I didn’t come into the Super Bowl Half-Time show with many expectations. I knew it would involve Lady Gaga, lots of drones, and I sort of believed Gaga when she said that she wouldn’t be doing some huge political statement. I figured she wouldn’t do a meat dress and I guessed that she would do some kind of shoutout to LGBTQ rights. At the end of the day, I came away pretty impressed with Gaga’s show. She didn’t bring in any guest stars – despite doing “Telephone,” which would have been a perfect opportunity for a Beyonce cameo, RIGHT??? – and there were no screw-ups. I felt like she was singing live throughout and chica’s got pipes. She also stuck to her biggest hits, most of which are more than five years-plus in the rearview. Also: Gaga wore Versace throughout the show and I didn’t feel like her body was exposed, so at least there wasn’t a “Janet Jackson moment.”
Gaga started on the roof, singing “God Bless America” and “This Land Is Your Land” (which read as a political statement, because that’s where we are, peeps) while hundreds of drones got in formation behind her to make a LIT American flag in the sky above Houston. Then Gaga JUMPED. She was on wires, of course.
Yeah, I was into it. I was into “Just Dance,” “Poker Face,” “Born This Way” and “Telephone” and I think it was a great call to use “Bad Romance” as the finale. Some people were like “Gaga slayed, best Half-time show ever!” I wouldn’t go that far. Gaga exceeded expectations, absolutely. She did a great job, for sure. But let’s be clear: there was absolutely room for MOAR Beyonce and MOAR Black Panthers.
What else? Gaga announced her new world tour right after the Super Bowl. And apparently her Half-time show was the most-tweeted-about Half-time show in history. Which I find hard to believe, just because BEYONCE MADE US GET INTO FORMATION last year.
There is this great GIF though.
Lady Gaga showing the patriots how to catch a football #SuperBowl #TomBrady pic.twitter.com/93MmQmx2Oo
— Adrian Smith (@asmith906) February 6, 2017
Photos courtesy of Getty.
It was good and enjoyable – I can’t complain and I’m not a fan of her
Judging by the comments here, I’m
The loner. I loved it! That ending was awesome. Like, I smiled. Bruno Mars is my all time fav 🙂
She looks so good healthy and rocked it, great job.
Nope, you’re not the only one. I think she did a fantastic job. I’m not a fan, but I have to say that’s the best one I’ve seen in a very long time.
I loved it too.
Well Beyonce was CHILLING last year amid the black lives matter movement – she brought a Malcolm X black panther theme. That was BOLD. Yes I had to use caps because that was a strong career choice. To compare, Gaga’s was more subtle with David Bowie type make up (IMO) plus born this way with the finale of “bad romance” (the US w the orange thing??) So for me Beyonce was direct, but we all know Gaga doesn’t do direct political very well (I can’t unsee that Egg or meat dress). Of course Gaga was a pro and will have a sold our concert tour and maybe can get in more politics in the near future?
That was the MOST INCREDIBLE, MOST MOVING performance I have ever seen in my life. Wow, she has the best voice of any woman on the planet, and her body is to die for. She is also drop-dead gorgeous. I think I have a girl crush. It brought me to tears.
I’m in total agreement. She killed it. Smashing voice, amazing physicality. Did she sing live for the whole thing? I’m a singer and I could not have done all that dancing and still be able to sing along. It was so well done.
I loved it. I went gaga.
Needlehole I thought she was great!!!The best half time in awhile.Good job Gaga.
I’m not a fan either but I respected that she sang live and danced. Very high energy. I thought she did great. I enjoyed it more than I expected.
Didn’t watch it, but I guess I may have to. Only heard good things about it, and she looked great.
It was alright, nothing surprising or special.
I think she looked like a drunk dangling spider coming down a Web when she was suspended in air. But it was just alright. At least we know she wasn’t lip synching, she didn’t sound that good.
It was not great but she can really sing.
I totally agree….it didnt blow my mind. I think she needed a special guest to jazz it up a bit
Nothing surprising or special…you have to be kidding.
I don’t think some people have the ability to appreciate great performance art. That performance was spectacular in every sense of the word. She’s amazing, the dancing and choreo was amazing, the production was amazing…
Yep.Considering you only have a certain amount of time to do thingClothes changes and breaking down set’s and letting a certain amount of people in the half time.She was great.
Just because ‘some people’ do not enjoy the same things you do does not mean they are unappreciative, ‘some people’ just do not share your tastes.
The middle school aged kids I watched it with kept saying it was “bad”. I had to school them in “opinion” versus how to assess actual skill and artistry/originality. Gaga jumped out of the ceiling FFS, then sang and danced nearly flawlessly. Also, the audience seemed to have some computer choreographed thing by holding lights in a specific way- how’d they pull that off- and very original. Overall it had a subtle political message with professional skill.
I love Beyonce but not everything has to be Beyonce all the time. Gaga was great in her own right.
Thank you! Let’s give her credit and allow her to enjoy her moment.
YES. This.
I am so over Beyonce.I don’t think she did anything special.I was at a huge party last night and if anything they were glad she wasn’t there.
ITA, it doesn’t have to be about Beyoncé all the time (and I’m also a big Beyoncé fan). Gaga put on a great show, and her voice was fantastic. I forgot how many really catchy songs she’s had; I had “Telephone” looping in my head almost all of last night, lol.
Agreed. I’m pretty much Beyonce’d out for this lifetime. Glad she didn’t make an appearance.
Couldn’t agree more.
THANK YOU @Georgia!
People go there and do their best and everybody is all “Beyonce could do it, she could be there” and there’s room for everybody, it was Gaga’s show, she did well and should be praised for it.
Agreed. I love Bey but Lady Gaga deserves her own moment in the spotlight. She nailed it with the vocals, dancing and the theatricality. I just wish she slipped in some more “in your face” politics.
Agreed! Lady Gaga was awesome.
Yes!! Perfectly said!!!
YESSS! Beyonce did it last year and in 2013. She doesn’t need to be there every year. There are other artists. I love Beyonce, too, but I really have to roll my eyes at the folks who think she needs to do every award show and big event, ever, all the time.
I told my husband Lady Gaga would have made sense for Super Bowl 2012, but not this one. However, she did a great job, especially considering the extra scrutiny she was under this year. I really hope this appearance helps orchestrate a comeback for her.
Just what I wanted to say 🙂
It was a great show, and she did it really good, with some great visuals and everything. I would love to have Beyoncé every minute every day, but this was Gagas show and even though I’m not a fan – she shined.
Agreed. And the woman can sing, which is doubtful with Beyoncé. Her dancing was pretty good also. I think it’s better than recent ones.
Not a massive Gaga fan but man she put in effort, she really tries and dammit I appreciate that
Loved the use of drones. Her voice was great all throughout and I think it was a good choice to have no guests as it kept the attention on her which was her end goal I think. That exit was epic.
The real reason artists bring guests is to provide the audience with a litttle more flavor. Its the most watched event of the year. More than half you audience are not going to be into your music, so you bring in people to compliment it. That was Gagas big failing, I think. She is a consumate performer and I enjoyed that part but I detest her hits. They have this icky 80s pop sound that just grinds my teeth. She should have brought in someone to mix it up.
I loved it, and I agree, the drones were pretty damn amazing!
Loved it, I thought she was great…even if you don’t like her music, she was entertaining.
Could have used a Beyonce cameo. It was Bey’s hometown, dangit!
It exceeded my expectations and was actually pretty spectacular. She really did a great job and did seem to do it live. I loved the shout out to her mom and dad. Also, I am glad she did not waste time on Perfect Illusion because that song is awful.
Gaga crushed it. I’m not her biggest fan, but man that half time show was awesome. She made a political statement while being patriotic, which was smart.
This land was made for you and me.
Agreed. It exceeded my expectations and I loved the dancing and that fact she sang live the entire time. She’s a great entertainer and worked it. I thought it was pretty great.
Same. Not a fan at all but she was incredible last night.
She got it across that diversity is what makes our country great in a very contemporary yet patriotic show. In a way that brings people together not in a controversial way. Lots of old conservative people listened to born this way and it didn’t send them into a hate spiral. That was very thoughtful and planned to show support to everyone . Well done .
I agree, her patriotic song choice was perfect, and I think the whole thing was very entertaining. I like some of her songs and think she has a good voice, but most of the time she annoys me. This, however, was well done.
I applaud her for doing some live singing too, that has to be hard in that environment.
I missed the guest opportunity. For me, seeing two artists/groups perform that otherwise wouldn’t (see: Bruno Mars and RHCP) is always so much fun. But Gaga killed it anyway!
Slightly disappointed. Alex Jones of InfoWars claimed Lady Gaga would be performing a satanic ritual at half-time. 😉
No but really, it was a great show.
Haha. Yes, I saw that. I youtubed the performance and he came up as a suggested video. He called her the “whore of Babylon that the beast will ride in on”. I too was searching for a beast riding on her back. Perhaps, the beast was one of her dancers?
Perhaps he was talking about Madonna’s halftime show. LOL!
That’s crazy Bleu moon!
I know, right? It’s also crazy that our President has appeared on Alex Jones’ show. And by “crazy” I mean “terrifying.”
“God Bless America” and “This Land Is Your Land” (which read as a political statement, because that’s where we are, peeps) ”
Actually yes. This was a hugely political statement. Woody Guthrie wrote protest songs. He despised “God Bless America” and wrote “This Land is Your Land” as a response. The song is a deeply political protest anthem. One way to dilute a protest is to co-opt it, which is what has happened to “This Land is Your Land.” They teach the chorus in schools but don’t teach much beyond the first verse and those verses show a bleak, poor, depression-era United States.
Not only that but wrote a poem about Trumps racist landlord father who he despised. It might be coincidence but i doubt it.
I think she made as much of a statement as she could contractually. It was subtle and clever.
I was hoping for the “this land is your land” statement and was not disappointed. It’s a protest song from the past and a rallying cry for our present.
Yeah, it seemed clear that she made a statement by choosing Guthrie.
She should’ve gone a bit more orange to go with the comb-over.
In-depth explanation:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/02/06/if-you-thought-lady-gagas-halftime-show-was-apolitical-consider-the-origin-of-this-land-is-your-land/?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_this-land-mm-850am%3Ahomepage%2Fstory
Can’t say if Gaga is aware or not of all the lyrics.
Given the way she handled the two songs, I suspect she is aware of the history and the lyrics.
I’m sure she’s well aware of the song’s origins and its lyrics. She doesn’t strike me as a dumb bunny.
It was funny to see all these conservatives loving her on Twitter simply because she didn’t make a political statement…meanwhile, she did make one, just not blatantly. It was savvy.
I’m not sure I follow. How were they identifiable as conservatives?
I thought she was fab, why can’t it just be about how good she was and not about Beyoncé and the black panthers.
I tuned into the Super Bowl halftime show to be entertained and entertained I was. It was one of the best performances in years. I’m glad it was rather apolitical. A fifteen minute breather was welcome.
This is the Gaga I LOVE and missed so much. Not all that artsy fartsy crap she keeps dishing.
This is what made her famous. She is a great performer.
Plus she looks amazing. Her legs are great.
+100
God, her old songs really are incredible.
I remember hearing Bad Romance for the first time all those years ago and thinking this is right up there with some of the best pop songs ever made.
It still holds up after all this time.
Absolutely!
Yup it’s the bomb. Nice live singing too. She has a similar energy as Bruno Mars. They both come off as for the people not themselves
Exactly this. There is the same sense of earnestness and fun when they perform-they are there performing for the audience.
I had my chips, dip and side-eye all ready for the show but, alas, I loved it. She was in good voice and didn’t seem hellbent on quenching her thirst. Bey is Super Bowl GOAT for me but I really enjoyed GaGa’s performance. She has a beautiful voice.
I’m really sick of women performing in jewelled leotards and bikinis.
Manjit, I feel she was more dressed like a cheerleader and she also wore a football padding top at one point. Actually, her outfits were less revealing than the cheerleaders.
Best Half time show, Ever? No! Was it a great performance? Absolutely!! I am beyond ecstatic, grateful Beyoncé did not make an appearance!!!!
I find it funny how nobody, nobody at all, not a single person commented on her outfit by telling her to cover up and “oh won’t she think about the children” which leads me to believe that you Americans generally have a problem with The curvy black woman. If Beyoncé wore that exact same thing (and she does All the time) you all would be all in arms policing her body and commenting on how inappropriate it is and it’s a damn shame because that only happens cos she’s black
She has such a nice belly. She only showed her belly and legs and you’re right they aren’t curvy I mean they’re fine but not quite bootilcious. That said I don’t recall people complaining here about bey either
Ssssh, we’re not supposed to hold white feminists accountable for their misogynoir and white supremacist double standards, that would be ~divisive.
Beyonce wore an exact same (coverage-wise) full bodysuit and boots outfit during her superbowl performance and the only thing people said was that it looked like Michael Jackson and then there was some commentary on Black Power.
Nothing I recall about too revealing on account of Bey’s curves.
@Hunter, that is not true at all. People called her trashy, classless, a terrible role model etc. White feminists always talk about black female sexuality in a way that categorises us and our bodies as inherently savage & indecent.
She was good and did make a political statement, maybe too subtle for the trumpsters.
I noticed VP Pence was attending the game. Wonder what he thought when Gaga sang “Born this Way”? I thought it was a great halftime show
I was glad she included that one – as much as I still hear it as a rip off of Madonna’s express yourself, the lyrics are important.
I thought it was the best half-time show since Prince’s 10 years ago. Loved her social commentary from using a protest song (“This Land is Your Land”), her theme of inclusiveness already woven throughout her music by singing “Born This Way”. I thought it was a fab performance.
“I believe in a passion for inclusion. I believe in the spirit of equality and the spirit of this country. It’s one of love and compassion and kindness. So my performance will uphold those philosophies.”
Mike Pence was there, and I was just really happy thinking about him watching her sing “Born this Way”
Yep him and any bigot watching for that matter!
most of her songs that she sang were from a half-decade ago… it just tells you, she is a has-been popstar.. and it kind of made me see other popstars with another perspective. the beyonce, rihanna, taylor swift, katy perry of the world. they have been putting out albums and always had hit songs. but Gaga… as talented as she is, her “the fame” album was super but then the born this way , applause. nah… constant flop… Lady Gaga is a one hit wonder.
Well she couldn’t do her Tony Bennett duets. Plus, didn’t she just go up for an Academy Award last year for her song? And most people go up there and do their greatest hits for the super bowl because that’s what everyone wants.
ETA: and this woman can sing, dance and play the piano.
i’m not going to say lady gaga is totally groundbreaking but she is and always has been a solid a+ pop star. she nailed this performance because she is talented and a total professional. if this performance was any indication she is at least a 7 hit wonder.
I agree, Lizzie
It was definitely better than Katy Perry’s (was it last year or the year before?)
I agree. I read on laineygossip, someone wrote that the only thing people remember about katy perry’s concert was left shark.hahaha. they also mentioned that missy elliot saved the whole half time.gaga did good, she deserves her credit.
I thought she did awesome… way better than I expected, TBH. I’m glad she stuck to her best material. She sounded good (at least she was singing live). I loved it from beginning to end!
Love her always did. She was awesome!!
I’ve always liked Gaga, and I liked her performance. I was surprised at how tame it was, though. I was hoping her show would be a bit more pointed.
I really couldn’t care less about her music but her lyrics and her weirdness were most certainly enough to annoy bigots, racists and every other predjudiced person out there. It was a good choice. When you pay attention to Born this Way it’s as comprehensive as it gets. Her music may not mean anything to me, but her message is meaningful and the choice of This Land is Yor Land was really provocative under the unsane El Trumpito presidency and considering the location & the type of event (see SNL’s Totino’s skit).
And I love that she is not toned to death, or unhealthily skinny. Her tiny little belly roll was very very cute and her body is banging because it is hers, she takes good care of it but not to reach any impossibly demanding standard.
Woody Guthrie would have been proud. There was a political artist for ya.
I loved her little mini-muffin top too. 🙂
I’m obsessed with her sexy little belly!!
Yeah, my circle of friends is still airpunching the she sang so much of Born This Way to Mike “Conversion Therapy” Pence. Plus snuck some extra lyrics in there to make it more inclusive of refugees, as well.
For someone under orders from the NFL to keep it apolitical , she got mighty political!
I was not impressed not because it wasn’t political enough which I really don’t care about that aspect of it. I expected it to be over the top theatrical like the lady Gaga of old and I didn’t get that here.
It was no Beyoncé or Prince but it was good.
I love her weirdness, too, and hope it did annoy some people. Her great multi-talented self is beyond wonderful and entertaining. She doesn’t fit easily into any slot, except magnificently creative. I love her diverse dancers all around too. This Land Is Your Land was I guess as best she dare mix in a bit of politics. It was all spectacular. But for some crazy sad reason the Patriots came out stronger and the Falcons weaker after that.
In terms of actual talent (voice), she’s exceptionally mediocre. Beyonce, too. Without the histrionics, Gaga would be nothing…. obviously, she’s shrewd enough to know it and what people will eat up. Without her beauty, Beyonce wouldn’t have gotten anywhere. She knew enough to play up her sex appeal and beauty.
Personally I have heard Gaga sing minus “histrionics” and she has a powerful wonderful voice with an awesome range. Where many other performers no longer sing live during such big events, she was able to pull it off and hold her own beautifully imo.
I’ve heard it, too. She’s not that good. A few notes are beautiful, but, overall, she’s pretty weak and nondescript. I think that people’s expectations aren’t too high when she sings another genre or they don’t know what to expect, so, they’re impressed by less when she does it straight. Pit her against a truly good singer and you’ll hear a big difference.
I wouldn’t call myself a Gaga fan, but her performance at the Kennedy Center Honors almost knocked me out of my chair. She sang If I Ever Lose My Faith in You, and brought tears to Sting’s eyes. And he even took a little gasp when she started singing. Unlike Madonna and many others, her voice is her strength, not the performance, IMO. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEedn0GXp30
I am somewhat consoled after that heartbreaking loss that the living spirit of David Bowie persists in Lady Gaga. I say that as an enormous fan of Bowie. Gaga has some of his magic.
And it was low-key political as heck. To sing “Born This Way” in front of Mike Pence? I hope he choked on it as bad as my Dirty Birds choked the second half of the game.
No, just no, stop it, there was only ever one David Bowie, there will only ever be one David Bowie and this Madonna/ everybody else rip off is most certainly NOT nor ever will be Bowie.
Bowie in 1972
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI66hcu9fIs
and again Life on Mars in released 1971
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v–IqqusnNQ
Ashes to Ashes – 1980
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMThz7eQ6K0
I could go on
For me there’s only one Bowie, but I recognize his influence on her and celebrate it.
PLEASE, someone tell me how she got all that sparkley makeup off her eyes and was able to do a flawless clean eye in about 10 seconds – or less. My husband thinks she was wearing a mask, but if that was a mask, it was the best, most form-fitting, most mobile mask in the world.
Does someone know how this was possible??
Maybe it was a decal?
I’ve seen products that are sort of a peel off face paint, I figured it was something like that.
Definitely a peel-off sticker job with traditional eyeliner & makeup underneath.
Love that after she did the patriotism, then Poker Face, a song about being secretly attracted to women, and Born This Way, about accepting EVERYONE regardless of race, sexual orientation, gender identity…
What makes it so well played is that those were the original lyrics. Those have always been her words. She’s not choosing to make a statement now that we’re in trouble. She’s always stood for equality. Bey can be such an enigma and she wants it that way (I adore her). But Gaga showed us her true colors, always has.
I also have to second Karmacoma – Bad Romance will go down as one of the greatest pop songs of all time. I learned the choreography in high school and was doing it along with them last night! I
I thought it was better because Beyoncé wasn’t there, they need to switch it up. But different strokes for different folks. Some of her dance moves were so strange, but fun to watch too. And my kids loved her jumping and spider looking fall. Entertaining. That’s what the half time show is supposed to do. And she got in some political points too. Great job.
Gaga delivered the best half time show in years.
She sang, “No matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgender life, I’m on the right track, baby, I was born to survive” in front of 110-million-PLUS people, many of whom are bible-thumping Trumpets. HOW IS THAT NOT SUBVERSIVE. DROP that f**king mic, girl.
Immediately after singing This Land is Your Land and in front of homophobe Pence.
Amen.
And all my conservative friends that were warning and being warned to turn it off because it wasn’t suitable for children were going on and on how happy they were she didn’t get political. Lol!!! Blind and deaf.
I thought her approach was just great to pull in new, young fans who may have been told by their parents that she’s the devil incarnate. She was smiling, singing well and truly seemed sincere. More new Monsters are waking up this morning–and in the mostly unlikely, trumpian places no doubt! 🙂
The idea that NEW Little Monsters have been been born — who might never have had the chance to really connect otherwise — is absolutely wonderful.
They didn’t even notice it. Even Mike Huckabee on twitter praised her show and for not getting political.
I found it odd more of the far right wings weren’t up in arms over the lyrics of Born This Way. One lady posted that Gaga performed it as one of her many big hits, not to make a statement about gay rights. Wow. The lyrics are in your face but they are just bopping along, not really paying attention to the significance of the lyrics.
They are dense.
I liked her performance, not quite her usual out there performances but still good. She has a very good voice.
I’m not a Lady Gaga fan and I thought it was great. I also thought she was singing live and was impressed. She can’t dance, though. She doesn’t seem to have much muscle control over her legs, they sort of flailed about.
I thought the subtly of her political statement was perfect. Yes you can love your country and want it to be better, yes you can have a different opinion and voice it without alienating people. It’s even possible it will win more hearts and minds than the current strategy.
Her songs are out of date at this point. She has the voice and the skills, she could have done some amazing work by paying homage to musicians from different backgrounds. She could have done something really special. Instead she played it safe and narcissistic by replaying my 2012 workout playlist minus the metal. Good job but a missed opportunity to show America the phenomenal contributions of the Black, Gay, and New American communities.
Most superbowl performers sing their own songs. That’s what they do. Surprise!
Thus I said it was good and safe but not amazing or anything special. Also, dated.
Just a bit of correction, Lady Gaga didn’t jump from the roof of NRG stadium; nor were the drones actually in the Houston sky. That portion was filmed in advance, then Lady Gaga repelled down from half-way above the stage. Still a pretty cool intro.
She sure as hell pulled off a good show.
I don’t get all the praise….The performance was terrible. Sloppy all around. She needs to fire her creative director. She has a strong voice, but incredibly mediocre material. Lady Gaga is what happens when everyone gets a participation trophy just for showing up. Or they are told they “can be anything they want”. I’m not sure how she has been elevated to the status that she has. I don’t get it….but I don’t begrudge those that do.
I thought the performance was great. It’s not easy to put together a short show like that, with a stage being put together right before.
It was disappointing to realize she didn’t start out performing live on the roof and then jump off. That was all pre-recorded.
Still, I loved the performance. It is sad she basically had to sing mostly her first two albums. She hasn’t got much radioplay in years from her more recent albums. People are raving over her older music, not her newer music. That’s bad when you are this young. At least, this performance got some needed attention back on her new album. And Million Reasons is back up there as a single.
It was pretty good, in that she’s an excellent performer even if she’s not my thing. Almost made me regret not seeing Queen + Gaga a bit, but I stand by the fact that I couldn’t have stomached her fronting Queen, even if she is a good performer and musician. I guess it always rubbed me the wrong way how she constantly “paid tribute” to Queen.
She has more charisma in her pinky than beyonce has in her entire body.
I thought she did great. Really great. I was impressed by her singing and the choice of songs, especially “This Land Is My Land.”
That being said, I would have really dug it if the lights flashed “RESIST” in between “Just Dance.” 🙂
What’s with the Bey comparisons? Beyonce is on her own level as a performer, no one else co-occupies at the moment and her SB half-time show was a perfect reflection of where’s she at at this point in time. Gaga’s was also fantastic and reflected her style as a performer.
Great choreography, strong vocals, dazzling effects and amazing energy – and I’m no Gaga fan in general. She more than redeemed herself for that awful Bowie tribute last year imo.
I thought it was great.
she looked great, great routine.
Lousey game.