 Tyler Glover Photo by Tyler Glover
Years ago, I made a concert dream list of whom I would like to see in concert. It consists of four pop/country divas who always take us on emotional journeys teaching us about life and ourselves. These women were Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Carrie Underwood and Katy Perry. I was able to see Swift on her “Speak Now” and “reputation” tours, Underwood on her “Play On” tour, and Katy Perry on her “Witness” tour. The only one missing was Lady Gaga. On August 15th, my concert dream list got its final check mark when I got to attend the “Chromatica Ball Tour.” It was a beautiful August day in Chicago at Wrigley Field. It was 73 degrees with a cool breeze and the sun was just barely shining from behind the clouds. From our seats, we could look all the way around and have such a beautiful view of the Chicago skyline. As fans started arriving, the concert’s impending start became even more exciting. Tons of Gaga fans were dressed to impress. There were so many wigs, leotards, sequins and heels that actually made me scared for them to be walking down stairs. This really did add so much to the experience. We had gotten there early and did not even think about the length of time until the beginning from the “people watching.” The excitement just kept on building until finally the time came for Mother Monster to arrive. When the lights went out, screams that felt like they would shake the foundation rang out. A video started playing, building the anticipation until finally, we hear “Ohhhhhh-ooohhhh-ohhhhh, caught in a bad romance!” She was here! The concert was full of so many incredible costumes, dancing and powerhouse vocals. When you watch someone dancing as much as Gaga was, you could almost become convinced that it would make it difficult for them to consistently hit the high notes in their songs. Gaga showed us all why she is a true pop diva. After “Bad Romance,” Gaga continued her setlist with familiar favorites from the beginning of her career that helped her become who she is today: “Just Dance” and “Poker Face.” Then, Gaga sang “Alice,” and “Replay,” songs from the Chromatica that she is promoting with this tour. Gaga was really smart with the order of her setlist. It was very obvious she took into consideration her fans that listen to every song on every album but also, the ones who may only be familiar with songs that get released as singles. She alternated between Chromatica songs and classics almost every couple of songs. This was really successful because everyone stayed engaged. One of my favorite moments of the concert was when she began “Born This Way” at the piano but halfway through, she brought it up-tempo to the rendition fans have loved for years. Other songs she played on the piano were “The Edge of Glory” and a newer one called “1000 Doves.” Before singing “1000 Doves,” Gaga told us a personal story about how she remembers crying and letting life get to her. Her friends tried to get her to come out on the porch and light up cigarettes with them to forget it. She recalled being dramatic and unwilling for a while to do that but talked about how finally, she did. Gaga spoke multiple times about loving ourselves and being true to ourselves. She also talked about how we should never give up and always get back up to try again. It was nice to hear those comforting words. I, myself, have battled anxiety and depression for years, and hearing those words from her really meant something to me. As the concert started nearing its end, Gaga began her encore with her recent hits, “Stupid Love” and “Rain On Me.” Fans throughout the whole stadium were jumping up and down and dancing like nothing mattered in the world. It was all of us at this moment enjoying life, forgetting about all of the problems in our lives and of the world. We were united. One of the main reasons I love music so very much is its unique ability to be able to bring people together. For her final song, Gaga sang her most recent single, “Hold My Hand” from the movie, “Top Gun: Maverick.” It has grown to be one of my absolute favorite songs of hers. I am really hoping for a second Oscar for her in the Best Original Song category for it. Right before, she finished the final verse,” she told us, “It is all gonna be okay, Chicago. You want to know how I know?” She paused before singing the final line from the song: “I heard from the heavens.” We all at that moment shared her hope for a better tomorrow for all of us. Related: The Word Podcast: My Fantasy Lady Gaga Concert Setlist
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |