There was no meat dress or giant condom to accompany Lady Gaga’s return at the VMAs last night.
The shock tactics that have caught everyone’s attention in past years took a back seat, but she still put on one hell of a show to kick off the night.
She tore through her current single “Applause” — as well as most of her wardrobe, too, switching costumes and styles mid song.
In the space of barely four minutes, Gaga dusted off her early blond-bombshell image, evoked the disheveled-Marilyn-Monroe look and finished up by strutting like Beyoncé with a shell bikini and a head full of golden curls.
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An entertaining start rapidly turned bizarre courtesy of Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke. They danced among creepy teddy bears and simulated doggy-style sex to the sound of “Blurred Lines,” creating the night’s weirdest moment.
It was pop at its confusing and provocative best, but whatever drugs those guys are doing, it’s probably best to never partake.
Justin Timberlake also wowed with a spectacular 15-minute medley of greatest hits.
Kanye West’s silhouetted performance of “Blood on the Leaves” was daring but didn’t connect with the crowd.
Drake was solid but needed the aid of pyrotechnics to make an impact, while Katy Perry’s much-hyped finale under the Brooklyn Bridge proved underwhelming.