Sitting on the stool at her unique piano, designed as if on a bed of crystals, Lady Gaga took a break from her hit-filled setlist on her artRAVE: The ARTPOP Ball tour to pay tribute to a song that influenced her own sound. Tackling 4 Non Blondes’ iconic ’90s track, ‘What’s Up?’, Gaga started the cover in a delicate way that contrasted with the original track. Music Man fans will be amazed when they hear how the performance then transformed, as Gaga took things in a completely different direction.
Embracing the rock-style vocals that many casual listeners will be surprised to hear from the pop legend, Lady Gaga developed the cover into a passionate and powerful moment, her vocals tearing through the chorus. Fans who watched online were amazed by the emotion in her performance, one commenting, “You can’t fake that emotion. She feels this song deep in her soul.” The video has now reached over 18 million views, as fans continue to return to the performance over 10 years later.
I was just as impressed as everyone else was by the cover, for two reasons. First of all, I think it’s always amazing to hear an iconic song interpreted by another artist in their own unique way, and it was thrilling to hear a song I’ve heard so many times before transformed by the way Gaga decided to approach it. Not only that, it was magnificent to hear the versatility in Gaga’s voice. She has proven she can do pop, country, and jazz, and has now proven her rock potential too.
Our Music Man readers who love Gaga will know that the singer’s rock chops were displayed once again when she appeared onstage with legendary metal band Metallica at the Grammy Awards in 2017. Performing their 2016 single, Moth To The Flame, their live performance at the ceremony was fraught with technical difficulties. However, when their rehearsal performance was uploaded to the internet, it was made clear that Gaga could keep up with vocalist James Hetfield step for step.
With Lady Gaga’s multitude of talents and stylistic abilities now known to fans all over the world, many are left wondering – is there anything this vocalist can’t do? While she has released albums in a multitude of various styles and shown off her rock potential live, she hasn’t yet released an album that leans fully into the rock genre. Of course, with clear abilities in the style, fans are now calling for her to lean into them even more with an official release. However, as an artist so known for her twists, turns, and surprises, Gaga’s next move could go in any direction. We will all just have to wait and see where this multi-talented artist takes us next.
Lady Gaga continues to astound audiences with her versatile talent, breathing new life into classic tracks and showcasing her rock prowess. Her captivating cover of “What’s Up?” not only highlights her emotional depth but also cements her status as a transformative artist. To explore more of her incredible performances and journey, check out the links below.