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04-05-2025
BRASILIA: More than two million people have attended a free Lady Gaga concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, city officials say.
The pop star’s biggest ever concert was paid for by the city in an attempt to revitalize Rio’s economy.
They expect it could bring in $100m (£75m) to the local economy.
Saturday’s performance was part of a promotional tour for Lady Gaga’s eighth album, Mayhem, whose songs include Abracadabra and Die With a Smile. She last performed in Brazil in 2012.
Some fans known as Gaga’s “Little Monsters”, began queuing early in the morning and waited in long lines to gain access to the beach.
A massive security operation was in place, with 5,000 police officers on duty and attendees having to pass through metal detectors. The authorities also used drones and facial recognition cameras to help police the event.
Lady Gaga is not the first person to play a free concert in Rio. Madonna gave a concert on Copacabana beach in May 2024, which was also paid for by the city.
“You waited for me, you waited for more than 10 years for me,” an emotional Lady Gaga told the crowds as she unfurled a Brazilian flag.
“Brazil, I’m ready. I’m going to give it my all.”
The pop star appeared in Brazil-themed costumes for some of her acts, with outfits inspired by the national football team.
Thousands sang along with her best known hits including Alejandro, Poker Face and Abracadabra, creating an electric atmosphere as many waved rainbow-themed fans and watched on huge screens along the beach.
Fans travelled from all across the country to see the grandiose performance.
One man, 28-year-old Luan Messias, said he spent all night on a bus from Itanhaem in neighboring Sao Paulo state.
Alisha Duarte, 22, told media she started queuing at 0740 in the morning. “Lady Gaga is worth it! It’s going to get super crowded, but we’ll survive,” she said.
Another fan, Paulo Oliveira, explained why people were so excited about the concert. She “tells us that we can be who we are, that we can be different and that being different is cool,” he told media.
It’s going to be an “unforgettable show”, concert attendee Lai Borges told media on her way in. “It’s going to be emotional and I’m going to cry a lot,” she said.
As the event drew to a close, Lady Gaga told the audience in a reference to the nickname for Lady Gaga fans, “we are monsters and monsters never die,” and she brought the concert to a close with Bad Romance, perhaps her most famous song.
Meanwhile, Madonna put on a free concert in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday night with throngs of fans flocking to see the pop idol on Brazil’s famous Copacabana beach.
“Rio, here we are in the most beautiful place in the world,” she declared, as the performance got under way.
The show was the final stop on the 65-year-old’s Celebration Tour, celebrating her 40 years in music.
More than 1.6 million fans were estimated to have attended the show.
“Are you ready?” Madonna posted on her Instagram account seven hours before the show.
Crowds of fans were seen dancing along to Madonna’s songs played from speakers on the stage, hours before the American superstar arrived.
In what many have called a “historic” show, Madonna impressed the audience with multiple set and costume changes and light displays. (Int’l Monitoring Desk)
