I Finally Saw Gaga Live

[ImMatt 1,625]

I want to share a story with you. 

Was Friday night one of the highlights of my life? Quite possibly. I've been a Lady Gaga fan since I was 16 in 2009 when I first saw Bad Romance on the music channel. I had a feeling I was meant to see it: it felt familiar and it felt special. I'd heard of Gaga before...who hadn't? But as I wasn't really a music fan back then, I never really paid much attention until later.

When I heard Telephone on the radio for the first time, I was in love with it and yet again it was by an artist called Lady Gaga. Who was this women who couldn't stop making songs that I loved? Then one day when I heard Alejandro for the first time, I didn't even need to know who it was by....I knew. Because I loved it, it would be by Gaga and I was of course right.

Since then there was no looking back: I became a massive fan. I remember the day I bought Born This Way at HMV, the day after I finished my A Levels. I remember going to the shops to buy ARTPOP after uni. I looked forward to Radio ARTPOP every week, joined the meltdowns and clownery plus the twitter spats during Applause vs Roar. I had a LittleMonsters.com account and waited for the ARTPOP app to do something...anything. I woke up at ungodly hours to see dodgy livestreams of Enigma and spent hours upon hours watching videos, interviews and performances. Plus experienced hundreds of other things that only we all share, always online. Each album has coincided with a different memory or moment in my life but I'd never had the opportunity to see her live.

BTW Ball I didn't have enough of a friend group to go with, ARTPOP the tickets had sold out and even though I said 'screw it, I'll go on my own' for the Joanne Tour, my date was cancelled. Finally for the Chromatica Ball my moment had arrived. One of my friends had agreed to come with me and despite two years of delays, finally on Friday night I saw Lady Gaga.
It didn't even feel real. I wasn't emotional, I think I just froze - it was too much to take in. I danced to every song, sung every lyric and indeed put my hands up when she told me to (I need encouragement for these things...I'm quite a reserved person lol). But it was the morning after when I looked back at my photos and videos did it finally feel real. I felt really emotional, it was like a full circle journey. Finally after all these years I saw her perform.

Did she sing all my favourite songs? No (see spoiler section). Did I hate getting home from the Tottenham Stadium? Absolutely. Was my outfit pretty bland? Yes. I wore trainers, jeans and a T-Shirt that said New York on, that's all. Was I absolutely bricking it for the previous two weeks and mouth so dry I could hardly eat my dinner on the night? Of course. But none of that mattered. The fact is, it happened.

The reason I'm sharing all this is I see so many of you on here who also have never seen Gaga. Maybe you live in a country she doesn't tour in, or maybe you don't have the money for a ticket just yet. Trust me, your day will come. And it will be the maddest, most magical experience of your life and the following day you'll wake up knowing all the hours, weeks and years of supporting this crazy lady have brought you to that very point.

Paws up, FOREVER

 

Spoiler

HIGHS:
- The outfits you guys were wearing were EPIC. The girl in a leather skirt with Telephone style yellow police tape won the day for me. You looked STUNNING.

- I felt so safe there! Among fans of all ages there was a real range of people which I loved. Sure there were mostly gay guys, but there was a straight couple in front and behind us, two older women on our row and I saw kids with there parents at the show too. Gaga is for everyone, never forget it

- Always Remember Us This Way, 1000 Doves, Shallow...in fact the whole piano section was incredible. That's Gaga's true magic. I'd watch a whole show of it.

- The Hold My Hand finale was just perfection. It was the only song I filmed from start to finish and I've watched it back so many times already

- The 1,2,3 opening knockouts of Bad Romance, Just Dance and Poker Face. The latter surprisingly still sounds really fresh live

- Replay was a massive highlight for me. The chorus really hits and when it dropped it went OFF in the whole stadium

- Stadium facilities were excellent and getting in was easier than I was expecting (which I've seen was worrying from a security pov)

LOWS:
- She skipped The Edge of Glory on my night!! Gutted. It's one of, if not, my favourite songs. Also sad not to see Paparazzi and Alejandro be sung too but I'd seen the setlist before so was expecting it

- Someone did comment my clothes looked like a charity shop jeans. Didn't really affect me cause I saw it was a joke but kinda irked a bit later

-The stadium access was poor: only an overground every 15mins isn't exactly helpful trying to get home and no one wants to walk through tottenham for seven sisters

- A fight broke out in our stand during (ironically) Hold My Hand.

- Sound was really echoey at first and I couldn't hear what she was saying some of the time. Piano section was better as it was quieter

- I didn't really get to speak to any other fans which I regret. Just spoke to my friend all the time so should have taken the chance to talk to other people more...next time I'll be more prepared! 

 

[liamgaga 473]

I love this!!! I went the same night. It was incredible 

[Yaaaas Gaga 832]

I echo everything you said. I went to the London concert on 29 July as well and it was better than I could've ever imagined (if that's at all possible). I of course knew she could sing her damn socks off but this is by far the best i've ever heard her sound. When she sat down at her piano and belted out 4-5 ballads it was such a surreal moment. Born This Way in particular always hits hard for me. Her choreography was outstanding given everything she's been through. I never expected her to be able to move like that again. The setlist was fantastic, the stories she told the crowd were captivating and emotional, the crowd interaction was off the charts. Just everything about it was incredible and I already have this sense of nostalgia that I might never get to experience Gaga like that ever again. I will never ever, for the rest of my life, forget that night and I just pray to God that she has at least one more stadium concert tour left in her.

[Retro Dance Freak 339]

i went to the same night! it was incredible. i wish i spoke to more people too, but i was so nervous and with family lol. i really wish i had made some friends that night.

 

side note, sorry someone said that about your jeans!!! ignore them. i shop second hand all the time, because it’s cheaper lol and you can often find cool things there. what does ‘charity shop jeans’ even mean… People are so miserable. i’m sure you looked great! my outfit wasn’t anything spectacular either, short denim shorts and an iron maiden t shirt i later changed into the BE FREE shirt i got at the merch store. a lightning bolt necklace and a cross necklace (the fame + monster ) and birth of venus socks (i thought she was gonna surprise us with a venus performance… and she just removed TEOG )

[Celloo Deng 53,686]

A fight broke out near me during the final bows! Were you in section 212??

[ImMatt 1,625]

13 minutes ago, Cello said:

A fight broke out near me during the final bows! Were you in section 212??

Really?! No, I was in 103. Two fights in the same song...that's crazy!

[Mother of Puppies 35,695]

14 minutes ago, Cello said:

A fight broke out near me during the final bows! Were you in section 212??

ohhhh I haven't asked you yet.... how did you like the show??

[ImMatt 1,625]

20 minutes ago, Retro Dance Freak said:

i went to the same night! it was incredible. i wish i spoke to more people too, but i was so nervous and with family lol. i really wish i had made some friends that night.

 

side note, sorry someone said that about your jeans!!! ignore them. i shop second hand all the time, because it’s cheaper lol and you can often find cool things there. what does ‘charity shop jeans’ even mean… People are so miserable. i’m sure you looked great! my outfit wasn’t anything spectacular either, short denim shorts and an iron maiden t shirt i later changed into the BE FREE shirt i got at the merch store. a lightning bolt necklace and a cross necklace (the fame + monster ) and birth of venus socks (i thought she was gonna surprise us with a venus performance… and she just removed TEOG )

Aw thanks  Yeah it didnt really bother me at the time, it was on the tube going home and it was kind of a joke cause they said my friend looked amazing and wasn't sure what to say to me so said that instead 

Your outfit sounds awesome!!

Edit: Next time we can make friends with each other instead!

[Celloo Deng 53,686]

4 minutes ago, ImMatt said:

Really?! No, I was in 103. Two fights in the same song...that's crazy!

Omg  what is up with people lmao

I was applauding at the end of HMH and I felt some drink splash on the back of my neck, turned around and there was a steaming drunk guy who'd managed to soak some random lady and all hell broke loose. 

[Celloo Deng 53,686]

2 minutes ago, Mother of Puppies said:

ohhhh I haven't asked you yet.... how did you like the show??

It was amazing thanks! I had the best time. Went on my own and was kinda nervous but I chatted away with the people sitting next to me and had such fun dancing and singing all night 

[marrytheminogue 125]

My story is very similar to yours on being introduced to Gaga! I remember walking to school when I was 11 and hearing Just Dance for the first time (and thinking it was Alexandra Burka’s new song lol) and just being blown away. Didn’t particularly enjoy Poker Face, Papparazzi or Bad Romance when they first came out but that hit of Telephone, Alejandro and then later Judas, TEOG, MTN well and truly made me a fan for life. Downloading her first few albums from dodgy sites for free before I was able to buy them and hearing the album tracks for the first time is definitely a memory I’ll never forget. I think TFM was one of the first CDs I bought alongside Kylie’s X and Calvin Harris’ I Created Disco.

Was invited by a couple of school friends to see artRAVE but couldn’t afford tickets being so young and we all know what happened to the Joanne Tour in the U.K.  So her Friday London show was the first time being able to see her too and it was just so surreal - essentially 14 years in the making!

I’ve been to a lot of shows now and I’ve never seen anyone be able to command a stage with a huge crowd like that before and the atmosphere was just so great. Hearing Just Dance live just felt like a true full circle moment - and then being able to really go for it with Alice, Replay, ROM etc. Although it was a shame some of her earlier hits like Alejandro, Judas, TEOG, MTN didn’t make the cut!

But anyways, sorry to ramble, but that show was such a highlight for me too and reignited that spark and obsession I had for her when I was a little in-the-closet teen!

[Mother of Puppies 35,695]

Just now, Cello said:

It was amazing thanks! I had the best time. Went on my own and was kinda nervous but I chatted away with the people sitting next to me and had such fun dancing and singing all night 

I'm glad u loved it too!

I think I'm gonna go alone the next time too and I also wanna go to the standing area. We talked to so many people there because everyone was so chatty and chill... or I'll probably meet up with people who are also on GGD (there were a few who went to my date but I was basically "stuck" with our seats)

I hope she doesn't take another 4 years to tour again

[ImMatt 1,625]

2 minutes ago, marrytheminogue said:

My story is very similar to yours on being introduced to Gaga! I remember walking to school when I was 11 and hearing Just Dance for the first time (and thinking it was Alexandra Burka’s new song lol) and just being blown away. Didn’t particularly enjoy Poker Face, Papparazzi or Bad Romance when they first came out but that hit of Telephone, Alejandro and then later Judas, TEOG, MTN well and truly made me a fan for life. Downloading her first few albums from dodgy sites for free before I was able to buy them and hearing the album tracks for the first time is definitely a memory I’ll never forget. I think TFM was one of the first CDs I bought alongside Kylie’s X and Calvin Harris’ I Created Disco.

Was invited by a couple of school friends to see artRAVE but couldn’t afford tickets being so young and we all know what happened to the Joanne Tour in the U.K.  So her Friday London show was the first time being able to see her too and it was just so surreal - essentially 14 years in the making!

I’ve been to a lot of shows now and I’ve never seen anyone be able to command a stage with a huge crowd like that before and the atmosphere was just so great. Hearing Just Dance live just felt like a true full circle moment - and then being able to really go for it with Alice, Replay, ROM etc. Although it was a shame some of her earlier hits like Alejandro, Judas, TEOG, MTN didn’t make the cut!

But anyways, sorry to ramble, but that show was such a highlight for me too and reignited that spark and obsession I had for her when I was a little in-the-closet teen!

Aw, this is amazing. Loved reading your story too 

[Celloo Deng 53,686]

2 minutes ago, Mother of Puppies said:

I'm glad u loved it too!

I think I'm gonna go alone the next time too and I also wanna go to the standing area. We talked to so many people there because everyone was so chatty and chill... or I'll probably meet up with people who are also on GGD (there were a few who went to my date but I was basically "stuck" with our seats)

I hope she doesn't take another 4 years to tour again

I'd probably go for standing next time and try to meet some GGD people too. It was fine on my own and I had a great time, but there were moments it felt a little weird like being on the tube home and everyone else is in groups or couples lol 

 

[ImMatt 1,625]

1 hour ago, liamgaga said:

I love this!!! I went the same night. It was incredible 

Aw thanks. Glad you had an amazing time too!!