SA gets freaky over Gaga show

27 November 2012 - 02:07 By ANDILE NDLOVU
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Lady Gaga has caused a huge stir ahead of her show in South Africa, with her fans over the moon and her critics damning her as a Satanist
Lady Gaga has caused a huge stir ahead of her show in South Africa, with her fans over the moon and her critics damning her as a Satanist

If it hasn't dawned on you by now how big a star Lady Gaga is, you only need to see the pandemonium her imminent arrival in South Africa is causing.

First, there was a group of protesters who gathered outside Big Concerts' offices in Gardens, Cape Town, calling her the "Bride of Satan" and accusing her of corrupting the young.

Then, members of the SA Council of Churches' Youth Forum marched to the Department of Arts and Culture's offices in Pretoria to hand over a written request that the "Satanist" singer be banned from South Africa.

Yesterday, Beauty Without Cruelty members were seen handing out anti-Gaga leaflets in Greenside, Johannesburg. Another protest by the animal rights group is planned for Sandton City today.

Beauty Without Cruelty spokesman Smaragda Louw said yesterday: "Our protest is against Lady Gaga's support for the fur industry. She wears fur, despite telling [People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals] that she was against the wearing of fur.

"We want to tell people what she does, and about the horrors of the fur trade."

Louw stressed that his group was not connected to the Christian protesters opposing Lady Gaga.

He admitted that it would be pointless for his group to take its protest to the FNB Stadium on Friday night because they would be faced by "over 70000 fans".

But it can't be all bad for Mother Monster.

She once told local group Die Antwoord on her Twitter page: "i fink u freaky but you don't have a hit. hundred thousand tickets sold in SA. #thatmysh*t."

One local little monster, Kyle Carson, can't wait to dress up in big way for the big day.

"[My friends and I] had planned to go to the concert in costume. But months went by without any communication. As November neared, I eventually put the concept together and sent it to [my friends], who loved it," said Carson.

"The idea was borne out of Lady Gaga's love for, and inspiration, of all things '80s. The original idea was to be a bit more grungy - denim and leather. But we obviously got a bit sidetracked with the more futuristic gold/glam look," he added.

Carson is worried that the party might become a little rough, and his outfit might suffer because of it.

"Things might be torn off or break - such as the chain detail and the diamante," he said.

SPOILER ALERT

THIS is what Lady Gaga' s South African fans can expect - but as it's her first time here the set list might change to include more of her older material :

When the lights go off, a three-storey medieval castle appears, with smoke billowing around it. Mother Monster then appears on a mechanical horse to open the show with Highway Unicorn (Road To Love).

She follows that with Government Hooker, Born This Way, Black Jesus ? Amen Fashion, Bloody Mary, Bad Romance, Judas, Fashion of His Love, Just Dance, Love Game, Telephone, Heavy Metal Lover, Bad Kids, Hair, You and I, Electric Chapel, Americano, Poker Face, Alejandro, Paparazzi and Scheiße;

The encore is The Edge of Glory and Marry the Night; and

The controversial suicide song Princess Die sometimes appears on the set list.

Crew started setting up the stage on the FNB stadium pitch on Friday.

Big Concerts announced yesterday afternoon on its Facebook page that an additional batch of standing tickets had been released and were available at Computicket.

Her band consists of musical director Joe "Flip" Wilson, Brockett Parsons (keyboards), George "Spanky" McCurdy (drums), Lanar "Kern" Brantley (bass), and Ricky Tillo and Tim Stewart (guitars).

Gaga plays piano, and guitar for the song Electric Chapel. - Andile Ndlovu

EAT TO THE BEAT: POP STAR'S MENU

MANY applauded Mother Monster's weight gain , so it's not known if her diet has changed.

But if she sticks to the menu demanded in her 2010 backstage rider, the superstar seeks two bottles of wine (either Kendal Jackson or Robert Mondavi), a bag of tortilla chips, packs of dried apples and mango, a plate of cheese and wholewheat crackers, non-fat and plain Greek yoghurt, cans of Coke Zero, canned soups, a dozen bottles of still water, 5-Factor snack bars, Quaker "weight control" oats, sliced turkey or chicken on wholegrain crackers with mustard, an assortment of fresh fruits, and a deli tray with an assortment of meats. - Andile Ndlovu

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