Lady Gaga gets adventurously intimate, wrastles with Madonna on 'SNL'

Lady Gaga brought the expected weird fashion to "Saturday Night Live." Watching the artist attempt to sit at a piano while outfitted in an array of circular metal rings -- all spinning around the Lady Gaga axis -- was a hoot, and an early comedic standout in "Saturday Night Live's" young season. But there was one bit of window dressing Lady Gaga could have done without: Madonna.

The artist formerly known as the Material Girl popped up in an early skit for a brief exchange of put-downs with the current pop fave. Perhaps a symbol of passing of the pop diva torch, or perhaps some sort of mocking her 2003 MTV Video Music Awards pairing with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, which was then meant to serve as some sort of passing of the pop diva torch, Madonna looked uncomfortable, and not quite sure of why she was tussling with Lady Gaga. It all felt a bit hastily thrown together, and little more than an excuse to show two pop stars in a cat fight.

Not to mention -- Madonna doesn't need to stump to these kind of promotional appearances. Even with a greatest hits collection released to stores last week, let's let Lady Gaga have her moment, or at least give Madonna something better to say than, "Guess what, I'm totally taller than you."

Or perhaps we should just give credit where credit is due.

Lady Gaga was joined by Madonna on "Saturday Night Live," and the high-profile guest shot failed to overshadow Gaga's second music performance, a piano-based medley of her hits, as well as a touch of new song "Bad Romance."

Pulling off a medley is no small feat itself, as they reek of award-show self-aggrandizing. But Gaga looked free and unrehearsed, and tossed off a rare medley worth watching. While it would have been nice to hear a bit more of forthcoming single "Bad Romance," what audiences received was even better. Free from the tired retro '80s synth pop of "LoveGame," Gaga flashed her nightclub-ready pipes when she went solo at the piano, and also showed off a bit of improvisation.

While diving in and out of "Poker Face," Gaga played to the New York crowd, bragging about the hot dogs on 72nd Street ("they're tasty and they're cheap") and even exposed some baseball loyalties. Gaga copped to being nostalgic for the days when she "cheered for the Yankees with my dad in Section 6," and Major League Baseball responded by giving her a shout-out (perhaps a National Anthem at a playoff game is in her near future).

Yet whereas most artists come to late night television to show off their latest singles and generate a few headlines, Gaga, who can say the words "disco stick" with a straight face, displayed a side of herself that isn't always in evidence on her 2008 smash album, "The Fame": She's not afraid to take risks.

Walking around in glass bras is nice and all, but a willingness to go musically bare and dismantle an electro-pop song on national television is surprisingly (sadly?) rare these days. For once, it was nice to see a pop star stretching herself by doing something more than showing some skin and spinning around a pole. A shame it had to happen well after midnight. 

Watch the clip until it gets stricken from YouTube:

-- Todd Martens

Photo: Lady Gaga, left, and Madonna. Credit: NBC

Comments

[Marco]

Too bad she has to cover up her awful singing with a ridiculous outfit.

[Insert Fake Name Here]

And I mistaked her for just another modern pop star.
She's actually really legit!!

[Benjamin]

@Jaye. Yes, that WAS MADONNA. Thanks for the RANT btw.

[Bob]

@swagger - Bitter much? Really, why the hate on GaGa? All artists are stealing from the past. The key is how they re-invent it for the present. GaGa deserves great props for bring some artistic personality and creative energy to the very, very tired pop music scene. Everything she has been doing that you complain about is more tribute than rip-off. She openly acknowledges the influences of Elton, Freddie and others. I have seen em all, and she is doing her own thing, but as an extension of those that came before. Heck, 2 years ago she was an aspiring kid still figuring out the persona of Lady GaGa. The sky's the limit for her. I just echo the concern elsewhere that she doesn't burn out after this iteration, so she can continue to mature and grow as a true pop artist working the commercial medium.

[claudia]

madonna is way better than caca.sorry but madonna is the most sucessfull female artist ever.she just equals elvis record.gaga wasnt a hit yet.madonna has many many hits and amazing tours.she is the best performer ever according to forbes.madonna was just invited.she doesnt need caca.madonna is very sucessfull all over the world.people are mad about her.she is #1 in all european countries.gaga doesnt.even shitney is bigger than caca

[kk]

gaga is really a kid.-her songs are 4 kids.she is nothing compared to this ultimate pop icon.madonna is the best.all her hits are way better than gaga teen songs.madonna is a fashion icon.gaga is just wannabe.hate her

[DS]

I thought the skit was hilarious. Was it perfect, probably not but that is not what SNL is about. I am also tired of the Madonna bashing. She obviously is a genius or she wouldn't still be selling out concerts, etc. It is just like any type of art, not everyone appreciates the same thing. It is in the eye of the beholder. I think the simple fact that Madonna is still doing these type of things shows to me that she is real and not afraid of making fun of herself. Plus I really seriously doubt that she care what anyone thinks and I do not think she was trying to overshadow Lady Gaga. She doesn't need to, shes already a star and has the staying power. I love Lady Gaga and think she is wildly creative. She goes against the grain but lets remember who paved that path for her!

[Skankexpose]

Lady GaGa meets Madonna! Click on my name for the link.

[ziggy]

Wow, had never seen her before.

Lady Gaga's music is incredibly insipid for someone so allegedly "controversial". Amazing how the herd will buy whatever they're told to by mass marketers.

Wikipedia: "In 2009, after having opened for New Kids on the Block and the Pussycat Dolls, Gaga embarked on her first headlining tour."

Her peers, those two other corporate manufactured cash cows, should give you some perspective. Is she sponsored by Pepsi yet?

[MissRed]

Playing the piano, singing about New York? hmmmm sound familiar?

@top swagger-jacking other artists, Lady Gaga - She was totally biting off Billy Joel here too no??

Madonna - Forever the Queen!

[Joseph]

creedanze and Jaye,

That was Madonna, not Scarlett Johansson or Abby Elliot. For one thing, neither Scarlett nor Abby are that slim and completely ripped. Madonna's guns are very distinctive. Also, Ryan Reynolds thanked Madonna at the end of the show--why do that if that wasn't actually her in the sketch? Both of you need to get your eyes examined, or at least upgrade to high definition, because it's clear as day that it was Madonna with Lady Gaga in that sketch, and she looked fantastic.

As for Jaye in particular, you'd better be damned sure you know what the hell you're talking about before you launch into a completely incorrect diatribe and make a complete fool of yourself.

[AML]

I concur with the Times that we should give credit where it is due, and that means giving credit to the Queen of Pop: the only Madonna.
Lady Gaga deserves credit for being pop's best new act, our best diva du jour. However, with only 1 hit album next to Madonna's impressive array of pop and dance hits spanning 2.5 decades, Lady Gaga is a novice. Let's wait for her next couple of albums before we crown her prematurely. (Besides, the pop diva in line to follow Madonna is Kylie Minogue, as 5 of 6 settled continents agree. Pop doesn't work like neo-con warfare; the US can open the conversation, but it can't unilaterally call the shots.)
We Americans have a bias against women over fifty every bit as real as racism, sexism, and heterosexism. Ultimately, in the presence of a brilliant (though like all of us, imperfect)pop icon like Madonna, our prejudice only reflects poorly on us, while Madonna is enjoying her hundreds of millions, her adorable children, and her worldwide fan devotion.
Mr. Martens and the Times ought to be ashamed for their nasty and ageist assault on an American icon.

[Xtina is that you]

what's the big deal with her following all of the christina aguilera style over the year... she sure feel threatening to stole everyone look to stay fresh.. n after just 1 year she look old and wasted already.. goodluck.. we all know u have talent but with that ugly face.. sure but not for the next ten years.. sorry gaga honestly u r ugly...

[Xtina is that you]

Please stop copying christina aguilera style over the year..
n honestly u r ugly without all thos tranny make up..
ugly people rarely got famous for a long time, so just go n hav plastic surgery to help ur sex career

[olrac]

While I don't care for pop music, in general, I can appreciate Lady Gaga because (I think) I see what she's trying to do. She's more about performance art than music. I see her and can't help but think that it's her plan to have the music take a back seat to the performance. Many artists try to use the act as a way to make up for the lack of musical talent, but I think she may be approaching it as the music being a complement to her act. Of course, I could be wrong.

[olrac]

@Jaye - You don't know Abby Elliot when you see her? That WAS Madonna.

[al]

I don't care for performers that have to use props

[Elijah]

WOW... That is so true!

[amar ventris]

finally madonna elton john and aguilera talent and showmanship without the britney bubblefum aftertaste

[sjg]

For how long will journalists continue to observe Madonna's latest performance/album/song and think they are noticing for the first time that she is irrelevant? Madonna hasn't produced a song that can be considered more than remotely entertaining since the late 80's. At that point she realized that she would only remain relevant through controversy which I will grant that she succeeded at initially with that Justify My Love crap but going all the way in shock value means there's nowhere else to go from there. She's basically 20 years removed from anything we should care about yet somehow I keep hearing about the latest thing she's done that marks the "start" of her decline. Perhaps there hasn't been anyone to pick it up, but Madonna "passed the torch" long ago.

[Krissy]

I think Lady Gaga is so entertaining! She takes risks, she improvises! She works with a gaggle of artistic friends and pushes the envelope! I am so tired of female performers doing the same. old. thing. She is like a breath of fresh air. She has massive talent to write, sing, and play instruments. I think there is no limit to what she can do!

[Dom]

I agree with everything you said. The sketch with Madonna and Gaga was just weird and awkward, but the solo where it was just her and the piano was incredible, touching, and vulnerable in a very appealing way.

I think one of the reasons why Lady Gaga is so popular is because beneath the slavish dance beats is a hidden strain of vulnerability and pain, which is probably also one of things that make her appeal to gays in particular.

[arcanasinner]

To the person who said Madonna paved the way for Whitney, Mariah, and Janet: The person who really paved the way for them - including Madonna - was Michael Jackson. I am not and never was an MJ fan, but one has to give due where credit is due: Madonna took Freddy DeMann as manager when he left Jackson, so it was obvious she wanted to follow in his footsteps (remember the Like a Virgin/Billie Jean performance from The Virgin Tour?). And, whatever you think of him, he was - following in the footsteps of The Beatles and Elvis - one of the major stratospheric superstars, and probably the biggest of his era. How quickly people forget...

[Adam]

It's interesting everyone saying that Lady Gaga's image is tacky and distracting and that it's "too bad" because she has talent. I know of a couple of other artists that have endured the same jabs for many years, but eventually their raw talent came through and people understood that one's image is exactly what they WANT it to be and the talent shines through - those artists were and are Dolly Parton and Elton John. Crazy costumes, big fake blonde hair, make up - all just their self expression. But how many people seriously doubt their talent and staying power these days? Not many. If you read up on Gaga you'll understand this is a chick who LIVES this image - this is not for stage. She walks the streets her own designs, this is simply her expression of her fashion sense - like it or not. She knows it's odd and causes conversation and debate, and I'm sure she enjoys it. Furthermore, no she is not a typical beauty - if she wasn't so damn talented, she probably wouldn't last because she doesn't have a typical perfect TV ready face - but you know what? She knows that and is proud of that fact - she can be as sexy as she feels and I guarantee you people will follow right along. She's here for the long haul. Mark it down.

[Limited gründen]

Very funny, very cool!