Lady Gaga has been steadily ascending to pop goddess status over this last decade. But one flashback clip of Gaga’s very first set at the legendary Glastonbury Festival, 2009, is sending fans straight into nostalgic meltdown, the video going viral with over 18 million YouTube views to date!
This landmark performance of “Poker Face” is the ultimate pop throwback – Gaga thriving on the release of her debut 2008 record, “The Fame,” and already cementing her name in music history with her trendsetting, shock-pop stage antics.
Taking to the Friday night ‘Other Stage’ in a nude-pink bikini set and heels, topped by a bleach blonde, Barbie doll-meets-Marilyn Monroe haircut, Gaga’s cutting and controversial early aesthetics hadn’t reached their 2010 “meat dress” peak just yet. But with crazed and jagged choreography, Gaga cleanly asserted herself as an authentic force to be reckoned with: edgy, energetic, and commanding the stage like she was already headlining on the main stage.
Music Man readers who have been even momentarily enchanted by Gaga’s extraordinary career will already know what a queen she is when it comes to vocal control. This viral video puts her talent at the forefront: lifted and spun around by backing singers, dancing like a re-animated Frankenstein’s monster, yet nailing every single note pitch-perfect and unfazed.
If you weren’t a fan of Gaga’s original single, don’t skip the clip – the band revamps moments of “Poker Face” for this Glastonbury gig, even squeezing a spidery and exotic guitar solo into the dance-pop mayhem while Gaga smashes the drummer’s cymbal like she’s attending an anger management session.
This astonishing performance has got Gaga fans sinking deep into nostalgia, with one top commenter writing, “I miss how crazy she was. She’s like headlines after headlines back then (sic). Her music videos were very much awaited and were, like, the fastest viewed.”
But this clip hasn’t just been wowing Gaga’s Monsters. Viewers from across the spectrum of pop music have been busy sharing their thoughts on Gaga’s unimaginable rise to fame following this performance.
As one viewer noticed, “The way she owned that stage being a rookie, less than one year of her career, being a 22-year-old girl, already playing a worldwide smash hit… ” others jumped on the bandwagon, commenting: “A true icon. The greatest artist in the last 30 years. A singer-songwriter who plays piano and is an ultimate performer at 21? Can sing, jazz, rock, pop, ballads and has partnered up with legends in the business… can’t think of a contemporary of hers that is so gifted.”
“Now she is a 12x Grammy winner, 18x VMAs, and 1x Oscar winner” as another fan pointed out. But from the exquisite authenticity underlining this debut Glastonbury performance, it’s almost no wonder Gaga’s career exploded, now keeping fans enchanted for over 15 years.
Lady Gaga’s meteoric rise in pop culture is undeniable, with her legendary 2009 Glastonbury performance standing as a testament to her innovative spirit and commanding presence. Relive this iconic moment that paved the way for her enduring influence in the music world. For fans wishing to dive deeper into Gaga’s electrifying journey and revisit more of her groundbreaking performances, be sure to explore the links below.