VMA 2009 and the MAYHEM Opera House

[Alxjcgn 686]

I was revisiting old Gaga performances today and the 2009 VMA performance is always a MUST... but one thing that stuck out this time was the way the set resembled almost like an early version/idea of the MAYHEM ball set. I know she said this is the album that brings her back to her roots and inspiration, and honestly I understand it way more after going back and watching not only that performance but other ones she had done. 

Not sure if anyone else also noticed this or a thread had been made on this, but I really do think MAYHEM is Gaga truly going back to the artist she started out to become and I have so much more appreciation (if that was possible) now after taking a walk down memory lane. It makes me so happy to know one of my favorite artists really is one of the legends and I'm so happy I got to grow up watching her and how she has matured/evolved while also not changing who she is! Haha, I encourage all the fans to take that walk down memory lane whenever they feel there is a "low" or whatever, because it is such a reminder of the force of nature she is and how she is going to be remembered even after we are gone! 

Edited 17 hours ago by Alxjcgn

[Quentin 6,274]

22 minutes ago, Alxjcgn said:

she is going to be remembered even after we are gone! 

"When I die, they'll say Lady Gaga was special but her fans, her Monsters, they were really something." 

[Ziggy 12,102]

I thought the same! I think it's interesting that in one iteration she used it to tackle the duality of fame and opulence and in the other she used it to tackle the duality in herself. I always find it interesting how she returns to certain images or motifs with new intentions and meaning

[Ladle Ghoulash 27,538]

34 minutes ago, Ziggy said:

I thought the same! I think it's interesting that in one iteration she used it to tackle the duality of fame and opulence and in the other she used it to tackle the duality in herself. I always find it interesting how she returns to certain images or motifs with new intentions and meaning

Also squared with pretty well with the white lace Ga being killed and then fighting with red lace Ga (given Gaga appeared in white lace first during that performance then in red lace when she accepted the award). We stan a dramaturgically consistent QUEEN 

Edited 16 hours ago by Ladle Ghoulash

[JohnnyVersace 9,055]

100% agree and have been thinking this for a while. Even the colors of this era reflect the colors of her iconic eras/moments that were seen as "dark": Paparazzi performance, BR video, Alejandro video, BTW cover.

 

Edited 13 hours ago by JohnnyVersace

[ANVEEROY 61,491]

Queen of reheating her own nachos! 

Edited 13 hours ago by ANVEEROY

[Ladle Ghoulash 27,538]

19 minutes ago, ANVEEROY said:

Queen of reheating her own nachos! 

Queen of turning her nachos into gourmet cuisine 

[Linus Gaga 8,307]

I think that's just her whole vibe. She's always been into that stuff, like medieval times and the 14th century, classical music etc.

 

She's a pop star, but she's totally into classical music. Just look at Alejandro,Born This Way Ball, the G.U.Y.video, the Tudor watches ad, the Dom Pérignon commercial from 2023, the Chromatica interludes, the 911 video, the Chromatica Ball and its intro, and now the Mayhem Ball. It's all so theatrical, and you can tell it's just Gaga being Gaga. She never really changed, except maybe during the Joanne era, when she said she went in a completely different direction.

[ANVEEROY 61,491]

38 minutes ago, Ladle Ghoulash said:

Queen of turning her nachos into gourmet cuisine 

Indeed

[Alxjcgn 686]

5 hours ago, Quentin said:

"When I die, they'll say Lady Gaga was special but her fans, her Monsters, they were really something." 

.

Edited 11 hours ago by Alxjcgn

[Alxjcgn 686]

5 hours ago, Ziggy said:

I thought the same! I think it's interesting that in one iteration she used it to tackle the duality of fame and opulence and in the other she used it to tackle the duality in herself. I always find it interesting how she returns to certain images or motifs with new intentions and meaning

After she went through the fame herself, it's almost like at a point the fame monster became a part of MAYHEM and she had to tackle it! I love how you noticed this!

[Alxjcgn 686]

4 hours ago, Ladle Ghoulash said:

Also squared with pretty well with the white lace Ga being killed and then fighting with red lace Ga (given Gaga appeared in white lace first during that performance then in red lace when she accepted the award). We stan a dramaturgically consistent QUEEN 

And the way she manages to make the repeated looks appear "older" and more weathered as if we see them after the effect of fame! 

[Alxjcgn 686]

2 hours ago, JohnnyVersace said:

100% agree and have been thinking this for a while. Even the colors of this era reflect the colors of her iconic eras/moments that were seen as "dark": Paparazzi performance, BR video, Alejandro video, BTW cover.

 

OMG this is an amazing take I didn't even think about! YAS! and with Chromatica being all about color, it shows she still is keeping the idea and energy alive!

[Alxjcgn 686]

1 hour ago, ANVEEROY said:

Queen of reheating her own nachos! 

No the nachos went bad/expired and she said how do I make another dish of everyone's favorite recipe in a fresh way! I'm sorry you're not seeing the concept here 

[Alxjcgn 686]

1 hour ago, Ladle Ghoulash said:

Queen of turning her nachos into gourmet cuisine 

She made us BETTER nachos and delivered! We have to remember she went through ****ing hell throughout her career and always fought! "She can put her sword down"- Gaga on Colbert when talling about how Stefani and Gaga may clash

It really just shows how someone can go through hell while still giving us amazing music to narrate her journey, and then make an impeccable return to what she truly wanted to do (This is at least how I see MAYHEM)