Lady Gaga performs to over two million fans at free concert on Copacabana
LADY GAGA GAVE a free concert last night in front of more than two million fans who poured onto Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach for the biggest show of her career.
'Tonight, we're making history. Thank you for making history with me,' Lady Gaga told a screaming crowd in the Brazilian capital.
Concert organisers said at least 2.1 million people attended the show.
She kicked off the show at around 10.10pm local time with her 2011 song Bloody Mary.
Cries of joy rose from the crowds of tightly-packed fans who sang and danced shoulder-to-shoulder on the beach's vast stretch of sand.
Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
Lady Gaga performed her classic hits, including Poker Face and Alejandro, switching between an array of costumes, including a dress with the colours of the Brazilian flag.
Some fans – many of them young – arrived on the beach at the crack of dawn to secure a good spot, carrying snacks and drinks. They spent the day under a blazing sun, while others perched in trees, determined to get a panoramic view.
'Today is the best day of my life,' said Manoela Dobes, a 27-year-old designer who was wearing a dress plastered with a photograph from when she met Lady Gaga in the United States in 2019.
'It's surreal to be here.'
Madonna turned Copacabana Beach into a massive dance floor last year with her own free show at the iconic stretch of seaside.
The large-scale performances are part of an effort led by Rio's City Hall to boost economic activity after Carnival and New Year's Eve festivities ahead of the upcoming month-long Saint John's Day celebrations in June.
Advertisement
'It brings activity to the city during what was previously considered the low season – filling hotels and increasing spending in bars, restaurants, and retail, generating jobs and income for the population,' said Osmar Lima, the city's secretary of economic development, in a statement released by Rio City Hall's tourism department last month.
Similar concerts are scheduled to take place every year in May at least until 2028.
Lady Gaga arrived in Rio in the early hours of Tuesday. The city has been alive with Gaga-mania since, as it geared up to welcome the pop star for her first show in the country since 2012.
Alamy
Alamy
Rio's metro employees danced to Lady Gaga's 2008 hit song LoveGame and gave instructions for Saturday in a video to commuters. A free exhibition celebrating her career sold out.
While the vast majority of attendees were from Rio, the event also attracted Brazilians from across the country and international visitors.
More than 500,000 tourists poured into the city in the days leading up to the show, more than double the initial forecast, according to data from the local bus station and Tom Jobim airport, Rio's City Hall said in a statement on Friday.
Ingrid Serrano, a 30-year-old engineer, made a cross-continent trip from Colombia to Brazil to attend the show. 'I've been a 100% fan of Lady Gaga my whole life,' she said while wearing a T-shirt featuring Lady Gaga's outlandish costumes over the years.
For her, the mega-star represents 'total freedom of expression – being who one wants without shame'.
Rio officials have a history of organising huge concerts on Copacabana Beach. Madonna's show drew an estimated 1.6 million fans last year, while four million people flooded onto the beach for a New Year's Eve show by Rod Stewart in 1994. According to Guinness World Records, that was the biggest free rock concert in history.
To ensure fans could hear the songs, sixteen sound towers were spread along the beach. Rio state's security plan included the presence of 3,300 military and 1,500 police officers, and 400 military firefighters.
Among those present were Lady Gaga admirers who remember their disappointment in 2017 when the artist cancelled a performance scheduled in Rio at the last minute due to health issues.
Ricardo Filho, who has been a fan since childhood, said it was worth the wait. 'She's the best artist in the world,' the 25-year-old said, as chants of 'Gaga, I love you' in Portuguese rose from the crowd behind him.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Tom Dunne: Rory Gallagher still rocking Cork 30 years after his passing
You will be hard pressed to avoid Rory Gallagher's presence in Cork this weekend. Thirty years gone but never forgotten. The main road in Cork airport is to be named after him, exhibitions at City Hall and the Library, a city-wide walking trail… it is as it should be. The consensus at this point is that he is Cork's finest cultural export and I wouldn't question that. Time spent in Rory's world is time well spent. It does the heart good. Rory rocked Cork and Cork rocks Rory. I met him twice. The first, when my band Something Happens made its first ever UK appearance in the late 1980s. As part of that magic trip, a very early days Ryan Air flight, a gig at Vince Power's Mean Fiddler, a night in the Columbia Hotel, we were invited onto the BBC. It was impossible to have seen any BBC output in those days without having also seen Broadcasting House, the BBC London headquarters. Situated between Oxford Street and Regent's Park, bombed twice in World War II, it seemed as iconic as the queen herself. It was the last place you expected to hear a Cork accent. But as we approached the doors that was what we heard. 'You an Irish band lads?' asked the voice. We turned and there he was, Rory Gallagher. Bold as brass and twice as good-looking. He asked how we were getting on, seemed genuinely excited that we had signed a record deal, enquired about Virgin, sang the praises of the Mean Fiddler, and wished us the best in our interview. We were gobsmacked, speechless, in awe. I hear his voice still. A few years later we got to play with him at the Lark by the Lee in Cork. We stood side stage to watch that most inspiring of all sights: Rory Gallagher, his 1961 Fender Strat and his Vox AC30 amp. The holy trinity of rock. A spinning dervish, the guitar speaking for him, saying what he couldn't. I still think of it. It comes with a whiff of imposter syndrome for us to have been on that same stage as him, but for him to have made time to talk to us that night at the BBC, the sheer generosity of it, is something I will never forget. I hope in the exhibitions, one of which Rory's Early Impact focuses on his early years in the Fontana Show Band (later The Impact) a light is shone, tangentially at least, on his mum, Monica. If a proper biopic is ever made, hers will be a key role. It was Monica who took Rory and his younger brother Donal to live in Cork when the children were very young. Rory already has his sights set on music and Monica promised to buy him a guitar if he settled in his new school. It was she who accompanied him to Crowley's music shop, then on Merchant's Quay when in 1963 he had his heart set on a Fender guitar. He'd hoped that when faced with Mick Crowley she'd weaken and buy him the guitar despite the exorbitant price of £129. But she stood firm. Jim recalled that once outside the shop there was a conflab and after it, Monica returned to ask if they ever got in any second-hand Strats. Mick told her it was unlikely. He'd only sold two or three such guitars and most people would keep them forever. What happened next is a fantastic reflection on the vagaries of the Irish showband scene at the time. When a member of the Royal Showband found that his new guitar clashed with the band's new suits it was the guitar got hocked and not the suits. Crowley's suddenly had a second-hand Strat. Mick made his way to the Gallagher's and left a message. Rory slipped out of school to examine the guitar and conclude 'Yep, that's the one!' He was back with Monica at 5.30pm to pay a deposit and negotiate a hire purchase. In his showband days, still a young teen and playing gigs while still going to the North Mon school, Rory fell foul of the teachers and was beaten for his long hair. Monica pulled him out of the school and deposited him at Saint Kieran's college, a co-ed on Camden Quay. Monica warned the new principle: 'My son is a musician…some mornings he will be late coming in.' It wasn't off the stones he licked it, as they say.
The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Hit TV show cancelled after four seasons on air and tragic death of star
FOX have cancelled one of their hit TV shows after four seasons. The Cleaning Lady's last episode has already aired - leaving fans devastated. 3 The Cleaning Lady has now been cancelled Credit: Kurt Iswarienko/FOX 3 Adan Canton tragically passed away last year Credit: Alamy The network has cited poor ratings for the demise of the crime drama - going from three million per episode during the first couple of seasons to just a million by the fourth. It comes a year after the death of the show's beloved star Adan Canto, who The X-Men actor starred in 25 episodes of The Cleaning Lady before his death. Adan made his final appearance on The Cleaning Lady on April 9 of last year, which showed his character, Arman Morales, being captured in a van after a botched drug deal. Adan's family ended up finding him and the vehicle after a planned drop-off in the desert. Thony was involved in a shootout with Arman's kidnappers, which ultimately led to the tragic end. The car, which Arman was in, had flown over a cliff after he had moved the kidnapper's hand that was pointing a gun at Thony. After seeing Thony's sad reaction, fans gathered that Arman and the others in the car had died in the crash. Most read in Celebrity The episode ended with a flashback to a scene between Arman and Thony kissing in Season 1. Adan Canto written off The Cleaning Lady with emotional tribute months after his death at 42 from cancer Alongside the character's death, the series also paid tribute to the late actor with an on-screen message after the flashback scene. Before the credits rolled, the words "In Loving Memory of Adan Canto" were shown on a white background. 3 Thony De La Rosa is played by Elodie Yung on the show Credit: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. & Fox Media LLC
The Irish Sun
8 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Famous pub loved by Oasis brothers announces sudden closure after 25 years as ‘disappointed' brewers issue statement
A FAMOUS pub loved by Noel and Liam Gallagher is set to close this week. The Shaston Arms, in London's Soho, will be shutting its doors on June 15 for the final time. Advertisement 3 The Shaston Arms pub facade in Soho with its gold-on-red lettering Credit: Alamy 3 The Gallagher brothers Noel and Liam both drank there - but not together Credit: Alamy The iconic boozer is literally a stone's throw from one of London's premier shopping shopping destinations, Carnaby Street. Other famous patrons included film stars Ewan McGregor and Jude Law, the later of whom was apparently fond of the pub's bangers and mash. The 90s boyband Blue even signed their first ever contract in the establishment. Advertisement Read more on News With its gold-on-red lettering outside and its dark wooden panelling and plush red leather banquette seating, you could be forgiven for thinking the Shaston Arms was a Victorian relic. However, the pub actually only opened in 1999, since which it has been managed by landlady Sally Graham. Prior to that the location hosted a pair of shops. The name 'Shaston' was taken from the novelist Thomas Hardy, who invented the name for his imaginary version of Shaftesbury in Dorset. Advertisement Most read in The Sun To celebrate the pub's 25th anniversary last year, the public house changed its name to The Lady Shaston in homage to landlady Sally. One wag earlier this year posted on Facebook after visiting: "The Shaston Arms is now The Lady Shaston. My pronouns are still tipsy/drunk." Noel Gallagher looks stony-faced as he makes lonely Tube journey to Oasis rehearsals – but Liam's entrance is chaotic The pub was run by Dorset-based brewers Hall & Woodhouse. In a statement posted to Instagram announcing the closure, they said: "We are disappointed that after 25 wonderful years, we are sadly saying goodbye to The Shaston Arms in Carnaby. Advertisement "Our wish was to renew the lease on the building, but we understand that the landlord wishes to pursue a restaurant offer on Ganton Street. "Therefore, the Shaston Arms will sadly close on Sunday 15th June 2025. "We know that the Shaton will be missed by the local community and thank our guests and team for their loyalty, support, and laughter over the past two and a half decades." 2025 has been a difficult year for London's historic pubs, with some of the capital's most famous taphouses closing. Advertisement Ye Olde Swiss Cottage, on Finchley Rd in north west London , was shut down at the start of February, much to the displeasure of loyal customers. As staff poured their last pints behind the bar, one fan told the BBC : "You choose a pub with a different atmosphere - a lot of them are becoming like clones now." 3 Oasis sold more than 900,000 tickets for their reunion tour this summer Credit: PA "It's one of those institutions you've always seen when you come into London," added another. Advertisement Another east London hotspot, The Gun, in Homerton, also closed its doors in March after 160 years of pouring pints. However, the brewer behind The Shaston Arms does stillhave a number of other pubs in London, including the Ship and Shovell by Embankment, which is split across two buildings facing each other that are joined by an underground cellar.
