, Bang - PBS Special

6.  Lush Life - PBS Special

7.  Paparazzi - 2009 VMAs

8.  Imagine - 2015 European Games

9.  Speechless - VEVO Launch

10.  Marry The Night - X Factor UK

[kevinthesheep 2,947]

her stevie wonder & sting performances are legendary, vocally and energy wise soooo fantastic

i can't wait for the next era