Concert Review: Lady GaGa [The Fame Ball Tour]

The Fame Ball Tour

March 27th, 2009; Bronson Centre (Ottawa, Ontario)

Lady GaGa featuring Chester French & The White Tie Affair

Lady GaGa’s concert on March 27th, 2009 at the Bronson Centre in Ottawa, Ontario was more than just a concert. It was an entertaining show displaying this generation’s pop princesses strong vocals, energetic dance routines, fashion trendy dresses and overall ability to put on a completely live and entertaining concert. There aren’t many singers these days that can complete all those tasks and still sing live.

After two opening acts (Chester French & White Tie Affair...I didn't like the latter band), GaGa finally claimed her throne: the stage. Starting with a cool video intro that ended with “My name is Lady GaGa and this is my hausss…”, Lady GaGa appears on stage in a big costume performing future single, Paparazzi. In this costume, GaGa was almost pinned to the spot, but delivered a breathtaking performance of the song. Immediately after Paparazzi, GaGa performed a snippet of Starstruck before jumping into LoveGame, her third North American single. Using the aid of a disco stick, backup dancers and cool costumes, Lady GaGa gave this song more than justice with an amazing performance. The show continued with Beautiful Dirty Rich, The Fame, and Money Honey, which were all energetic and heavy dance and routine oriented performances. In between these performances GaGa told the audience, “People say Lady GaGa is a lie. That’s true, I am a lie….and I fight to make that the truth every day”. This was not only a message to the haters, but a way of showing her humbling personality. She slowed it down a little with the next performance of Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say); a song about moving on. For the performance, she rides on a old fashioned Vespa , which fits in with the old-school tone of the song and the accompanying music video. Upon completion of the song, GaGa left the stage to take a break and change costumes and left Parisian DJ, Space Cowboy to do an instrumental interlude. For those unfamiliar with Space Cowboy, he is a UK based DJ who has produced tracks and remixes for Nadia Oh, Fergie, as well as Lady GaGa on her songs Starstruck and Christmas Tree.

GaGa’s return in a bubble outfit that was not only remarkable, but also genius. It was time to slow it down for an acoustic piano performance of Poker Face and new song, Future Love. This not only showcased Lady GaGa’s amazing vocals, but her connection with the fans. Before performing Poker Face, GaGa told her fans it was the last time she would perform the song when she is 22 (her birthday was a day after the concert).Before she could continue (or finish) her sentence, the auditorium began to sing, (in a perfect chorus ),“Happy Birthday”. GaGa began to cry and could not sing her song without choking on her tears. She told her fans that she would play the piano, and they could complete the song, “I can’t even complete the fucking song”. As the fans sang the song, she remained in tears and finally got it together for the performance of Future Love. The song, which does not appear on any album or release, is a sweet but crude song where she sings, “I wanna f-f-f-f-fuck you Japan”. At the end of the song, she told her fans that she doesn’t care if they came to see her or to criticize her, or whatever, but as long as they have a good time at the show, she’d be content. She went on to sing her hit #1 single, Just Dance before ending the show. It was evident she saved the best for last as; the performance was filled with energy and enthusiasm. After leaving the crowd anticipating for more, GaGa returned to perform an encore featuring her dance oriented Boys Boys Boys and the original version of her second #1 single, Poker Face. Both of these songs were given incredible performance and gave a conclusion where everyone longed for more.

Overall, the performance showed what a pop show should look like. GaGa successfully delivered a lively and energetic concert that’s only flaw was too short of a set list. Combining fashion, heavy choreography, live vocals, and crowd interactions, GaGa showed that she is an artist that is here to stay.