Lady Gaga walked on stage at the Jazz at Lincoln Center to thunderous applause from an audience looking forward to seeing the pop icon performing songs from her album ‘Cheek To Cheek’. A collaborative effort with Tony Bennett, the album showed Gaga’s foray into jazz music, and the evening’s performance was to celebrate its release. As a bonus to the classic songs she had already covered on the album, she would also be taking on Cher’s 1966 hit ‘Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)’.
Originally a folk-rock song, later transformed into a haunting pop version by Nancy Sinatra, Music Man fans will be impressed when they hear how Lady Gaga made the song her own. Transforming it once again into an atmospheric jazz track, Gaga’s powerhouse vocals amazed listeners, one viewer commenting, “Literally no one else in the industry has this amount of artistry, versatility, and stage presence. I like a lot of artists but no one amounts to this” on the video which received 19M views.
While I love Lady Gaga’s signature pop sound, I have to admit that, for me, it’s performances like this where she truly shines. Not only am I impressed by her versatility as an artist, but the talent she displays when she sings like this blows me away. When I first heard her performing old jazz standards, I couldn’t believe how naturally her voice suited the genre. Performances like this make me feel like we are getting a true glimpse into the extent of Gaga’s astonishing abilities as a singer.
After the overwhelming response to her cover of ‘Bang Bang’, the live performance was released as a bonus single for ‘Cheek to Cheek’. The cover got to number one on the jazz charts, while the entire album performed well across the globe. One of the most popular songs on the album was her and Tony’s version of ‘Anything Goes’ by Cole Porter. As the first single released from the album, the cover surprised and charmed listeners in equal measure.
It can be a risky move when any artist moves away from the style they’re most recognized for into something entirely different. However, I’m sure our Music Man readers will be able to agree that Lady Gaga’s transition was a complete success. Not only did she prove herself to be an immensely talented artist, but also the strength of her impressive versatility. Overall, ‘Cheek to Cheek’ is a powerful testament to true artistry and the universal language of great music.
Lady Gaga’s journey into jazz is a remarkable testament to her versatility and raw talent. With a breathtaking transformation of ‘Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)’ into an atmospheric jazz masterpiece, she continues to captivate audiences worldwide. Her performance at the Jazz at Lincoln Center highlights her immense artistry and stage presence. To explore more about Lady Gaga’s musical evolution and other mesmerizing performances, check out the links below.