Gaga’s Bowie Tribute

[REALITY 76,837]

6 hours ago, pop a 911 said:

I still want a full cover of Space Oddity from Gaga 

And Heroes!!

[Yaaaas Gaga 937]

I never understood the criticism as I always thought it was a great performance. Baring in mind she only had a couple of weeks to try and put everything together. I appreciate Bowie's son was grieving, but I thought it was in very bad taste to criticise Gaga's performance so publicly, especially when she has always been so vocal about how much Bowie inspired her. I think Bowie's son should have kept his comments behind the scenes.

[Pennywise 36,079]

I agree that the performance was a bit "too much". Gaga is an amazing performer, so it's fun to watch anyway, but I'd prefer something with less concepts thrown together than this. Like, Life on Mars on piano (not a dancing one tho) with some spectacular visual effects would be amazing. 

[Sneaky Oliver 22,219]

I used to really love it but I hate it now, I think it was one of Gaga’s lowest moments of her career. She had a thing with Intel going on before Bowie passed away and it’s a shame she kept the Intel elements for the tribute. She could have saved them for another ceremony or for a future tour.

I love the “digital” makeup during Space Oddity because it honors Bowie’s chameleonic look but apart from that, everything should have been scrapped tbh. She could have earned a lot of respect from the past generation of artists (which I think she did as the years went by for different reasons) 

The worst part it feels like she’s extremely uncomfortable and it’s weird to me that Gaga would compromise her artistic vision for the Intel money or contract 

[Celloo Deng 55,084]

I really loved this performance at the time and it's a shame she got so much criticism for it, she didn't have long to prepare after all. I hope she isn't put off doing more Bowie covers in the future 

[nATAH 49,835]

8 hours ago, ControversiaGa said:

 

Y’all know what “trolling” means? 

you're too good at it babes

[Melodean 8,329]

8 hours ago, ControversiaGa said:

 

Y’all know what “trolling” means? 

Yeah I knew you were just messing around, you had me there for a second tho 

[nATAH 49,835]

so after watching the performance after a few years, you can tell she's way more comfortable and in her element in the 2nd half when there's less choreographed technology and when the songs flow better

i'm not sure if this performance would be that much better if it were new original music as speculated or a greatest hits medley because sometimes less is more when it comes to gaga (unless it's something camp like enigma or the monster ball)

[HookerOnAChurch 6,786]

12 hours ago, Gaga2645 said:

 

Tbh I didn't really enjoy this performance at the time, now I really change my mind and as many others Gaga's performance and album (ARTPOP..) this was ahead of its time. 

[HookerOnAChurch 6,786]

5 hours ago, Reality said:

And Heroes!!

Yeah I hope for Heroes too. One of my favorite songs from David Bowie. 

[hELXIG 43,085]

I just wanna jump in and say that I think the reason it was seen as 'messy' to some people is because it was kinda rushed. They had a completely different concept planned and choreographed with the Intel technology, and last minute had to toss it all away and create a whole new show, which I'm sure wasn't easy with the face tracking tech etc.

The other thing is, I think a lot of fans were disappointed at the time because the original concept they had teased looked so good. Everyone was waiting for her to perform Venus on a world stage and even possibly drop a new song (because that rumour was flying around at the time because we were expecting 'LG5'). So it was a lot of excitement built up for something that didn't pan out

[Magneto 13,437]

12 hours ago, Gaga2645 said:

 

Thanks for sharing this, I really enjoyed watching it again. I don't really know Bowie that well, so I don't know if it's a good tribute, but I really like it as a Gaga performance. She is really into it, giving energy and vocals. I never really got the hate and I feel so sorry for her. His passing meant so much to her, she got the tat and everything and then all this negativity must've really stung

[OMonster 14,675]

I can understand why the performance was criticised. It could be seen in bad taste for an artist to imitate in a tribute, which is close to what Gaga did. I also don't think the intel 'tech' was anything to shout about (at all) but I think we can all agree on that one. It's a great shame the original performance was scrapped and I think Gaga would probably regret that decision, looking back. She got wrapped up in Bowie's death and was, in retrospect, too quick to throw everything at that (including pivoting to 'Joanne'), which is why the end result feels rushed. 

All of that said... I still watch this performance with awe. What I absolutely love most about it is that it's performance art - it's almost drag even. It's as close to Gaga has been to being a 'drag king' since Joe Calderone. She absolutely became Bowie in that performance and whilst I can understand why to some that could be seen as OTT or crass... to me, I just see it as Gaga. She is OTT in the best of ways. I feel for her when I reflect on the negativity this performance triggered because it's clear she enjoyed it and left her heart on the stage. I love it when she becomes another character and this performance is one of the best demonstrations of that in her career to be honest. 

Most people want a tribute to celebrate an artist... not for another artist to become that artist. Gaga took a different approach and I think it worked for her as an artist and I think it's a fascinating sight to watch her embody Bowie in the way she did. Having said that, I look ahead to that awful day when Gaga is no longer with us and I know I'd feel slightly strange if another, younger artist took to the stage in tribute to her and wore imitations of her most iconic looks, adopted her singing tone and embodied her movements. So... yeah, it's a tricky one. 

[Judas Oyster 1,915]

Was thinking about this during Christmas too as I saw a new Bowie documentary.

I liked what she did. I am no big fan of Bowie, so I cant talk about how it must feel for fans watching it.

But I never understood the hate from the son? Vocally I dont think anyone else could have sung all the songs like Gaga did in such a short time, and in between different sets and dancing routines and changing effects etc.

And she did a very creative performance. I think this stams from the son thinking Gaga was tryna look like Bowie btw with the orange hair... Son maybe thinking it was bad and that Bowie actually dropped orange hair a long time ago and has had many other album eras after that? Idk. I think he just wanted Lorde and noone else doing the performance since Bowie approved of Lorde.

I find it very sad it's taken off Youtube... I hope GP remembers it anyway by people watching Grammys and those who were there physically too.

[VOLANTIS 16,406]

She did a really great job but I wish she had performed maybe 1 or 2 songs instead of cramming all the numbers into her 5 min time slot. A huge medley can work yes but Bowie's collection is so vast and *major* that its hard to pay them justice. Imagine if someone was tributing Gaga and they go from Rah Rah ah ah ah straight into Ae-pee-pee-el-ae-you-es-see like we'd be pissed too.