Importance Score: 55 / 100 🔵
Lady Gaga Electrifies Coachella 2025 with Career-Spanning Performance
Pop icon Lady Gaga captivated fans as the headliner at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival 2025 in Indio, California on Friday night, delivering a high-energy performance that spanned her celebrated career. The Grammy-winning artist launched her nearly two-hour set to an ecstatic crowd of “little monsters,” opening with “Bloody Mary” from her album “Born This Way,” followed by a dynamic selection of hits including “Abracadabra,” “Judas,” and “Poker Face.”
Nods to Iconic Music Videos
Throughout her headlining Coachella performance, Lady Gaga incorporated a series of subtle nods to her iconic music videos, delighting longtime fans with nostalgic moments.
During “Paparazzi,” she sported metal crutches, echoing the memorable props from the 2009 music video. In a striking visual, Gaga revisited her “Bad Romance” era by recreating a scene with skeletons, and a dancer donning a white crown mirroring her original video attire.
Debut of New Album ‘Mayhem’ Tracks
In addition to her beloved classics, the celebrated artist also presented songs from her newly released seventh studio album, “Mayhem,” including “Disease” and “Killah.” Gaga had previously expressed her anticipation to perform these new tracks, telling Uproxx, “I really love that record. It’s the Gesaffelstein feature. It’s ultra confident, ultra funky, super unique and cool.”
The influential singer-songwriter further commented, “I’ve never done anything like it before, so that’s making me feel really excited just to do something I haven’t done yet.”
Building Anticipation and Surprise
Leading up to her highly anticipated headlining performance at the music festival, the acclaimed songstress had hinted at “Mayhem in the Desert,” generating buzz among her dedicated fanbase.
However, Gaga remained intentionally secretive about the other surprises planned for her Coachella set. “I genuinely don’t want to give anything away about Coachella,” she stated in an interview with Uproxx. She further explained, “I know that is heartless of me, in a way, but I could honestly cry on the phone with you just thinking about how excited I am to do this show, and I want it to be a total surprise, and want everyone to have as much fun as possible.”
Returning Headliner and 2017 Performance
This appearance marks Lady Gaga’s second time headlining Coachella. She previously headlined the renowned music festival in 2017, stepping in as the main act after Beyoncé was forced to withdraw due to her pregnancy with twins Rumi and Sir.
According to a representative for Beyoncé, “Following the advice of her doctors to keep a less demanding schedule in the coming months, Beyoncé has made the decision to forgo performing at the 2017 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival.”
Reports indicated that Gaga had only two weeks to prepare her 2017 Coachella set, and she delivered a dynamic performance featuring a selection of her chart-topping hits such as “Poker Face,” “Telephone,” “The Cure,” and “Bad Romance.”
“A Star Is Born” Announcement and Somber Moment
During her 2017 Coachella Weekend 2 performance, Gaga also used the platform to announce her then-forthcoming film, “A Star Is Born,” which subsequently became a significant box office success.
From the stage, Gaga expressed gratitude to her co-star and director Bradley Cooper, sharing that they had filmed scenes on the festival grounds.
Amidst the high-energy set, a poignant moment occurred when the acclaimed artist performed an acoustic rendition of “The Edge of Glory” as a tribute to her friend Sonja, who was battling cancer.
Reflection on Past Success and Current Vision
Reflecting on her previous Coachella appearance, Gaga shared with Uproxx, “I’ve been lucky that I’ve had some real success since the last time I performed at Coachella.”
She continued, “But also, I love my new album so much, and I’m so excited to perform it live. I can’t wait. So this felt like a great opportunity to do something creative and artistic and just bring my full vision to life.”
Coachella 2025 Lineup and Festival Details
Alongside Lady Gaga, the Coachella 2025 lineup boasts other prominent headliners including Green Day, Post Malone, and Travis Scott. The festival features nearly 150 performances across two weekends, showcasing a diverse range of artists such as Missy Elliott, Charli XCX, and Megan Thee Stallion.
Coachella Weekend 1 spans Friday through Sunday, while Weekend 2 is scheduled for April 18-20. Tickets for the highly anticipated music festival are available for purchase online.