Lady Gaga delivered an unforgettable return to the stage. Just yesterday, she headlined the opening night of Coachella, in Indio, California. Her performance, “Mayhem In the Desert,” blew audiences away with her dark, edgy designs and dramatic runway theatrics. The show served as a visual representation of her complex relationship with fame and the chaos that often accompanies it.
The set kicked off with crowd-pleaser and TBT favorite “Bloody Mary,” from her 2011 album Born This Way. There was Lady Gaga making an unmissable arrival. She bedazzled the crowd in an otherworldly red cape, crafted by Sam Lewis and fabricated by Seth Pratt. This dramatic visual really helped bring the performance to life. It was extraordinarily expansive and wonderfully personal at the same time, a testament to her artistic growth and development through the decades.
No surprise then that, throughout the two-hour show, Gaga realized her Mayhem era through stunning choreography by Parris Goebel. She opened the show, sand and bone and all. With equal parts power and pain, she performed her sober new anthem “Perfect Celebrity,” a biting tribute to the mental health tolls of fame. This immersive experience showcased Gaga’s talent for combining music and narrative, crafting a magnetic and inclusive world for her fans to inhabit.
Gaga’s fashion choices were equally impressive. Styled by Peri Rosenzweig and Nick Royal of Hardstyle, she donned an ethereal white corseted gown crafted by Turkish-British designer Dilara Findikoglu. The regal gown made a tremendous contrast with her subsequent wardrobe choices. She then dazzled the audience in a feathered-blue coat and bedazzled bodysuit that emphasized her dynamic stage presence. During her highly-acclaimed performance of her song “Killah,” she sported colorful fantasy looks from Marni’s Francesco Risso. This decision proved she was an artist without borders.
As she emerged onto the semi-circle stage catwalk, Gaga dazzling the historically modest crowd. She performed a beautiful version of “Paparazzi,” mesmerizing the crowd in her silver metallic armor creations by Manuel Albarran. The ensemble recreated the buzzing, robotic aesthetic that defined her iconic 2009 music video. For veteran fans, it triggered an avalanche of nostalgia while providing a new generation with a new spin on her timeless classics.
The stage itself was morphed into a brutalist opera house, adding to the stark dramatic ambiance of the performance. Lady Gaga proved a master at mixing her fresh cuts out of the album “Mayhem” in with her classic whips. This exciting mixture hooked old fans and newcomers alike, creating an incredible experience.