Lady Gaga hits Istanbul stage

ISTANBUL

DHA Photo

U.S. singer Lady Gaga, widely regarded as the natural heir to Madonna’s Queen of Pop throne, hit the stage in Istanbul for her first performance in Turkey on Sept. 16.

The concert kicked off the Grammy award-winning singer’s European leg of her tour, backed up by a 144-member team consisting of dancers, creative directors, stylists and technicians. 

Starting on time at 9 p.m., Istanbul Technical University’s stadium hosted thousands of delirious Gaga fans, who created a feverish atmosphere to welcome the megastar.

Gaga changed more than five outfits during her performance, and also took off her dress on stage just before singing one of her most well-known hits “Bad Romance.”

The American singer performed a kind of "greatest hits" set including “Alejandro,” “Applause,” “Poker Face,” “Born This Way” and “G.U.Y.”

Addressing her fans in Turkish, Gaga said: “Sizi seviyorum” (I love you), and particularly praised her transsexual fans. “I travel all over the world. Believe me, it is really hard to be gay. Be proud of yourself, it is no matter what you are. He [God] loves all of you,” she said.

The 28-year-old, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, will be performing a total of 78 concerts in 68 cities during her tour of North America, Europe and Asia, which began on May 4 and will end Nov. 10.

The tour is in support of her third album, Artpop, released in 2013.