With her hair tied back, dressed in a simple t-shirt and ripped jeans, and perched casually on a stool, Lady Gaga’s performance at the 2023 Oscars showcased a striking departure from the theatrical performances she became known for early in her career. Before singing her song ‘Hold My Hand,’ she introduced it by describing how she wrote it for the film ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ and how it was a “deeply personal” song for her. What followed was a performance that will leave you in awe.

Joined initially by just a piano accompaniment, Lady Gaga delivered a performance that was simple and raw before being joined by a full band and showcasing the immense power her voice holds. The online video reached 10M views, and fans were astonished by the simplicity and authenticity of her performance. One fan complimented the performance by commenting, “She has proved that talent and voice are the essence of a diva.”

Despite scaling back her well-known theatricality for the Oscars, she proved that she could still embrace it when needed. Only a year later, she made an appearance to sing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! With the release of her new album, ‘Harlequin’ coinciding with her appearance as Harley Quinn in the film ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’, she appeared on the chat show to perform the song ‘Happy Mistake’ from the album.

Appearing on stage in a bedraggled dress that made stylistic references to the carnival wear of the 1800s, Lady Gaga performed on a set decorated with mountains of shredded paper and surrounded by her band. Despite the return of the theatricality she is so famous for, the focus remained on Gaga’s vocals, with fans leaving astonished comments such as “This is a performance of a lifetime for the one and only Lady Gaga. Such powerful vocals here, this is simply phenomenal.”

While Lady Gaga has been extensively praised throughout her career for her artistry and her innovative attitude to performance, she has also received some critique that her theatricality may overshadow the quality of the music itself. With the performances she gave on Jimmy Kimmel, and especially at the 2023 Oscars, it will be clear to all fans that Lady Gaga has proven that her success truly does lie in her vocal talent and songwriting abilities. With her stripped-back and raw performances amazing viewers just as much as her more elaborate ones, it is safe to say that talent wins every time with this iconic artist.