Lady Gaga asks Charlottesville out to the Monster Ball

Zaynah Akeel

Staff Writer

Whether you’re a fan of Lady Gaga or you’d rather have nothing to do with her, you must admit one thing: Lady Gaga is an entertainer, and she certainly knows her trade. At a concert on Wednesday, Sept. 8, at the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Gaga put on a fabulous display of this talent, with Kid Cudi opening.

The show featured club beats more intense than on her albums, a serious LGBT support message, incredible back-up dancers and costume changes covered up by short videos featuring Gaga.  The show was held together by a basic premise: Gaga and her friends were on their way to the Monster Ball, the best dance party in the world, which happened to be held in Charlottesville, Va., but their car broke down – not to worry, though; Gaga was going to get them there. Maybe part of their car’s issues were caused by the fact that Gaga had stashed a keyboard under the hood, but no one really seemed to mind.  This was followed by a wonderful rendition of “Disco Stick,” reminiscent of the song’s music video, as Gaga, wearing a familiar sexy nun headpiece and latex translucent costume, danced with her friends as they tried to take the subway to the party.

At a time Gaga designated her favorite part of the show, she stood at the end of the runway making its way into the crowd in the standing area and called a member of the audience who had contributed $1 to the charity of her choice. A dorky guy, who was awfully calm despite the fact that he was talking on speakerphone to Lady Gaga herself, answered and was rewarded with backstage time with the star after the show. After this, people started showering gifts on Mother Monster – someone tossed up a grey bejeweled UVA t-shirt, and she put it on over her signature studded bra, despite seeming obviously uncomfortable in it. “I never wear t-shirts; this is, like, against my religion,” she mentioned as she sat at the piano that had just risen from under the stage.

Indicative of the entire premise of the show, Gaga said to the crowd, “You know what I hate? I hate the truth. I’d rather have a big dose of bull**** than the truth.” The crowd screamed in agreement – but then again, they agreed with everything Gaga said. Before launching into a rousing version of “Speechless,” she shared with the audience that she had dated a boy who went to UVA when she was sixteen – but it hadn’t lasted too long because she lied to him about her age. She also implied that she had written the song for people she had been in relationships with but who disappointed her in some way (she didn’t put it quite so nicely, of course) – many diehard Gaga fans might have been confused at this point, as Gaga had previously attributed the song as an effort to get her father to go under the knife for an important heart surgery he had been putting off for many years. Despite this, the performance involved her playing the piano with a very high-heeled foot, standing on the guitar being played by a long-haired shirtless man next to her, and a swirling vortex of fire issuing from the top of her piano.

One of the most noteworthy costumes Gaga wore was a white sparkling cape and head piece, which moved independently and seemed almost to breathe with independent life. She walked around in transparent platform heels as her headpiece furled and unfurled itself.

The show took on the S&M feeling we were all expecting when Gaga and her friends ended up in a scary version of Central Park after a twister had carried them there, and Gaga became covered in blood as she sang “Teeth,” and people ate her heart and brain. Most of this audience was in love with Gaga for this kind of openness and celebration of culture that is often hidden or discounted.

“It felt like everything covered in the media and in her public appearances are the installation, the gallery piece, while the concert was the mission statement,” said VCU student Benjamin Snider. “The show, while contrived in ways, felt sincere. The prepared speeches, authentic expressions. … The show and the artist are still not for everyone, but that is just half of the act.”

The climax of the show was absolutely the huge pilot-fish inspired “Fame Monster” which attacked Gaga with tentacles controlled by camouflaged dancers and seemed to basically destroy her until it was suddenly defeated, and Gaga appeared triumphant and in a different costume than she had been wearing at the beginning of the song.

The greatest thing about seeing a Lady Gaga concert seems to be the reminder that she is an actual musician: Guitarists, keyboardists, a violinist with a hot pink, V-shaped violin that was actually a part of her dress, and even a very passionate harpist were among the musicians accompanying Gaga. “This was not just a concert, but an all out show with a plot and purpose. She had many messages and all were communicated beautifully,” said VCU student Sarah Smith. As Gaga closed the show with “Bad Romance” from on top of a pedestal as sliver rings circled her, which was reminiscent of a G-force accelerator, one could only think that, despite the fanfare, Gaga reall is an artist that gives her audience the feeling that they are a part of something larger than themselves.  We were all in attendance at The Church of Gaga, even those of us who aren’t very religious.