I am starting this with all intents and purposes to keep it brief. Also, it is rare that I would ever write an analysis of a live performance, but here goes…
When I woke up this morning to last night’s noise and ad hoc social media posts featuring dodgy YouTube links to Gaga’s much anticipated (we’ll get to why it was much anticipated) performance on Fallon I watched it immediately and also immediately understood why she chose to perform ARTPOP and the significance behind it.
It is fair to say that that campaign for ARTPOP isn’t where it was projected to be at today. Things changed, videos didn’t come out, managers/management teams were fired, promo was pulled, artists were featured on remixes that were unplanned, organic decisions and the album/single cycle was set into a bit of a spin. The darkest thing to come from all of this is the way in which the media is treating Gaga. There are now countless “this is why she flopped” articles from credible publications, blogs and even national newspapers. Why the press deems it socially acceptable to literally bully an artist to the point of obliteration is beyond me. If this sounds like my very own “leave Britney alone moment” then so be it, but I am certainly not the only person that feels this way. I cannot escape my Facebook timeline including some vested hatred towards this woman. This woman who has tirelessly built her own career and deserves every inch of success due to sheer talent, skill and love for her art (note her image post on Little Monsters after the show). When talent deserves praise, society feels it is acceptable to knock her down. Why? Because she has thick skin and can take it? Because she’s a business woman? Because they find some mild semblance of amusement in the fact that she wears her creative heart on her sleeve?
The manner in which the global media scathes this woman is comparable to homophobia, racism and sexism. It is unfair and has to stop…but back to the performance.
After almost two months of hiding away, Gaga returned to perform the title track to her album. Of every song on ARTPOP, this one surely means the most lyrically. From a depth standpoint, it is a song about her art, the misunderstanding of her art and the simple essence of wanting to create in a way that her fans and the world can appreciate. This is why a live performance of this track was so poignant. Fallon wasn’t just a promo opportunity, it was a chance to make the world understand why Gaga exists as an artist, and in my opinion it came through.
The lyrics. “A hybrid can withstand these things / my heart can beat with bricks and strings / my ARTPOP can mean anything.” The vision. A clean slate, white Balenciaga outfit with no frill, no fancy, no shoes. The talent. Perfect vocals, piano skills that prove to the masses that she is not just a recording artist, but so much more. The set design and platform. Coming down to earth, a prophecy and vision.
She will stand up for her art and passion, no matter how much she is knocked down. That’s all. Re-watch it now with this perspective in mind. Peace.