R. Kelly Lady Gaga AMA Performance - H 2013
Getty ImagesDuring the hands-down most elaborate performance at the 2013 American Music Awards, Lady Gaga and R. Kelly fashioned themselves a salacious secretary and “President Kelly” while playing their new hit “Do What U Want” in a faux Oval Office.
After pantomiming a phone call in which Gaga asked President Kelly what he wanted for lunch (“Girl, you been working for me for six long years, you know what I want!” he sang), an elaborate dance sequence inside the president’s chambers kicked off, with Kelly gazing with piqued interest while resisting the urge to partake in any choreography. During the first half of the performance, Gaga nuzzled against the R&B icon’s ear and slid between his legs while belting her half of the duet.
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“Who put these pictures on Instagram!” Kelly bellowed midsong, holding up his phone before being shuffled offstage. The whole experience smacked of the singer’s Trapped in the Closet hip-hopera until Gaga ended the performance with a fiery rendition of the chorus, as video of the pop superstar playing the piano as a child played behind her. Eventually, that video was paired with screens that blasted headlines like “Lady Gaga Is Fat” and “Lady Gaga Is Over.”
Last week, Lady Gaga’s ARTPOP album started atop the Billboard 200 chart with 258,000 copies sold in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. “Do What U Want,” the second single from ARTPOP, which Gaga and Kelly also performed on Saturday Night Live earlier this month, zips up to No. 18 on the current Hot 100 chart.
Gaga will return to TV later this week when she stars alongside Kermit, Miss Piggy and more of her furry friends on The Muppets Holiday Spectacular, set to air on Thanksgiving night on ABC.
Watch the full AMA performance below.
This story first appeared on billboard.com
