Back in 2016, Lady Gaga shocked her New York fans during a live concert at The Rainbow Room, transforming one of her greatest hits into a tune that sounded almost nothing like the original.
After collaborating with Stevie Wonder for two songs earlier in the night, Gaga’s Little Monsters assumed the pop legend was out of surprises. But her final twist not only proved what a stand-out performer she is, but also put her songwriting capabilities and passion for old school sounds on display for the world to see. And it’s got fans so enchanted that they’re straight-up calling her a ‘musical genius’ over in the YouTube comments.
This performance has since taken the internet by storm, amassing more than 2.2 million views to date. Music Man readers can watch the magic unfold in the viral video above…
So, what exactly is spurring such megalithic love for a musician renowned for her off-the-cuff performances? From her over-the-top costumes, antics, and more, you’d think Lady Gaga had run out of shock tactics. Yet this clip shows a brand new side to the star.
Lady Gaga braves transforming her dance pop anthem, ‘Bad Romance’ into a jazz ballad, tapping into a sound which is the polar opposite of her original single. Performing solo and self-accompanying with a piano, Gaga strips the song back to its bare basics, giving fans a glimpse of the track in a style closer to how it was likely originally written, before the studio producers worked their magic on it.
With soaring vocals and trippy stage lighting, ‘Bad Romance’ turns from an upbeat club track into an ethereal moment which captures the pure artistry underlying Gaga’s music. Her songwriting capabilities clearly know no bounds as she reinvents her early-career classic in a brand new style, and it’s completely changing the way fans think about the song and the legend behind it.
As one viewer wrote, ‘I never realised just how sad this song is till hearing this version,’ another top commenter wrote to the tune of 1,100 likes, ‘There’s legends and then there’s Gaga… the energy she brings to every single performance is up there with the greats. She’s a living legend and we need to appreciate that. She is not a carbon copy.’
And after being held spellbound by this rendition, Gaga’s Little Monsters are begging for a studio rendition of this version. One fan even said, ‘Really wish she would put this on a record… This version gets into my soul and leaves it wanting so much more… I can listen to it for DAYS.’