It wouldn’t be Coachella without a little bit of Mayhem—and that’s exactly the energy Lady Gaga delivered on night one.
Right out of the gate, Gaga performed her Born This Way hit “Bloody Mary” before launching into Mayhem’s “Abracadabra,” exemplifying how she’d expertly weave her most beloved hits into her newest artistic era throughout the evening. For nearly two hours, the crowd in Indio, California witnessed on of the most groundbreaking Coachella sets to date, complete with five theatrical acts culminating in a visceral performance of “Bad Romance.”
But Lady Gaga didn’t just take viewers on a journey through her prolific catalog, which she dubbed “the manifesto of mayhem.” During the show, Gaga also referenced some of her most iconic fashion moments from past music videos and performances with the help of Hardstyle duo Peri Rosenzweig and Nick Royal.
For example, Gaga wore an armored helmet and crutches during an emotional rendition of “Paparazzi,” a clear homage to the song’s 2009 music video.
Just a few songs earlier, Gaga battled a version of her former self during “Poker Face,” facing off against a statuesque blonde figure in the white crown featured in the “Bad Romance” music video.
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