Lady Gaga has spoken out in response to David Bowie‘s son Duncan Jones’ criticism of her GRAMMYs performance, revealing that ‘it hurt’.
The ‘Joanne’ and ‘Perfect Illusion’ star performed a tribute performance in honour of Bowie at this year’s GRAMMY Awards. Joined by Nile Rodgers, she ran through a medley of hits by the Thin White Duke – before his son, acclaimed director Duncan Jones, slammed it as ‘overexcited, irrational and mentally confused’.
"overexcited or irrational, typically as a result of infatuation or excessive enthusiasm; mentally confused." Damn it! What IS that word!?
— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) February 16, 2016
Speaking to NME for this week’s cover story, Gaga said “I don’t know why people compare me to David Bowie, because there will never be another David Bowie and I don’t think anyone is comparable to him.
“Maybe because I stole his lightning bolt for my first video, but it was an homage to my greatest inspiration. I don’t know, it makes me uncomfortable, I should say – I just want to be me.”
Revealing that the GRAMMYs performance was ‘devastating’ and ‘extremely difficult, she continued: “I really did not want to do it when they first called me because it was so soon after and I felt very uncomfortable.
“I did my very best to put together something that I hoped would be the showstopper of the night. All I wanted was for when the Grammys were over, for people to talk of nothing but David Bowie, and I think I achieved that.”
“I’m sure that was difficult to watch and of course, I called many people on David’s team before I even begun doing that project and it’s unfortunate, what can I say? But God bless of him, you know?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-PaCgbT81A
Speaking of her genuine and enduring love for Bowie, Gaga added: “I do want my David Bowie fans in the world that are reading, there was a bona fide group of Bowie kids that adore and love him working on that tribute together, and so much of what we did in that medley was imagery and movement and choreography that was from him exactly.
“This was, like, when I was growing up in New York, about 18, I ran into the Bowie crew of kids downtown and we’re all still very very close friends. Kids that walked and talked, were obsessed with Bowie. Lady Starlight had the Ziggy haircut for I don’t know how long. This was made from a place of real and genuine love and that’s all I can really say about it. Real, genuine love and adoration for the Blackstar.”
‘Joanne’ by Lady Gaga is out now.
READ MORE: David Bowie’s 40 Greatest Songs – As Decided By NME And Friends
Bowie passed away in January at the age of 69.
A new ‘best of’ compilation ‘Bowie Legacy’ is set for release on 11 November. It has been reported that David Bowie planned ‘a long list of musical releases’ before he died, with the upcoming release of the ‘Lazarus’ musical soundtrack to feature his final ever recordings and unheard songs