It is not often possible to point to a single performance and say; ‘that moment changed popular music forever'. Rather, these acts of artistic brilliance or artistic defiance surprise us through a strong sense of either bewilderment or admiration. Is there an in-between? I don’t think so. In the late 2000s, the musical landscape showed little traces of the craziness that the eighties had brought upon us. From the tongues of Kiss, to Madonna's pointy bra and even to Bowie's infamous Ziggy Stardust; it seemed that popular music had shifted away from the vanguardism that once was. Lady Gaga did not only invent homosexuality, she also defined a shift of direction in late 2000s and early 2010s music. Whether you will love or hate the performance, I will make it utterly impossible for you to deny the cultural impact that Lady Gaga’s ‘Paparazzi’ performance at the VMA’s (2009) had on popular music. Craziness is back!
‘Amidst all of these flashing lights, I pray the fame won’t take my life’ – Lady Gaga sings into the microphone as she starts her performance of ‘Paparazzi’ dressed as something reminiscent of an erotic play doll. The ‘bubblegum pop’ vocal style of the original version is replaced with a dark, melancholic and eerie one as she continues to the first chorus. The air filled with tension as her melodramatic belted vocals were accompanied by intense choreography and a psychotic stare; it felt as if the pop princess was singing about her own death. About a minute later, an audience cam shows a whole array of reactions; from standing ovations, bewildered faces, to people looking in disgust and confusion. It was at this moment that Lady Gaga was bleeding from her abdomen, smearing blood further over her face as she sang about the everyday stalking of pop stars by the paparazzi. The blood-filled countenance that was presented during the bridge of the song was – in true Gaga fashion – followed by an even more shocking move. As the blood scattered all over the baroque and ‘Phantom of the Opera’ inspired stage design, Lady Gaga – screaming in despair – is tied to a chord by her paparazzi-like dancers. A dissonant, violin-like instrumental blasts through the speakers as Gaga is rising up into the air. It is at this moment that she took her last breath. Her microphone falls, the music stops, and the sounds of flashing lights fill the theatre space; all that is left is a dead, bleeding Gaga that is hanging from the ceiling.
Theatricality, shocking outfits and controversies made a resurgence in the years following the performance. Being the ‘new hot thing’ with multiple number ones in her debut year, Gaga set the tone for the years that followed. A nude Katy Perry on a pink cloud, Nicki Minaj in a visually distracting Harajuku outfit and even Jessie J walking on stools; they all share a sense of eccentricity. How can we explain this sudden move to vanguardism?
An artists’ exposure relies on social media coverage, newspaper headlines and, of course, prevalence in public debate. When your new rival kills herself on stage, you are left with no choice but to be controversial as well. Why? Perhaps because your main goal is to sell your music.
It has become clear that Lady Gaga's performance of Paparazzi at the 2009 VMA's has cemented itself as a turning point for early 2010s popular music. It was during this exact performance that popular music shifted into a (renewed) direction filled with camp, shock value and theatrical elements. From Katy Perry, to Rihanna, to Nicki Minaj; they all incorporated these elements into their post-2009 music videos and performances. For those who think my argument is a stretch, I invite you to watch the 2011 VMAs and compare them to the years prior. The dullness that once was found its replacement in vanguardism; every artists is bringing their A-game as they want to outdo the other. What a time it was. I am thankful to have grown up during the time when Gaga was at her craziest. Her theatricality, shock value and controversies not only defined a musical era, they also shaped my homosexual identity. Thank you, Gaga.
Lady Baba
20/03/2023
Don't forget to watch the performance through the link below!