It was only in 2009 when we first saw Lady Gaga in her show here at the Araneta Coliseum. She was still the carefree, party-wheeling girl, dishing out Poker Face and Just Dance to her local fans here in Manila. Three years hence and Lady Gaga creates a maelstrom of controversy as she swept through several Asian capitals. Even Manila did not escape from the controversy, as calls came to cancel her concert and a lot of unsavory things were said about her. I bet those people don't even have a copy of her CD or at least, downloaded her songs. Frankly, I was just glad that they did not cancel her shows here. At least there are still people in the government who had the good sense of distinguishing whether she was Satanic or not (whatever that meant).
As for the show tonight, the Lady certainly pulled out all the stops in almost each of her songs. Did she wear weird things? You bet! The weirdest ones for me was her introduction to Born This Way. Was that a huge inflated pregnant doll? And the first song too - was she supposed to be the alien there who was in THAT Sigourney Weaver classic? Did she go nude? Please!! She has more sense to know not to do that! Did she have a fantastic set? You bet! She brought us to the Medieval Ages as her castle opened and closed as it pleased and changed colors from red to green to blue to white - to suit the moods of her songs.
Did she do anything Satanic? Well, there was that horn thing she wore in the first part which resembled something that I saw in a horror movie, but it was in white, so I guess the color dispelled any bad interpretation. Did she have boys kissing each other? Almost!! It was more like flirting and caressing each other - but not for long - maybe just 30 seconds or so - and it was for the song Alejandro! Anyone who has seen the video would know it was in context of THAT video. So people weren't shocked or surprised anymore.Did she do anything shocking? Nothing that a jaded veteran concert goer like me has not seen before. I guess the most shocking sequence in a concert that I have seen was in Madonna's concert 10 years ago where there was this looooonngg orgy scene of about 10 couples just going at it each other. At that time, I had never seen two guys (gorgeous guys!) make out in public, so it was a real baptism of fire!
I am impressed though that Lady Gaga has continued to be vocal of her support for the gay community. Nobody, as in nobody really, in the celebrity world - of her equal stature - does that! And I go to every concert! Most performers would just sing. Nobody really talks about their causes or says "Save the whales' or 'Save the environment'. But last night, at different parts of her concert, she said out loud her support against homophobia, and the fight for equal rights! That was really brave of her! That made me admire her more - for her courage. Not even Kylie Minogue or Madonna says that out loud in their concerts.
Lady Gaga has certainly taken her activism a notch higher - and I guess that's how celebrities should really use their influence!"I am not a creature of your government, Manila!" Gaga boldly says before she sang Judas - probably her most controversial song of the lot. In my opinion, Madonna has actually used more controversial symbols before like burning crosses and she being crucified on the cross - and that was in the late 80s - so you see why it would be controversial at that time.
Lady Gaga is just, to put it bluntly, weird and gutsy and wildly creative - and she loves her fans so much - and in the show, constantly reminding everyone of the beauty of their uniqueness and individuality. She definitely walks her talk.Her show 3 years ago was more of a dance party - last night, it was a homage and celebration of everything distinctive and brave and imaginative from Lady Gaga to each one of us in the audience!
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