Global pop icon Lady Gaga has announced a special holiday treat for her devoted fanbase, known as "Little Monsters." She will release a full-length concert film, "Lady Gaga in Harlequin Live: One Night Only," as a Christmas present, premiering digitally this Christmas Eve.
Harlequin Live: Release Schedule and Details
The highly anticipated concert film is set for a global premiere on December 24 at 4:00 PM Pacific Time (PT) exclusively on Lady Gaga's official YouTube channel. For her massive fan following in India, the release translates to an early morning watch on Christmas Day. Indian viewers can stream the film from 5:30 AM IST on December 25.
Gaga shared the exciting news directly with her fans on Instagram, posting a festive message that read, "Happy holidays to you and yours." The film captures a unique, intimate performance recorded on September 30, 2024, at the historic Belasco Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles. As reported, the show was performed for a select, small audience of lucky fans, making the recording an exclusive glimpse into a rare event.
The Music and Inspiration Behind Harlequin
The concert film features Lady Gaga performing her 2024 album, "Harlequin," in its complete form. This album is deeply connected to her recent role as Harley Quinn in the film "Joker: Folie à Deux," starring alongside Joaquin Phoenix. For "Harlequin," Gaga reinterprets classic tunes from the Great American Songbook, putting her distinctive stamp on timeless standards.
The setlist includes celebrated songs like Frank Sinatra's "That's Life" and "I've Got The World on a String," as well as Judy Garland's iconic "Get Happy." In a press release, the singer described the "Harlequin" project as a "singular love letter from Gaga to music lovers around the world." She explained it blends American jazz traditions with modern pop sensibilities through fresh musical arrangements.
A Rebellious Christmas Release and Grammy Buzz
When asked about the unusual choice of releasing the concert film on Christmas Eve, Lady Gaga gave a characteristically bold answer. According to Variety, she simply stated, "I'm feeling like: Why not?" She called "Harlequin" a "rebellious project" and added, "by Harlequin standards, Christmas is the perfect time to release something rebellious."
This release comes at a time when the original "Harlequin" album is receiving significant critical acclaim. The album has earned a nomination for Best Traditional Pop Album at the upcoming 68th Grammy Awards. Furthermore, Lady Gaga's other work is dominating the nominations list. Her hit "Abracadabra" is up for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Dance Pop Recording. Her album "MAYHEM" is nominated for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album, while her song "Disease" is in contention for Best Pop Solo Performance.
Looking ahead, Gaga has confirmed that her journey with jazz is far from over. During a Q&A session at the Grammy Museum, she revealed, "This will not be my last jazz record. So it’s just exciting to keep going." She expressed an insatiable passion for music, stating that even in her nineties, she would never stop exploring every genre. For now, her Christmas gift of "Harlequin Live" offers fans a profound insight into her evolution as a jazz musician and a spectacular end to the year.
