From groundbreaking performances to record-breaking achievements, Lady Gaga has redefined what it means to be a pop icon. Join us as we explore the most incredible moments that prove why she's not just a singer, but a true cultural phenomenon.
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00:00Touch me, touch me, don't be sweet. Love me, love me, please retweet.
00:04Let me be the girl under you that makes you cry.
00:07Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down the biggest moments when Lady Gaga made history.
00:12She's got me stopping still. I'm on the right track. Baby, I was born this way.
00:19Number 10. A YouTube landmark.
00:21In YouTube's early days, millions flocked to watch content from independent creators.
00:26Evolution of dance, anyone?
00:28That all changed in 2009 when Lady Gaga dropped the Bad Romance music video.
00:39She wasn't just the first artist to hit a billion views. She also essentially changed the game for
00:44what people came to watch on the platform. After her groundbreaking achievement,
00:48music videos started dominating YouTube's most viewed list.
00:58Oh, and did we mention that Justin Bieber's baby was trailing close behind?
01:02He would eventually overtake her, but she still got there first.
01:06Basically, Bad Romance walked so videos like Gangnam Style,
01:09Despacito, and even Baby Shark could run.
01:20Number 9. The Monster Ball.
01:22Also in 2009, Mother Monster kicked off her second worldwide tour,
01:26The Monster Ball, which she called, quote,
01:28"...the first ever pop electro opera."
01:38And that wasn't the only milestone she hit. Gaga set a new record for a first-time headlining
01:43artist, pulling in 2.5 million fans across 203 shows and raking in $227.4 million.
01:51This is even more impressive when you know the original plan involved another
01:55artist who stirred up a lot of drama at that year's VMAs.
02:06When that fell apart, Gaga had to scramble for a new concept, and she went big,
02:11comparing it to a full-blown musical. Honestly,
02:13The Monster Ball set the bar for the artistry we now expect from her.
02:25You look so amazing.
02:27Number 8. The Greatest Pop Star of the Year.
02:30Lady Gaga might seem like an overnight success, but she'd be the first to tell
02:34you it took years and a full rebrand before the world noticed her. Once she
02:38released Just Dance and Poker Face in 2008, though, everyone was paying attention.
02:43Her first album stuck around in the Billboard 200's Top 20 for a whopping 39 weeks,
02:48and her singles were everywhere. Gaga also showed she was on another level with her performances.
03:03Plus, she completely changed the game for music videos,
03:07using them to tell incredible stories with unique visuals and some unforgettable styles.
03:11It is no surprise that Billboard named her the Greatest Pop Star of 2009.
03:27Number 7. Becoming the First Solo Female Coachella Headliner in a Decade.
03:31Becoming the first solo female Coachella headliner in a decade.
03:35In 2017, Lady Gaga made history as the first female artist to headline a solo set at Coachella,
03:42a title that hadn't been claimed since Bjork's performance in 2007.
03:54Funnily enough, this was originally supposed to go to Beyoncé, but she had to bow out on
03:58doctor's orders because she was pregnant with twins. We still got Beachella the next year,
04:02but Gaga stepped in and brought her own top-tier showmanship.
04:12She gave fans a mix of classic hits and new tracks from Joanne,
04:16and every moment was a visual masterpiece. However, the moment fans properly lost their
04:21minds was when she surprised everyone with her new song, The Cure.
04:28Number 6. A Very Busy 2016. Lady Gaga has set all kinds of firsts over the years,
04:38like in 2010 when she became the most nominated artist at the VMAs and the
04:43first female artist to have two music videos competing for Video of the Year.
04:47Fast forward to 2016, and she has continued the trend with unforgettable moments.
05:06She started by singing the U.S. national anthem at Super Bowl LIII,
05:10then honored David Bowie with a tribute at the Grammy Awards. She also left everyone
05:14breathless with her performance of Till It Happens to You at the Oscars.
05:18Why are these moments so special? Well, Gaga became the first to perform at all three events
05:23in the same year.
05:30Number 5. Launching the Born This Way fanbase.
05:34Launched in 2012 by Lady Gaga and her mom, Cynthia Germanotta,
05:38this foundation focuses on empowering young people and promoting mental wellness.
05:42We decided our mission was to build a kinder and braver world,
05:46and that we were going to do research as well as look for resources that were going to help
05:50facilitate that dream.
05:51Lady Gaga has been open about her struggles with mistreatment,
05:54anxiety, and depression in her documentary Inside the Outside.
05:57Lady Gaga has been open about her struggles with mistreatment, anxiety,
06:01and depression in her documentary Inside the Outside, which inspired her mission to create
06:05a safe and accepting environment for youth. What sets this foundation apart is its commitment to
06:10action. Rather than just shedding a spotlight on the issues, it provides tools for building
06:14confidence and self-love.
06:16We want to make sure that young people feel seen, that they feel supported,
06:19and that they know where to go to get support. We want to make sure that young people
06:23not only survive their lives, but that they're able to thrive.
06:26It also creates spaces where everyone, no matter their background or identity,
06:31can feel celebrated just for being themselves. It is a bold,
06:34necessary force for change in a world that desperately needs it.
06:37You matter, and you are loved, and there is a community of support that exists that needs you.
06:47That's kindness. That's how kindness heals things, and to me, kindness heals all things.
06:524. Refusing to give the haters what they want
06:56In the early 2010s, rumors spread about Lady Gaga being intersex after distorted
07:01photos of her infamous meat dress surfaced. But instead of addressing the gossip directly,
07:05Gaga often responded lightheartedly.
07:07Maybe I do.
07:10Would it be so terrible?
07:11During an interview with Bill Gates, she explained that she felt a responsibility to her fans,
07:16especially those struggling with their own identities.
07:19She felt setting the record straight could be more harmful than helpful.
07:22I thought about, like, what about a kid that's being accused of that,
07:25that would think a public figure like me would feel shame? It's like,
07:30sometimes, I guess what I'm saying is I've been in situations where
07:33fixing a rumor was not in the best interest of, I thought of, like, the well-being of other people.
07:39Instead, she used the moment to remind everyone, just like in her 2011 anthem Born This Way,
07:44to love themselves and feel empowered in their own skin, no matter what.
07:49Can we get a rewind on that and turn it up for the folks in the back?
07:52Love yourself and regret, just love yourself instead.
07:55I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way.
07:59Number three, her Super Bowl halftime show.
08:02Lady Gaga made history at the Super Bowl 51 halftime show by not only headlining solo,
08:07something that hadn't happened since 2010, but by taking the performance to new heights, literally.
08:13This land was made for you and me.
08:19Apparently, her sister came up with the idea for her to start the performance above the stadium,
08:23and she just ran with it. The 300 drones lighting up the sky behind her were a first
08:28for any broadcast event, too. Can't read my, can't read my, no, he can't read my poker face.
08:35Come on, Houston!
08:37But beyond the technical wow factor, what stood out most was the powerful message of love and
08:42inclusivity, especially for the LGBTQIA plus community. It was a celebration of music,
08:47art, and love, and the world definitely noticed,
08:50making it the fourth most-watched halftime show at the time.
08:53A hundred million reasons to walk away.
09:00Number two, the meat dress. Lady Gaga is known for making bold statements,
09:05from her gory 2009 VMAs look to hatching from an egg at the 2011 Grammys. But nothing made a
09:11bigger splash than her 2010 VMAs entrance in a raw beef dress by designer Frank Fernandez.
09:17Naturally, it left everyone wondering what message she was sending.
09:21Gaga later revealed it was a protest against the U.S. Army's don't ask, don't tell policy.
09:25The reality of it is, I was there with four
09:30soldiers that had been discharged under the pretense of don't ask, don't tell.
09:35It was the last of three looks she wore that night,
09:37and she even accepted her Video of the Year award in it.
09:40I never thought I'd be asking Cher to hold my meat purse.
09:44She wore it again during an interview with Ellen, a vegan.
09:47How many artists can say their dress became jerky for posterity?
09:50It has many interpretations, but for me this evening, it's as if we don't stand up for what
09:55we believe in. If we don't fight for our rights, pretty soon we're gonna have as much rights as the
09:59meat on our bones. Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell
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10:171. So many awards in so little time
10:20In 2018, Lady Gaga took on the role of aspiring artist Ali in A Star Is Born,
10:25where she got her big break singing alongside country rock star Jackson Maine.
10:29I'm off the deep end, watch as I dive in. I'll never meet the ground.
10:38For many, it felt like she was singing straight from a place of relating to Ali's grind in the
10:42entertainment biz. It became a massive hit and spawned one of the most popular songs of the year.
10:57Not only did Gaga blow the roof off with this performance, but she also co-wrote the number.
11:02Thanks to its success, Gaga won an Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe,
11:06and Grammy Award in the same awards season, making her the first woman to achieve such a feat.
11:18Which history-making Lady Gaga moment impressed you the most? Let us know in the comments.
11:30Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo,
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