Lady Gaga ArtPop, Milan Forum 2014. Concert review

It will be at least nine months since I bought the ticket for this one-time date in Italy of Lady Gaga and the time, as it comes, also runs fast. Nine months passed in a flash, just long enough for a flap of wings on the other side of the world. And here we are, together with some friends, headed to the Forum in Assago, Milan. The last time I was here I saw the Incubus concert in 2011–a whole different concert.

I enter the forum. It may be that usually in my twenties I always watched concerts in the parterre but here, an episode happened that I called a very amusing generational clash between those who chose to enjoy a concert comfortably seated and those who, having been defaced from their seats, decided to abusively occupy Sector C of the Forum standing… Nothing wrong with that anyway, it only took 5 minutes of polite complaints from my row and the front row to remedy it. The 1980s generation wins over the post-1990s generation.

The atmosphere is nothing short of devastating. 9:05 p.m. The audience shouts, they want some. And not a little bit. How much will Lady Gaga bewitch me tonight? Many of you may be thinking “But what the fuck is a piano player doing at Lady Gaga’s concert?” I would freely answer him, “I live music and enjoy it.” Everything is music. And everything is at the same time relative. I could connect this talk to Stefano Bollani, but then I would have to open a separate chapter-I will tell you about that at another time….

We are immersed in an atmosphere where the beginning is a combination of fuchsia pink and light blue coloring, colors that I love in this combination. What I am curious to see is all the set design prepared by Gaga for this Italian event, as well as her voice and crazy stage presence. And now,  Lets the show Begin!

I have to admit. I am really shocked. An incredible spectacle right from the first minutes. Even though I don’t know all the songs he will be doing tonight, I totally don’t care. It is a unique spectacle that deserves to be seen at least once in a lifetime. Lights, sets, dancers, everything is futuristic. It reminds me in some parts of the Star Trek saga. From here I noticed a hidden floor inside what looks like several pieces of crystal taken from Superman’s cave(The Fortress of Solitude).

The dress in which she arrives on stage is almost reminiscent of Carrà. Okay someone will beat me up for this statement but, I swear to you, it is so. I love the snare drum on this drum kit, so penetrating and dry. That’s right. It has to beat hard and get inside you all night. Congratulations. The only malaise for the time being are:

– The girl at my side yelling all her db into my ears.
– the five girls on the standing barrier who decided to come back and challenge us and take away some of the view

Of the rest, all perfect. But this was to be expected.

She has disappeared. After a finale of a song very Carrà-like in its movements, Lady Gaga disappears from the stage by lowering herself into a trapdoor. We wait, will there be a first change of clothes? He reappears in Cowboy style and approaches the plane dipped in crystal. These were his words before he began:

“6 years ago when I wrote the first song I never thought I would get this far, tonight I want to tell you that if I am here it is only because of love and we are the representation that the freedom to be creative and love can do anything in the world. How many of you are artists here this evening? Here, you need to understand something. To be one, you don’t need a label, a record producer, but you need to believe in yourself in your art and love. Only through them can you do what you desire. Thank you for being here with me tonight, it is very important to me and regardless of whether you are little monsters or dreamers tonight we are going to have a great time.” Statement by Lady Gaga on the song Manicure.

The stage was literally transformed, flowers sprang up almost out of nowhere and as they sprang up they also magically disappeared…. What will we expect now?
We enter a new phase of the concert. The stage is red and purple.
Here, I have to say one thing. If I were at a Metallica concert, I would greatly appreciate the musicians’ improvisations between stages of the concert, but not in this case. But then again, there must be a reason (change of clothes?). It starts again with Just Dance.

There is a change of atmosphere and Gaga comes out in an incredible dress made of black and white polka-dotted octopus arms, almost reminding me of the works of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. And we start again with Paparazzi, which concludes to the fullest by climbing onto a throne made at claw that slowly rises higher and higher taking her above all. The audience is increasingly in a frenzy and finally explodes on Do what you want. And the song ends with Gaga on her knees with arms outstretched toward the sky, a perfect moment for a piano and vocals. He comes, as if I asked him in his ear; I love it. I love it because it’s a jazz-influenced piano voice that always takes up the same song, kudos.

This is perhaps the part I love the most, piano and voice. Very intimate and Gaga gives us more words about being Italian:

“Tonight at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how successful I am, the money, it only matters about my grandparents who have always told me since I was a child that they come from Italy. Despite all the pressures, responsibilities, success and everything I do, I come from a humble family and still feel like an Italian-American girl. I feel very lucky to be here and I feel something special here tonight in Italy.”.

This piano and vocals soon turns into a great concert take and it is with You&I that it seems to bid us farewell, not after paying homage to the film Velvet Goldmine by reprising the famous scene in which Brian Slate kneels down and simulates oral intercourse with Kurt Wild‘s guitar. If you have not seen the movie Velvet Goldmine you owe me, run and rent it, download it, in short watch it.
In this break Gaga reads us a letter(this moment seems to me a bit prepared…)from a fan thrown on stage, in which he seems to want to share with us all that is his journey so far; a heartfelt and profound thanks to what Lady Gaga represents to him.
He loudly calls out to the boy who wrote this letter and invites him on stage to say loudly not to be ashamed if we are labeled as “different” in our lives because, it’s 2014, and it’s time to start thinking in a more open and at A world in which a person can feel free to be gay.

The moment ends with yet another Gaga exit. The change is again a whirlwind, the atmosphere turns upside down and it almost feels like hell with these shades on red and black. And indeed Gaga begins to sing Judas in the dark. Three, two, one, there it is. She reappears elusive to our searching eyes. Acid green hair and total black leather. It starts again and the Forum explodes. But we are now in the home stretch. And we leave room for this increasingly sensual Gaga. A pink bed enters.
This concert finale is an entire part devoted to choreography and dancing. The whole dance troupe on stage. On the Mary Jane piece Holland Gaga falls lifeless on herself(as in the video) and is supported by her black dancer with whom she begins a sensual dance and recovers.

There is a total change of register, the stage suddenly empties. Gaga gives us a song from her latest record recorded with Tony Bennett singing the very famous“Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)” by Cher, 1960s. Of course, I can’t help but be reminded of some scene from the movie Kill Bill, and I almost wish that Uma Thurman would materialize on this stage, it would either be a great surprise or simply my own free navigated madness of the mind.

The concert ends on Swine. Total darkness. But the public is still asking for more. And here Gaga indulges us. He returns to sing the last song. And the escalation I hear at my side is“Here comes Donatella” I think meant as in Donatella Versace…the entrance is regal, wrapped in an immense white gown with a train, Gaga approaches the stage to greet her audience in an immense crowd bath. She enjoys this moment as her audience sings to her a “You’re beautiful” by Loredana Bertè; Gaga thanks“You’re beautiful”
One last bow before the forum and the concert ends. A unique experience that was really worth doing.

The concept that I take home from this concert ( and which fortunately I realized a few years ago and improved my life) is:

“Always remember that if you mistreat others in your life, the only thing you will receive back is only nastiness and bad things. Instead, if you live your life in the name of love by giving love and gratitude to others, life will give you back as much love and blessing for your wonderful existence”

Good night Milan.

I’ve always dreamed of being able to write freely about music. The article you just read is part of my project that I called menomasia (union of words less bad so be it); menomasia is not only a music column, but it is at the same time the hope that we can continue to pursue music, the real kind, experienced in live performances. Outside traditional commercial patterns. 
If you liked the article, if it made you sick, if you didn’t like it, in short: if you have something to say, write it below in the comment form I will be happy to hear your opinion! Or use the buttons at the top right of the page to share the article with your friends. In the meantime, thank you for reading and I invite you not to miss all the interviews in the column by clicking here .