US pop star Lady Gaga has landed in Dubai on her fourth world tour, ArtRave: The Artpop Ball Tour, where she will perform at Meydan Racecourse on Wednesday, September 10, 2014.
Dressed in a flesh-coloured and bejewelled sheer jalabiya by an unnamed UAE designer, with a skin-coloured leotard underneath, coupled with a blue sequined headband and long, platinum-blonde locks, she trod a fine line between revealing and demure.
Despite the five-hour wait in 40°C heat, her fans were ecstatic when she spent a few minutes posing for selfies with them and signing CDs and T-shirts before leaving for her hotel in a white SUV.
The National reports that on the question that whether she would be getting naked on stage during a costume change, as she has done during previous shows on the ArtRAVE: ARTPOP Ball tour.
“No, I will not be,” she said. “I respect the culture here. The show will be appropriate for all the fans here in Dubai. I was told there were some restrictions. I know some artists are very strict about their policies, that they cannot adhere to their art by compromising, but I actually believe it is important to respect other cultures and not force them to adhere to the beliefs of your own country. In fact, it is a better way to connect with the people.
“Most importantly, while I’m here, I would like to leave a message of light, happiness, creativity and freedom with the fans and that is more important than my clothes.” She added that while she was in Dubai she hoped to “support art and creativity” by visiting local fashion designers – some of whom will be involved in working on the wardrobe for her show – listening to regional music and getting a feel for the art scene in the UAE.
It was also reported earlier that Lady Gaga will be censored to respect UAE culture.
What to expect from Lady Gaga Concert at Meydan
Lady Gaga and her 95-strong entourage of make-up artists and hair stylists flew into Dubai on Monday, with her pet French bulldog, Asia, tucked firmly under the singer’s arm.
Here is what to expect when the songstress rocks Meydan racecourse Wednesday night with her first UAE show, part of her worldwide ArtRAVE: The Artpop Ball tour.
The show:
It’s a rollicking, confetti-blasting, glitter-infested, heart-pumping two-hour rave to which 25,000 people are invited.
Lady Gaga knows how to put on a show – and unlike Madonna, to whom she is often compared (much to Madonna’s chagrin), she is less ice queen and more about the “fan-to-artist” connection, complete with spectacular theatrics to boot.
The singer bursts on stage from below to the sounds of Artpop, the title track from the album that inspired the tour, wearing a spangly bejewelled and bewinged leotard decorated with a blue gazing ball designed by the artist Jeff Koons (the same orb graces the cover of her album).
The setlist veers from new album tracks such as Donatella, MANiCURE and Venus, to old favourites including Poker Face, Paparazzi, Born This Way and Just Dance, which are sure to get the audience gyrating.
Out of deference to her host country, she is likely to tone down more suggestive moves accompanying songs such as Do What U Want.
The show has been tweaked to “respect the local laws”. So for all those looking forward, with all the prurience of a Victorian peep-show audience, to the singer’s costume change on stage before launching into Bad Romance, you will be sadly disappointed. Lady Gaga will not be getting her kit off in public.
The venue
It has played host to Elton John, Sting and Jennifer Lopez. Now Meydan has been transformed for the arrival of Mother Monster, although she will not be staying in the adjoining hotel.
A 345-strong crew has been working furiously to get the stage ready in time, with 100 tonnes of equipment, from lighting tools to props – and that is in addition to Lady Gaga’s own entourage.
The stadium has been completely overhauled, with two stages connected by catwalks made of translucent Lucite, allowing concertgoers to walk underneath while still watching the show. The main stage resembles a white cave or igloo, which has been compared to Atlantica from The Little Mermaid, with a backdrop of digitised stars.
The outdoor arena will be fully air-conditioned, which will be a blessed relief to all those fans fearing sweltering in the late-summer humidity.
Tickets were still available this week and the venue looks far from sold out. In comparison, tickets for Gaga’s UK dates were reportedly snapped up within five minutes of going on sale.
The outfits
Lady Gaga’s infamous latex polka dot outfit with tentacles has been ditched from the Dubai show. Luckily, it was just one of about seven get-ups that become increasingly bizarre as the night went on, from a seashell bikini top and oversized wig to a range of masks and headpieces – and, of course, the anime-inspired atrocity with multi colored furry leg warmers and dreadlocked bunches to match.
It wouldn’t be Gaga without a unique twist on fashion. Offstage, she has had a propensity of late to forget to dress her bottom half (see every outing in Sydney; Korea and the New York Mets game, where she turned up in her underwear and a leather jacket).
Let’s see how Dubai reacts to the Princess of Pop. Lady Gaga concert at Meydan is going to be the talk of town for so many days to come.
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Source: the National.
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