If you're lucky, your hometown hero may speak at your high school graduation. And, if you attend Tony Bennett's Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Astoria, Queens, that hero may be Lady Gaga. This week, Bennett invited Gaga to host a master class at the school he set up in his home borough. (Normally, Bennett attends the graduation ceremony instead of trying his hand at teaching, but this time his tour schedule got in the way.) He and the now-curly-wigged Gaga fielded questions on jazz music, creativity (including the convoluted definition of "artpop"), and other projects from an audience of 700 students — with NBC's Lester Holt moderating.
They then performed a few songs — because what a tease that would be if the two icons got together and didn't sing a duet! Bennett killed it, and Gaga reminded the audience that underneath all those getups and preaching is a voice that's timelessly good. Luckily, a follow up to their stellar rendition of "The Lady is a Tramp" is on its way. Though, there's no harm in wishing Gaga would put out a jazz album of her own. If she did, it might be the true definition of artpop. (Billboard)