Review of Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Ball Concert at Madison Square Garden
During an interview in February, Lady Gaga made an unexpected revelation regarding her 2020 album, Chromatica.
“I wouldn’t claim that I produced my finest music during that period,” she shared with The New York Times Magazine.
Apologies, Little Monsters, but it’s the truth. Did Chromatica, a dance-centric exploration of mental wellness and healing, aid many during the pandemic? Absolutely. Is it Gaga’s weakest album? Regrettably, yes.
A few weeks post-interview, Gaga made a triumphant return with Mayhem, which stands as her strongest piece since 2011’s Born This Way. A couple of months later, she escalated the excitement with the debut of the Mayhem Ball, a spectacular stage show rivaling her iconic Monster Ball from 2010.
At 39, Gaga brought her sold-out tour to Madison Square Garden, starting a six-night run at the historic venue in her hometown of New York City on Friday, August 22.
Titled “The Art of Personal Chaos,” the concert spans two and a half hours, featuring Gaga as she battles the nefarious Mistress of Mayhem, a red-cloaked villain who persistently pursues her. (Gaga dons various elaborate costumes and an array of blonde and brunette wigs throughout the show.)
“Find her! Bring her to me!” the Mistress commands Gaga’s backup dancers at one moment, reminiscent of the most sinister Disney villains. Yet by the end, (spoiler alert) Gaga triumphs, proclaiming, “Monsters never die!”
Since her debut, Lady Gaga has emerged as one of the most recognizable figures in pop music history. The New York City native launched her career with the single “Just Dance” in April 2008. As she released successful tracks like “Bad Romance,” “Born This Way,” and “Million Reasons,” she rapidly gained fame […]
Her setlist caters to all tastes, featuring nearly every song from Mayhem alongside her greatest hits, including “Just Dance,” “Poker Face,” “Paparazzi,” “Born This Way,” and “Bad Romance.”
The performance opens with Gaga standing atop a 25-foot red gown, set against a backdrop resembling a Gothic opera house. She begins with a few lines from her 2011 deep cut “Bloody Mary,” which gained popularity on TikTok in 2022, before urging her Little Monsters to “put your f***ing hands up!” as her Mayhem hit “Abracadabra” resonates through the venue.
Following this, she delivers a mix of timeless classics (“Judas” and “LoveGame” shine) and newer hits (“Zombieboy” and “Vanish Into You” resonate even more when performed live). The concert includes heartfelt piano sing-alongs (“Die With a Smile”), unexpected choices (“Summerboy”), and electrifying dance numbers (“Scheiße”).
As the night wraps up, Gaga dramatically sheds her extravagant costumes, makeup, and wigs for a raw encore, accompanied by “How Bad Do U Want Me.” In a twist, both Lady Gaga and the Mistress of Mayhem fade away, leaving just the grateful Stefani Germanotta before nearly 20,000 fans, a testament to her status as pop’s most daring chameleon.
