Lady Gaga Gave David Bowie The ‘Grease Megamix’ Of Tributes At The Grammys

Lady Gaga has been getting loads of attention over the past couple of weeks since it was announced she was performing a tribute for David Bowie at the Grammys. Most critics and those on social media initially slammed the idea. Though Gaga undeniably took influence from the artist’s surreal style and unique musical legacy, some called on one or many of his contemporaries to pay their respects instead. “No single young or trendy performer is going to embody [Bowie’s] decades of cultural impact,” The Washington Post wrote in protest.

To her credit, Gaga’s spectacularly stepped up to the task. Last week she showed off her ever-impressive vocal range with a viral rendition of the national anthem at the Superbowl. Last night she showcased her dedication to the man with a huge tattoo of Ziggy Stardust across her ribcage. This morning she posted a video of herself crying in the makeup chair with the caption “The world loves you David”.

But… I don’t know if all that came through in the performance this afternoon.

It started strong, was consistently entertaining, and featured some incredible projection work. But it also had 10 iconic Bowie anthems unceremoniously jammed into just over six minutes of stage time and didn’t feel unlike that time an overenthusiastic PE teacher tried to teach me the moves to the ‘Grease Megamix’ in 1998.

This has garnered mixed reactions since the Grammys telecast today. Gaga received a standing ovation from the room; one which Billboard and The Huffington Post said she well and truly earned. Vox and Mashable had other ideas however labelling it “schmaltzy” and “chaotic”.

You can make up your own mind but, for the record, there are worse things out there than the ‘Grease Megamix’.