Lady Gaga Saves The 2020 MTV VMAs

Lady Gaga brought her extravagant star power to last night’s (August 30) 2020 MTV Video Music Awards in a vigorous way. 

The pop star released her latest album Chromatica during quarantine this past May, leaving fans to assume that they would never have a glimpse into the world of Chromatica because concerts have been postponed to late 2021. Luckily, spectators were in for a treat when the singer-songwriter brought the world of Chromatica to life with a medley of songs from her sixth studio album.

The show opened with the superstar hanging out in a retro room watching MTV vintage teasers, where she then made her way to a stripper pole and a room full of naked mannequins.

She launched the set with “Enigma” and an interlude from her record “Chromatica II” and “911.”

After a quick change from a neon green ensemble to a purple one, the visionary performed her hit single “Rain on Me” with Ariana Grande. Grande subtly assisted Gaga with her smooth, sultry vocals as the Star is Born actor continued to rock out with dancers. Grande’s range and vocals were just as impressive as Gaga’s limitless energy — even hitting a high note at the song’s closing to solidify her place as a vocalist.

Following the dynamic duo’s astounding collaboration, Gaga has yet another costume change for the album’s lead single, “Stupid Love.” She begins on the piano for a raw rendition of the tune and then, seamlessly transitions into a more upbeat version.

She prefaced the grand finale with a few words of encouragement: “Celebrate yourself. Love who you are. Be kind. Mask up. Be brave and braver, all the time.” 

She rounds out the performance with an array of neon lights, a live band, synchronized dancers and star power that lacked from so many other performances. The triple threat reminds viewers that true pop stars still exist, further demonstrating the perfect combination of choreography, vocals and stage production we’ve so missed from live shows.

Her various masks were one of the most notable aspects of her appearances. Each outfit had a complementary mask, which sent a powerful message: Wear a mask during the ongoing global pandemic of COVID-19 for the safety of others. Grande also wore a mask during their performance together. 

Lady Gaga won a total of five honors, including Best Collaboration, Best Cinematography, Song of the Year, Artist of the Year and the show’s first-ever recipient of the MTV Tricon Award. The Tricon Award replaced the show’s Video Vanguard Award, which typically honors those that have success in many sectors of entertainment, including music and film.

Her acceptance speech for the Tricon Award was the perfect pick-me-up for viewers during an unstable time. She said:

“What I see in the world is a massive triumph of courage and I also hope that people at home that have big dreams… I hope they see me here today accepting this award and know how grateful I am. And I want you to know that you can do this too. I know a renaissance is coming. The wrath of pop culture will inspire you, and the rage of art will empower you. This is what I believe. I want nothing more than to be your artist in 2020. It’s a total privilege.”

Though the MTV VMAs looked and felt different this year due to the pandemic, Lady Gaga gave fans excitement, liveliness and hope in an uncertain time. Her self-awareness as an artist resonates in a powerful way that encourages the generation of tomorrow to act on their dreams and dare to be different.

If it wasn’t for Lady Gaga this year at the VMAs, the show would have been tremendously underwhelming without the shock of iconic pop culture moments, which the VMAs are known for providing for the last decade. Luckily, she saved it with her exquisite aura and talent alone.