This is a genuine question and I'm not trolling!

I'd just like to say that I do like the songs that they release! BUT, I don't understand what is so impressive about the dance/staging aspect of their performances on stage.

I randomly came across two old performances by Madonna from the 80s/90s, and it is apparently very iconic because of the staging of it. The same applies to Beyonce and Lady Gaga, Britney etc.

My point is that, shouldn't credit go to the technical crew who design the lighting/costume designers? I don't understand what is so impressive about it There are 100s of dancers in London alone let alone worldwide, who go to dance school who would be easily be able to learn the routine and wear the same clothes and costumes.

I just want to know what is good about "performances", when everyone only says "wow, did you see that routine?" etc etc?

I find their songs far more impressive tbh.

I never understood the fascination in women on stage walking around in tin foil outfits and probably never will... much rather be in a stadium to see a band belting out rock songs.

Agreed. It's like when people say they don't mind their favourite artists miming because the show they put on is so entertaining. At the end of the day, surely you want to hear them sing live, all the fluffy dancing and outfit changes shouldn't be more important than that.

I actually find Gaga's best performances are the ones where it is her and a piano belting out a tune. So she can only take the credit for that one...

I can't say much about Lady Gaga or Beyonce not a fan of either of them but I seen Madonna live a few years back it was one of the most disappointing performances I've ever seen

I'd rather see a band in a small to medium sized venue, where the performers aren't remote stick insects on a far away stage.!

I think there's a very thin line between a good, energetic stage performance and an over the top performance clearly staged so that the lights and dancing takes the attention away from the weakness of the singing/song.

me too her voice is actually beautiful!

I think that could of been the problem I seen Madonna at Live Earth so she didn't have her usual stage set up. It was very obvious that shes not the best singer in the world. She totally murdered La Isla Bonita

I haven't seen Madonna or Lady Gaga live, but having seen Beyonce she really is incredible. It's the combination of superb live vocals, dance routines and the ability to completely captivate the crowd. Credit to everyone involved in creating such performances.

I generally prefer to see bands etc. but Beyonce is one of the few who stand out as an entertainer for me. Maybe you just have to actually see them live to get what is so brilliant about them.

I also agree with some of the other posters re Gaga, she's at her best when she's just singing and playing piano for me.

Oh I'm not a fan of any of those but these topics!

We all like different things why can't people deal with that!? :yawn:

Not sure about this question, but anyway looking at"Diveresity"who won"BGT", they've gone on to have certain success, whereas Susan Boyle who sings and came second has had much more success, so just being a dancer wouldn't get the ordinary noticed, but combining the two adds a lot to a performance for a lot of people. Thats what put Michael Jackson head and shoulders above his peers, not that I'm a fan of GA GA or Madonna.

That's made me think about the nature of the word 'performance'.

It appears that the word itself has been hijacked and adapted to mean something different to what I used to believe it to mean.

I always believed that when a singer gave a performance it was the singer themselves who performed.
But now the 'performance' can mean anything that has nothing to do whatsoever with the actual song performance of the singer or the band themselves.
Now the performance can mean the fluff that gift wraps everything. The smoke and mirrors which can even detract your attention away from what the act is actually doing.

Now miming can be classified as part of the performance, and the act can be given credit for giving an 'amazing' performance.

I never really noticed this creeping up on me but it appears that over the years there has been a gradual ground-shift which has changed what people classify as a performance over time.
Now an impressive laser show with acrobats can be an adequate substitution for the quality of the songs and the talent and ability of the act themselves.

I think primarily is because the performer themselves comes up with concepts, staging, choreography and new ways to perform the song. Technical crews are important, but the artists' need to think up a theme and all the stuff i mentioned for them to start working on getting ready.

It's subjective and it seems in recent years though it's been the in thing to be snobby toward pop.

What the artists you mentioned do is entertain its a spectacle there are catchy songs fun and frivolous performances that engage the audience making it feel like a communal experience to the backround of pop songs that are the soundtrack to peoples lives people are not going to be intellectually stimulated but to be entertained which is what these women do.

it works in the same way as festivals everyone is in it together and its all an experience the music visuals etc a perfect package.

I didn't get this topic at all until I found out that the OP is a fan of Rebecca Ferguson. Right. Got it.

I don't what it is about Madonna but she is the best female entertainer there ever has been. She could place her tiny finger on the stage and would own it. She just knows what to do.

i take it you mean Maradona?

Madonna, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Beyonce and Britney (1998-2006)

^ they all get/got on the stage and command your attention. Especially during a chaotic dance routine if the performer is on point the energy that radiates is unbelievable, and gives you goosebumps. That is the true definition of 'The X-Factor'

? When have I said that?

Charisma is the word. They all ooze effortless charisma and Gaga/Beyonce/Madonna put the effort into designing the shows. They're there planning the lighting, the timings, the chroeography with their choreographers, the costume changes etc - the people doing the work while the show is on are basically just following instructions set by the ladies and their teams.

The fact that they're able to take control as they do and put on such sleek and spine tingling stage shows, tours and general performances deserves respect and admiration.

Examples are Beyonce's Glastonbury set & Gaga at VMA2009 Maticulously planned with the ladies themselves having the main input into what goes on and making their vision reality.

They're multi-skilled, then they basically put themselves on the canvas and become the painting, to use a metaphor. They view it from the opposite angle and work with their creation living and breathing around them, and at the same time they're delivering a near flawless vocal at the same time as doing a fairly athletic dance routine.

Not only are all these skills admirable, but they conjure up excitement in the live crowds and build tension and adrenaline. It's pretty amazing.

It's irelevent whether you do or not
Personal music choice is allowed

I agree, there is just 'something' about her isn't there?

But what is that 'something'? Your guess is as good as mine.

She has a secret 'ingredient' that even her longstanding fans have yet to figure out.

I can only talk about Madonna because I've never seen the others live...I think what you're taking about is artistic vision and in Madonna's case, it's one of the keys of her shows. Obviously you have to give credits to the technical team but she pretty much has the vision of what her shows should be and while on an aesthetic level the technical team are doing a fantastic job to deliver this vision, on the artistic one, it's obvious who's leading the ship. If you think about Blond Ambition Tour for example, it has pretty much changed the rules of showmanship. Before it, arguably there was no other concert including elements of theatre, ballet mixed with live music. At least as far as Female performers are concerned.

If you single out the elements, it wouldn't be difficult to find a better dancer than Madonna, a better singer than Beyonce or a more creative performer than Lady Gaga...but finding someone who ticks all the boxes like they do? Difficult.

Furthermore, the technical team who realise their performance ideas could be brilliant at what they do, but can they visualise entertaining performances in addition to singing/dancing/songwriting etc?

It's all about the full package. These woman impress because they can do so much.