Lady Gaga goes full diva with epic “Million Reasons” at Royal Variety Performance

Lady Gaga displayed pure elegance during her Royal Variety Performance, giving viewers the complete diva experience with her song "Million Reasons." While her shows typically include skimpy attire and bold stage tactics, attendees witnessed an alternate version of the superstar at this UK charity event.

The pop icon looked breathtaking in a white floor-length ball gown, proving she can rival Celine Dion in vocal prowess. This subdued presentation highlighted her singing abilities, and she met the task with a strong, touching delivery of the ballad. The video ranks as the second most watched live performance on Gaga's channel, amassing 49 million views to date.

Spectators at London's Hammersmith Apollo enjoyed a special moment as Lady Gaga performed "Million Reasons" accompanied by a complete orchestra. While the studio track centers on acoustic guitar, the orchestra took the lead at this event, creating a truly magnificent rendition. The orchestral version feels so fitting that it suggests this approach might have been ideal from the beginning.

Lady Gaga excels at modifying her songs to enhance live performances. Another example is her live version of "Hold My Hand" at the 2023 Oscars. Her original recording for the Top Gun: Maverick soundtrack was much louder and bolder, but she chose a minimalist style for the Oscars, similar to an MTV Unplugged session. Gaga and her musicians perfectly executed this new arrangement.

Followers adored Gaga's fresh take on "Million Reasons" at the Royal Variety Performance, posting supportive remarks such as "She has such incredible control over her voice – possibly the best singer today" and "This live version is so much better than the recorded one. She is absolutely amazing in every way!"

"Million Reasons" featured a notable writing crew, with Lady Gaga collaborating with Hillary Lindsey and Mark Ronson, who also helped produce the track. Lindsey joined Gaga for a Nashville show on October 5, 2016, where the singer told the audience about the song's creation: "I wrote this song with a Nashville native, Hillary Lindsey," she said.

Lady Gaga revealed, "We relaxed on a sofa together, alternating between guitar and piano, and discussed, 'Why these men, you know?' All these males – my father, my romantic partner, every man in my life – they provided me with a million reasons [to depart], but I simply need one positive reason to remain."

The country-inspired track was launched as the follow-up single from Gaga's fifth album Joanne, and became a significant global success for the vocalist, reaching the top 10 charts in several nations. The composition achieved its greatest popularity in the United States and Italy, earning triple Platinum status in both markets.