Lady Gaga Covers John Lennon's 'Imagine' at First European Games (VIDEO)

By Dondi Tiples, Christian Post Contributor Thursday, June 18, 2015

Lady Gaga gave her own powerful rendition of John Lennon's "Imagine" during the first edition of Europead at Baku, Azerbaijan last Friday.

The first European Games at Baku, Azerbaijan featured an opening ceremony number by American singer and songwriter Lady Gaga, who performed John Lennon's iconic song "Imagine."

The controversial performer ditched her colorful costumes and was dressed in an understated long-sleeved, flowing white gown with her hair worn long and parted in the middle, and minimal make-up.

Accompanying herself on a leaf and flower-bedecked grand piano, she opened the games with the late John Lennon's 1971 best-selling single, "Imagine," as an ode to the gathering of 50 European nations, with the exception of the Netherlands, eschewing borders and divisiveness for its first international multisport event that commenced June 12.

Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Germanotta, did away with the pop vocals her brand of music has been associated with and put her own classical stripped-down spin on the late Beatles member's critically acclaimed song at the Baku National Stadium.

Gaga's latest performance is the latest in a series of shows, including her "Sound of Music" tribute at the 2015 Academy Awards in February, and "Cheek to Cheek," her 2014 collaborative album with iconic jazz and show tunes singer, Tony Bennett, in what appears to be a gradual return to her classical roots.