There is no doubt that Lady Gaga is an iconic performer as she delivers visuals, sound and energy every time she’s on stage. From her soulful performance of Shallow at the 2019 Oscars to her Paparazzi rendition at the Video Music Awards in 2009, the multi-hyphenate has lived up to her hype as an iconic performer.
On April 12, 2025, the Mayhem crooner returned to Indio, California, for the first time since her 2017 appearance and treated fans and music enthusiasts to a wonderful time. Dubbed "The Art of Personal Chaos,” Mother Monster’s set was divided into four “acts.”
Lady Gaga began her performance with the first act titled Of Velvet and Vice before transitioning into And She Fell Into a Gothic Dream. The Beautiful Nightmare That Knows Her Name followed after before she rounded up with To Wake Her Is To Lose Her.
Her performance featured an acapella rendition of her smash hit Born This Way and a guitar rendition of Garden of Eden. She also debuted a remix of her recent release, Abracadabra, which was released later on streaming platforms. Overall, Gaga’s Coachella performance was one for the books.
Continue reading for some of Lady Gaga’s best performances.
Disclaimer: This article reflects the writer's opinion only and is ranked in no particular order.
5 best Lady Gaga performances of all time
1) Paparazzi at the VMA 2009
At just 23 years old, Lady Gaga was able to tell a profound story about the dangers of fame and leave the audience entertained at the same time using the following lyrics:
"I'm your biggest fan, I'll follow you until you love me/ Papa-paparazzi/ Baby, there's no other superstar, you know that I'll beYour papa-paparazzi/ Promise I'll be kind/ But I won't stop until that boy is mine (Yeah-ha)/ Baby, you'll be famous, chase you down until you love me/ Papa-paparazzi,"
The multi-talented artist utilized special effects, backup dancers and props to deliver a performance that established the pop star as an entertainer to look out for.
2) Shallow at the 2019 Oscars
At the 2019 Oscars, Lady Gaga was joined by A Star Is Born costar Bradley Cooper to render their melodious duet Shallow. The duo were in character as Ally and Jackson as they sang the lyrics together. Lady Gaga later told Elle Magazine:
"For me, as a performer and as an actress, of course, we wanted people to believe that we were in love. And we wanted people to feel that love at the Oscars. And we worked hard on it; we worked for days. We mapped the whole thing out — it was orchestrated as a performance.”
3) Till It Happens To You at the 2016 Oscars
The singer left attendees of the 2016 Oscars teary-eyed and on their feet as she performed the emotional song, Till It Happens To You. As she performed the song from the movie The Hunting Ground, she was joined by fifty sexual assault survivors on the stage. Some of the song’s lyrics read:
"You tell me it gets better, it gets better in time/You say I'll pull myself together, pull it together, you'll be fine/Tell me, what the hell do you know? What do you know?/Tell me how the hell could you know? How could you know?
4) VMA 2013 Applause
The pop star was in her element at the Video Music Awards in 2013 as she performed for a hyped crowd. She demonstrates her evolution to the crowd through changes in her costumes and wigs.
She maintained her amazing vocals while showing off beautifully choreographed dance moves. Her final outfit consisted of a seashell bikini, complemented by a dramatic hairstyle.
It was inspired by the goddess Aphrodite and marked the climax of the song, receiving applause and attention from everyone.
5) Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime show 2017
Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl Halftime show was definitely one for the books. The singer began her performance by paying homage to the USA. She stood atop the stadium as she sang God Bless America and This Land is Your Land.
She leaped off a platform after the rendition and propelled down while singing some of her popular tracks. Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl performance is memorable because she combined smooth vocals with practiced dance moves along with her backup dancers.
Her costume and impressive stage props sealed off the awe/inspiring performance.
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Other Lady Gaga performances to watch include The Brits Awards 2010 and Grammy Awards 2022.
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