MTV Video Music Awards 2013: Scantily Clad Lady Gaga Performs New Single, 'Applause' [Video]

Since iconic shock-artist Lady Gaga burst onto the scene in 2008, it seems remiss to have a VMAs without one of her outrageous performances. MTV's 2013 Video Music Awards didn't disappoint, with Gaga opening the show with a dramatic bang. 

Gaga opened in her signature theatrical style with the performance of her new single, "Applause" off her upcoming album ARTPOP.

The show, which took place at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, opened with a close-up on Gaga's face, which was inserted in a white cube, as she sang lyrics from another upcoming single, "Aura," complete with her usual histrionics. When the camera pulled away, it appeared that she was wearing a post-modern, Gaga-ifed version of a nun's habit: an all white gown covering her up from head to toe, a geometric-shaped habit and a neck draped in pearls.

As Gaga walked from the area's center stage to the main stage, a cacophony of boos followed her. While many thought Gaga was being booed viciously, it was later revealed that the boos were part of the song's soundtrack.

Gaga was then joined by her usual posse, a horde of male dancers clad in skintight black unitards. The dancers then ripped off her heavy white dress to reveal Gaga donning a glittery black leotard with black tights.

Within seconds, the dancers placed a shiny blue skirt on the pop star with an '80s style blazer, complete with massive shoulder pads. The dancers then shrouded Gaga in a flurry of spirit-fingers, only to reveal her a second later in her signature blond "Poker Face" wig," in what appeared to be the beginning of a homage to her past personas.

The dancers removed the blue outfit (all while Gaga is singing, mind you), and began dancing with blue bowling balls. After throwing away the hollow bowling balls, they entered into an elaborately choreographed dance to the song's chorus.

Gaga then donned her technicolor yellow wig from her "Telephone" days, in another reference to her past styles, while a dancer quickly smeared face paint across her face, in the style of her "Applause" single artwork.

Gaga ripped off the wig, belting out a few notes, before transitioning into her most shocking costume change of the night: a mermaid-like seashell bra and thong, complete with a wild blonde wig.

Gaga finished out the song with a strong vocal performance and a perfectly-timed dance.

Although many compared Gaga's performance to the debut of Katy Perry's "Roar," which has been outselling "Applause" in number of downloads, it is indisputable that the performance's outrageous style is one-of-a-kind Gaga, and that her strong vocals and killer performance proved that Gaga is unquestionably back.