Last night GLAMOUR went along to watch Lady Gaga's artRAVE Ball at the London O2 Arena, and woah! What a night. Exploding onto the stage, it was clear from the very outset of Lady Gaga three night residency at the North Greenwich venue that she was set to go big with this one. Very big.
Don't get us wrong, we were under no illusion that this would be a low-key affair, this is Gaga we're talking about, but we didn't expect to feel exhausted from watching her perform - she gives it everything and more. If we were X Factor judges, we'd say she gave us 140 percent or something like that.
If you're off to see the artRAVE Ball, prepare for lots and lots of swearing, Gaga sure is a potty mouth. And also prepare yourself for lots of ranting, preaching and swift but awesome costume changes. Oh, and be warned: she's a fan of the thong too.
At one point in the evening she screeched to the audience, "I write my own music, and I play my own instruments and I can dance all f*cking night long!"
That single line could sum up the entire show; Gaga's voice is pitch-perfect, she plays the piano a lot during the show, and at one point she plays the guitar with the stiletto of her boot. But it's the dancing that kind of blew us away, she's constantly jumping around the stage, shaking what her momma gave her, humping the floor, and at one point she does Bruce Springsteen's favourite move - the run and slide. If she hurt her knees, she most certainly didn't let on.
If Gaga's career in music ends, she would make an exceptional life coach. It is obvious that Gaga is passionate about fighting for acceptance and creativity, telling the audience: "Artists don't need a manager or a record company, all you need is a canvas and an art brush!"
We will say one thing, Gaga's shows are ultimately for her Little Monsters - lots of paws up, sweet messages to her fanbase, and at one point she reads a letter out from Sarah, a Little Monster who suffers with Bipolar disorder. Rather sweetly, Lady G invites Sarah up on the stage and tells her that she too has to take medication and she knows exactly how she feels. She then serenades Sarah with a ballad version of Born This Way, the title track from her 2011 album.
It was all totes emosh for this Gaga-loving crowd.
Now can we talk about costumes? There was no meat-dress in sight (thank god) but the Bad Romance star gave us all kinds of concoctions; from a cartoon-like white wig, furry wings and glittery swimsuit, to a PVC catsuit, squid costume, and a silver glittery dress (that we could totally imagine her wearing on her wedding day to Taylor Kinney, FYI).
Verdict: PAWS UP FANTASTIC!
SETLIST
ARTPOP
G.U.Y.
Donatella
Venus
MANiCURE
Just Dance
Poker Face
Telephone
Paparazzi
Do What U Want
Dope
Yoü and I
Born This Way
The Edge of Glory
Judas
Aura
Sexxx Dreams
Alejandro
Mary Jane Holland
Bad Romance
Applause
Swine
Encore:
Gypsy
