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04/02/2009
Lady Gaga's Idol Performance Summed Up By Her Armpit: Rough
Those of you who read this site on a regular basis know I think Lady GaGa is the bomb, but I thought last night's performance on Idol was frightening. Gotta say I love both the acoustic and club versions of "Poker Face" but mixing them together with the violinist and the fog, and everything but the kitchen sink just wasn't working for me.
Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...
Posted 9:28 AM EST by Andy Towle in American Idol, Lady Gaga, News | Permalink
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Well, I thought it was a terrific performance. Loved the acoustic to dance transition, loved the whimsical violin, loved the fog, loved the kitchen sink.
Posted by: Jedd | Apr 2, 2009 9:49:17 AM
I thought she killed it!! Maybe I think she can do no wrong. Or maybe she's just flawless. But like you, I do think she's "the bomb." Entertainment Weekly wrote that the live performance in the theater was better than what was shown on TV. My only problem was that I didn't like how she ended the song vocally--she was obviously exhausted and I would have rather hear her sing.
But you've got to remember: Lady Gaga is over the top. So she's going to put in as much as she can into a performance. Even if that means fog and an open zipper over her eye. BANANAS!!!
Posted by: Tom S. | Apr 2, 2009 9:53:28 AM
I think she is pretty talented but I do believe that the best dance album last year was:
Bring Ya To The Brink by Cyndi Lauper.....*****
Posted by: Steven | Apr 2, 2009 9:53:50 AM
I loved the kitchen sink approach. It's nice to see a performer who isn't so homogenized yet.
Posted by: Tonic | Apr 2, 2009 9:56:18 AM
SOOOOO over-rated.
I'm tired of her already. The gays will fawn over any act with lots of make-up and big hair and an "outrageous" persona. Whatever.
Get back to me when she has some talent and not just a following. Meh.
Posted by: B-rod | Apr 2, 2009 10:03:25 AM
I thought she was terrific.
Posted by: Roger Newcomb | Apr 2, 2009 10:07:55 AM
I enjoyed that, but it did feel like there should've been more of the dance version once she got up from the piano. It felt like an even split between the two versions, when maybe the piano version would've worked better as a sort of extended intro.
Posted by: Chris | Apr 2, 2009 10:09:25 AM
im going to agree, it wasn't all that good. i haven't been an idol watcher for a couple years now, but i tuned in last night when i saw lady gaga was going to be on.
i have to say, in terms of the song version, i love them both. the album version is very peppy and makes you want to move. the thing is, the vocals are dull and the beat is monotonous....which is why i love the acoustic version. it shows that the girl actually has skill and can sing. plus, it's fun...she kind of reminds me of a drunken judy garland (so basically, a normal judy garland) when she does the acoustic :-)
Posted by: dpb | Apr 2, 2009 10:10:18 AM
Wow, Andy, gotta say I had the exact opposite reaction. I had resisted the charm of Lady Gaga and found her (partly because of your many posts) to be wildly overrated.
But after last night's mind-blowing performance, I was converted. All hail Gaga.
Posted by: crispy | Apr 2, 2009 10:19:11 AM
My thought was: What the hell was that? Followed quickly by : This person is popular?
How many other singers does she rip off in her act besides Christina Aguilera and Amy Winehouse?
I didn't "get" her the first time I saw her and I still don't.
Posted by: Mike Burns | Apr 2, 2009 10:21:40 AM
Ok - so it was little off in places but please - the woman dances and sings at the same time, she wrote the song and I've heard it sung at least 20 different ways - every performance is different. This goes to show the difference between a "singer" and an entertainer... she writes, composes, dances, sings... heck the only other one who does this is Christina...
Posted by: tommyz | Apr 2, 2009 10:37:08 AM
Didn't like her at first, but like her a lot now. She's different and talented.
For the record, Aguilera bit her style.
Posted by: Chuy Christ | Apr 2, 2009 10:48:29 AM
With a #1 hit, she doesn't have to take a risk with such an unorthodox performance in which she uses her own voice, yet she does. This is what makes her an artist and not just a package.
Posted by: Anonymous | Apr 2, 2009 10:48:39 AM
While I was increasingly getting SO OVER Lady Gaga, I actually thought last night's performance was good. Yes, her vocals were a bit weak while she danced, but that's to be expected from anyone who's not lip-synching. Hadn't heard the acoustic version before, thought it was great.
Posted by: Ugh | Apr 2, 2009 10:55:33 AM
I'm hopeful for Lady GaGa. She's done great work so far and she's got so much more to show. Hate comparisons but she has the depth of voice to hit theatrical highs like Bowie. Sorry. There it is. I said it. But she is enthralling - proven in the acoustic version of Poker Face. Just a matter of whether she can reign in her persona and develop like Bowie.
Also an issue of getting better writing done - that's a real tough one.
Also not sure if a market like today would stand for Bowie from the early 70's.
Ultimately she's fantastic whatever road she pursues.
Posted by: TimD | Apr 2, 2009 10:57:04 AM
She's fucking awful.
Just awful.
Posted by: paul c | Apr 2, 2009 11:01:09 AM
this is one of two songs I like by her--probably her greatest track. not bad.
I feel she's ALMOST there. ALMOST.
She looked like a space age Monica Vitti in that wig, btw.
Posted by: Alex | Apr 2, 2009 11:01:13 AM
Amazing performance!!
Posted by: D'luv | Apr 2, 2009 11:04:47 AM
You want to see a hilarious "rough" performance by Lady GaGa? Check out the Brit's Sunday Night Project skit of her: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UL_8B9y6rE
Posted by: ObamaTheFraud | Apr 2, 2009 11:08:07 AM
I will respectfully disagree with you. I absolutely LOVED Lady GaGa last night on AI. She's amazing and even a little armpit problem doesn't deter me from loving her. I LOVE her. I haven't been this excited about a new artist in a really really long time.
Posted by: Roy | Apr 2, 2009 11:14:12 AM
Absolutely idiotic . . .
Posted by: Shes No Lady | Apr 2, 2009 11:15:25 AM
Ahaha! Love your snarky commentary. I've never seen you type "the bomb" but please use it more regularly.
I bought 4 tickets to see her at the 9:30 club in DC and I was going to take my best friends as a birthday present to myself, but she nixed both the early AND late shows because she needed to "recover" from her exhausting AI performance. Dude, you're on tour and you do a full set every night! If one sone on TV wipes you out, how can you be on stage for two hours every night?? Anyway, they're honoring tickets for the rescheduled performances, but still.
Posted by: K | Apr 2, 2009 11:22:38 AM
COMPLETELY INFINITELY DISAGREE WITH YOU SHE ROCKED IT!
Posted by: PPH | Apr 2, 2009 11:28:33 AM
It was awesome!
The second part of the sound sounded a little underwhelming because of the shitty A.I. live band, which easily could have passed for a casio keyboard drum beat.
She deserves better than to be on the shitty show from hell anyway.
They're lucky she agreed to be on.
Posted by: Ryan | Apr 2, 2009 11:29:41 AM
totally DISAGREE with you, your analysis is OPPOSITE of mine. this performance actually make me like her, did not like her that much before this performance.
Posted by: johnosahon | Apr 2, 2009 11:33:51 AM