How Expectations ruined (for some) ENIGMA

[SJAG 1,597]

Hi Monsters, in case you missed it and haven't seen about 1000 threads on Gagadaily talking about it in the last hours, Gaga just started her Las Vegas residency, ENIGMA with an energic and spectacular performance, but as always, fans are disappointed and upset about it.

After staying up all night watching often interrupted-lagging 144p videos with  low quality audios, monsters all around the world were quite disappointed with the show, apparently the big pixels they saw on the screen didn't exactly match the expectations they had about ENIGMA.

A couple of months ago I wrote a thread about how expectations ruin the final product and I think the same thing is happening to Gaga. I basically stated that the hype that people were building over Ariana Grande ruined Sweetener, which was referred as the best album ever while it turned out to be, in my opinion, quite mediocre. (We already argued over that, don't @ me).

In that thread someone commented:

"I if you have expectations for something and it doesn't happen you're bound to be disappointed, so that's your own fault."

Well, now that monsters are unhappy about ENIGMA because of their own expectations being deluded, the same applies for them, right? Seeing all these threads, the answer seems to be no. What we (I include myself in this) need to understand is that Gaga owes us nothing, she doesn't have to do everything we want. We always act entitled, saying "Gaga should do this, Gaga should do that" and we constantly overanalyze everything she does, critinquing her for every single thing. Just let the girl live.

And most importantly, we need to stop stop being disappointed because Gaga didn't do what we were expecting her to do.

Be grateful for what she's doing. She did an amazing performance with a storyline, sang her biggest hits and some fan favourites, served vocals while dancing, played instruments, changed outfits multiple times, entered from the ceiling, flyed around the place, walked in a gigantic robot and talked with a CGI animated being and it's not enough for you while other fans are happy with their idol going on a stage and singing love songs while playing the guitar for two hours straight.

The show had amazing production (I'm impressed she spent more than 10$ for the graphics with the animations and stuff), the technology was pretty good (I was hoping they were going to use holograms instead of projections but whatever), the outfits were mostly great (I have to admit the wig and the purple outfit were tragic though), the setlist was almost perfect (I wish she sang more of ARTPOP being the whole residency eastethics inspired by it, PetGa included, but still ok with it. 

ENIGMA was exactly what we were told it was, nothing more, nothing less. It was described as follows:

"Lady Gaga’s Las Vegas residency will feature two unique shows in the intimate venue. LADY GAGA ENIGMA is a brand-new odyssey of her pop hits built as an experience unlike any other while LADY GAGA JAZZ & PIANO will feature .."

It says "her pop hits" so It's kinda pointless being sad about no new song being perfomed. I know we all wanted it, it was constantly teased by Bloodpop. Boys Noize and so on, Gaga herself said she wanted it to be a surprise, everything was hinting at it being released during ENIGMA, I was really hyped, made threads about a new album coming and liked comments speculating it, but I can't be mad at her for not singing anything new.

[Phoebe Buffay 12,525]

this tea omg

[Irrelevant 20,282]

She gave us DITD, BDR, TF, JUDAS, AND GOVERNMENT HOOKER y'all

EDIT: AND AURAAAA SKKSKS

[Glamourpuss 29,062]

Thanks for this post. That's why I made my thread about the negativity. Fans set the bar too high and then get disappointed when she doesn't fulfil what they imagined in their minds. Even though what Gaga did was innovative for a Vegas show.

People need to just sit back, enjoy the ride and see what happens. Overhype ruins everything. 

[Aglaya 8,455]

this

[Didymus 34,380]

I've seen plenty of happy fans though Don't let the few disappointed ones ruin the party.

Anyway, I agree about the fans who expected her to perform new music, there was no reason to expect that whatsoever. About the show's quality, well... I just think some Little Monsters are more "experienced" in terms of seeing exciting, innovative stage shows than others and are more easily disappointed because they've simply seen better

Anyway, I wouldn't overanalyse the negative responses. It might just be as simple that it wasn't people's cup of tea and that they just want something different rather than expected something wrong. Nothing wrong with that, don't let it piss on your parade.

[ARTPOPSTER 4,246]

I think that she will constantly be changing the setlist. Maybe monthly or so. I love how she payed homage to the fan favorites. I couldn't believe she sang The Fame. I loved last night and I hope that she continues to wow us.

[IAmNotHere1997 25,824]

- Dance in the Dark was performed for the first time since 2011. (Monster Ball)
- Beautiful, Dirty, Rich was perfomed for the first time since 2011. (Monster Ball)
- The Fame was perfomed for the first time since 2011. (Monster Ball)
- Aura was performed for the first time since 2014. (ARTRAVE)
- Government Hooker was performed for the first time since 2013 (Born This Way Ball)
- The Edge of Glory (FREAKING STUDIO VERSION) was performed for the first time since God knows when...

I mean, C'MON

[Didymus 34,380]

3 minutes ago, ARTPOPSTER said:

I love how she payed homage to the fan favorites. I couldn't believe she sang The Fame.

And BDR, and those arrangements were killer, too  

Plenty of nostalgic fun indeed, and it showed she was having a blast with those tracks. Very heartwarming to see.

[KatieJudasGaga4 67,907]

1 minute ago, gabrielflorin01 said:

- Dance in the Dark was performed for the first time since 2011. (Monster Ball)
- Beautiful, Dirty, Rich was perfomed for the first time since 2011. (Monster Ball)
- Aura was performed for the first time since 2014. (ARTRAVE)
- Government Hooker was performed for the first time since 2012 (Born This Way Ball)
- The Edge of Glory (FREAKING STUDIO VERSION) was performed for the first time since God knows when...

I mean, C'MON

DITD was performed at the ARTRAVE in October 2014, an acapella for a fan that passed away

Government Hooker & The Edge of Glory was performed in 2013 during the last BTWB show

 

[IAmNotHere1997 25,824]

1 minute ago, KatieJudasGaga4 said:

1. DITD was performed at the ARTRAVE in October 2014, an acapella for a fan that passed away

2. Government Hooker & The Edge of Glory was performed in 2013 during the last BTWB show

1. I was talking about a real big performance, not just a lil' bit, like at the ARTRAVE
2. LOL at me forgetting that BTWB was until 2013 

[VoldeLorde2 8,389]

I heard people say that this is how people react to the first night of every tour so I may be disappointed now but I could love it in a year, you never know. But that wig and purple outfit were a boot. She needs fire whoever said "You should wear this". 

[witchcocktor 1,438]

This is my theory, but I don't think a lot of fans would be as disappointed if Gaga didn't need to constantly prove that she is some kind of untouchable legendary popstar above anyone else who can do no wrong, and is the epitome of artistic integrity and pop royalty. And proving to who? Not her fans, we know what she can do, but to the general population AND all the other fandoms.

I think people are way too deep in stanwars and fandoms that whenever Gaga puts up a decent show, but not a perfect stellar out of this world experience, people are disappointed even if there was nothing specifically wrong and bad about what Gaga delivered, because it gives others an incentive to throw criticism towards Gaga and mock her. And who wants to be fan of a popstar who isn't absolutely perfect hahahahahah. 

I'm honestly just going to entertain the opinions of people who went to the show. And I'm curious to how this show will evolve. Knowing Gaga, every show will be a unique experience, which is also a good thing because people will come back to see what she has thought of now. At least I hope this is the case lol.

[LGMonster95 13,704]

This literally happens ever since 2014 with artrave, I'm not surprised. The fact that some fans rised the bar way over the ceiling plays a big role in this "disappointment" others expected new music which honestly I found it really delusional (this also plays a big role for others who thought it wasn't good). I think Gaga did amazing for a Vegas residency show

[Bio 23,538]

I didn’t have much expectation but I was disappointed for the fact that it seems like it’s a step back. After C2C, Joanne and ASIB I thought she would come back to CrazyGa from a different angle, a bit more mature and less desperate. But it just looked like she was trying to impersonate herself from 7 years ago and it was not a good look. It’s a Vegas show tho and it’s very entertaining for what it is. I have no shallow complains about wigs lol.