The 11 most monstrous moments from Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Ball at the Forum

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Approximately three months following her headlining performance at this year’s Coachella festival, Lady Gaga is currently touring with an extended version of the haunted-opera-house spectacle she presented in the desert shortly after the launch of her latest album, “Mayhem.” I attended Monday’s show at Inglewood’s Kia Forum, marking the first of four performances through Saturday for the 39-year-old pop icon. Although I still don’t fully understand the narrative she is conveying – perhaps it involves a cruel yet compassionate queen? – her dedication to the allure and horror of the act remains unwavering. Here are 11 striking highlights from the opening night of Mother Monster’s stay in Los Angeles.

At Coachella, Lady Gaga began her concert on Monday night by performing “Bloody Mary” followed by “Abracadabra”, dressed in an oversized red hoop skirt which hid a group of dancers within its layers (similar to Mother Ginger from “The Nutcracker”). It’s indicative of Gaga’s innovative spirit that such an energetic performer chose to kick off this show using just the upper part of her body; it shows her versatility as both a singer and an actress, as she didn’t appear limited by her costume.

In a similar vein, the song “Perfect Celebrity,” featuring a thumping electro-punk rhythm, was reenacted with her sprawled out on her back, partially concealed in a sandbox, simulating movements against a skeleton.

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3. It appears that none of California’s congressional representatives attended Lady Gaga’s performance at San Francisco’s Chase Center last week, as Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi did – right from a front-row seat! Instead, a few enthusiastic pop stars were present, including Olivia Rodrigo, Matty Healy from The 1975, and Chappell Roan. Notably, Chappell Roan was spotted singing along to “Born This Way” during the show. (Pelosi shared on X that it was “The most fun I’ve had in a long time,” in response to a Pop Crave post acknowledging her attendance.)

4. For “Paparazzi,” Lady Gaga donned a chromed helmet and carefully navigated a lengthy runway with a pair of chrome crutches, trailing a grand train of her dress behind her. Among numerous intricate scenes, this one stood out as the most memorable.

5. Regarding Lady Gaga, despite her expanding pop career, she’s rarely tried to rewrite her past as a sexually expressive theater kid from New York City. Among the songs she’s included in her Mayhem Ball setlist since Coachella are the charmingly playful “LoveGame,” featuring lyrics that suggest a desire for a dance on a disco stick, and her debut hit, “Just Dance,” which she continues to introduce – 16 years after it reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 – with a salute to her ex-producer RedOne.

In March, when the singer announced her tour, she explained her choice to perform in arenas rather than stadiums as an artistic decision, stemming from her wish to create a more intimate atmosphere compared to the 2022 Chromatica Ball that took place at Dodger Stadium. The term “intimate” is commonly used by pop stars to set expectations, but in this case, she truly achieved a sweaty, personal connection with her audience through another classic song, “Summerboy.” As she strummed an electric guitar, half-clad dancers moved energetically around her under a bank of red stage lights that gave the performance a clubby feel.

7. The heart of “Mayhem” lies in the mid-portion of the album, featuring a series of groovy ’80s retro tunes – “Killah,” “Zombieboy,” and “LoveDrug” – which Lady Gaga performed in an elaborate Cruella de Vil costume on stage. However, it’s puzzling why none of these tracks have been released as singles yet. While “Abracadabra,” which was launched in February, continues to be played regularly on the radio, and the collaboration with Bruno Mars, “Die With A Smile,” is likely to remain evergreen, the absence of a major promotional effort for any of the other promising Top 40 tracks from “Mayhem” seems unusual, given the album’s impressive strength.

Transforming Lady Gaga’s soulful power ballad “Million Reasons” into a haunting church organ processional? Absolutely, I’d love to hear that eerie rendition!

9. For the song “Shallow,” Lady Gaga, in an atmospheric new blend of electro-goth music, transformed that extended runway into a brief waterway, portraying a romantic damsel drifting on a gondola amidst misty waters, evoking the spirit of Christine Daaé.

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After receiving a minute’s worth of applause following “Die With A Smile,” Gaga allowed the crowd to settle down so she could make a short speech. She said, “Before tonight’s performance, I spoke with everyone backstage. I told them ‘It’s Monday – I don’t know what will happen.’ But you all proved me wrong! You showed up ready and eager. Los Angeles has held a special place in my life because I moved here from New York City when I was 19 years old. It wasn’t always easy, but tonight I want to express my gratitude to everyone in this room. People didn’t always support me out here, but you believed in me tonight. Thank you for being there for me.

She shared, “I show up here every evening, intending to stay strong during this part, but I inevitably break down because I struggle to express my gratitude adequately. It seems simpler for me to convey it through a song. However, our community – mine, yours, our community – stands by you even in difficult times and when you’re at your lowest. That’s what makes it so unique, as they offer their love without requiring you to be successful.

Regardless of where I travel globally, I’ll always strive to pour every ounce of my enthusiasm into the audience. Your dedication and affection for me and each other genuinely touches me deeply whenever I perform. I hope that throughout this year and summer, you can feel my love radiating. I’ll be back in 20 more years – I promise to keep returning if it’s alright with you!

Following the speech, the artist devoted “Vanish Into You” to her two nieces who attended the performance. They mentioned it was their preferred track, she shared. Traditionally, I dedicate this song to my fans. Could you join me in sharing it with them tonight?

Initially, Lady Gaga started her encore by seemingly referencing the memorable moment in “A Star Is Born” where she and Bradley Cooper first met in a dressing room, with her stripping off her electric-tape eyebrows. On a large screen, she was seen singing “How Bad Do U Want Me,” as she removed makeup from her face backstage. Then, she navigated through a maze-like area behind the scenes to reappear in front of us once more.

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2025-07-29 23:01