U2 found what they were looking for in a duet partner on Wednesday night at the Sphere in Las Vegas, when Lady Gaga joined the group for duets on one of her songs, ‘Shallow’, and two of theirs, ‘All I Want Is You’ and ‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’.
Bono introduced his leather-clad guest as “the boldest, most vivacious woman in any room she’s ever been in. Would you please welcome to our turntable the divine – the divinyl! – Lady Gaga”.
He wasn’t done praising her divinity. “Take it to the Elvis chapel!” Bono exclaimed during a breakdown in the middle of “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” – and went on to tell his duet partner, “You are the vestal virgin of Las Vegas!”
Their joint take on “All I Want Is You” segued without pause into Bono’s riff on “Shallow”, with the singer slowly moving into the tune and pointing at Gaga as if to make sure she stayed on stage for it, suggesting the possibility that the band had pulled it out as a surprise for her. Either way, she was more than ready for it.
Gaga returned to what was until recently her own stomping ground in Nevada. Earlier this month, on the 5th of October, she wrapped up an extension of her long-running “Jazz & Piano” show at Dolby Live in Park MGM.
Since leaving Las Vegas, Gaga seems to be on her own tour – with the world’s most popular rock bands. As recently as 19 October, she was on the other side of the country, joining the Rolling Stones for a performance of “Sweet Sounds of Heaven”, the song she sings alongside Mick Jagger on the band’s new album, “Hackney Diamonds”. The duet took place during a surprise 25-minute show at the 500-capacity Racket Club in Chelsea.
Shortly before Gaga took to the stage in Las Vegas, the Stones’ YouTube account posted her full performance of ‘Sweet Sounds of Heaven’ with the band in New York.
Gaga’s appearance at the Sphere wasn’t her first time at the altar with U2, so to speak. She performed “Ordinary Love” with Bono and company at a show at Madison Square Garden in 2015.
U2 have not had any celebrity guests on stage at the band’s own Vegas residency. There’s plenty of time for more. The band recently announced an extension that will add 11 shows in January and February 2024, bringing the total number of shows at the new venue to 36 for now. The newly added shows will take place on 26, 27 and 31 January and 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 15, 17 and 18 February.
