CheekyChicago

Many who witnessed Lady Gaga’s first ever performance in Chicago at Lollapalooza 2007 labeled it a “train wreck.” Three years later that so-called “train wreck” of a show drew an audience of nearly 100,000 people to Lollapalooza’s largest stage ever built as Lady Gaga captivated starstruck fans for two hours. “When people tell you no, you remember, I was right where you are, wishing I was some bitch up on that stage!” Gaga told the crowd after performing her hit “Telephone.”

Before settling down at the piano to play the night’s first ballad “Speechless,” Gaga explained to fans that, “I wrote this song about all of the drunk assholes in my life and my favorite drunk asshole, my dad.” An emotional Gaga visibly fought back tears as she shouted out, “We did it dad, I’m a star!”

SET LIST

Dance In The Dark

Just Dance

Beautiful Dirty Rich

The Fame

Love Game

Boys Boys Boys

Money Honey

Telephone

Speechless

You And I

Monster

Teeth

Alejandro

Poker Face

Paparazzi

ENCORE

Bad Romance

Having seen Gaga live in concert six times previous to this year’s Lollapalooza, I have grown accustomed to the singer’s stage spectacle. The surreptitious adjusting of the one-piece, skin-tight body suit barely covering her ass. The too-thin material of her black fishnet stockings torn apart until obsolete, exposing white thighs by evening’s end. The Tinkerbell skit after “Monster” where we clap for her simply because Gaga is screaming “Clap for me, Lollapalooza!” with such vehemence that not clapping might result in sudden death. Gaga admitting “I hate the truth” before launching into “Teeth.” I have seen it all before.

Surprisingly, Gaga only showed off her classically trained skills on the piano twice; once for “Speechless” and then immediately after with newly composed “You And I.” The latter is to be included on the songwriter’s next album. “I have been inspired by the highway lately, writing my new record on my bus,” Gaga told her little monsters. “In fact, I was writing new songs today on my bus right here at Lollapalooza.” The exclusion of Gaga’s much loved acoustic piano version of “Poker Face” was slightly disappointing. “Come on, let’s poker face the f*ck out of Lollapalooza!” yelled Gaga. This statement was promptly followed up with ear-splitting shrieks emanating from the radio fans who had waited more than an hour and a half to hear one of the two Lady Gaga tracks they knew.

By the last few bars of Gaga’s latest single “Alejandro,” yellow hair extensions were slipping down the artist’s arms having fallen out during intense choreography. Accusing Gaga of lip-synching her Lolla set was impossible thanks to sporadic scratchy vocals that lead me to believe her voice might crack if pushed too far. “Thank you for believing in me. Now let’s get trashed!” were the last words that left Lady Gaga’s mouth upon completing a headlining slot on opening night of Lollapalooza, making the festival the best in America this year.