The hostile atmosphere between Isreal and Gaza didn't stop Lady Gaga from performing in Tel Aviv last night (Sept. 13), and her friend/mentor/collaborator Tony Bennett stopped by to sing a duet.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Mama Monster brought out about 30,000 fans who enjoyed a special night on the ARTPOP Ball tour at Tel Aviv's HaYarkon Park. Bennett, who is playing a different venue in the area tonight (Sept. 14), accompanied Gaga in a duet of the jazz standard "I Can't Give You Anything But Love." Both artists collaborated on the album Cheek To Cheek, which is out Sept. 19.
Acts like Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Lana Del Rey and The Backstreet Boys all cancelled dates in Tel Aviv due to the escalated tensions and military presence over the summer. The conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths the reports conclude but a ceasefire was announced at the end of August, The Guardian noted.
Gaga recently gave Bennett some props, saying the crooner helped her through a rough period after the not-so-stellar performance of her third album, ARTPOP. "I was so sad. I couldn't sleep. I felt dead", she told Parade. "And then I spent a lot more time with Tony. He wanted nothing but my friendship and my voice."
The pop star went on to talk about what she's learned from the legendary jazz singer. "That it's important to stay true to yourself," Gaga said. "When I came into this with Tony, he didn't say, 'You've got to take off all the crazy outfits and just sing.' He said, 'Be yourself.'... You know, people wrote a lot of things about my last album, ARTPOP, which was very controversial. If it didn't grab the whole world the way The Fame Monster did, that's okay, because I know it's good. That's what Tony has taught me, that my intuition is right. When he talks about the 66 albums he's put out, the peaks and valleys, and how it's not about having a hit record - it's the most inspiring thing."
