The pop battle that exploded (and ended) in Mexico

“Are you one Katy or one Gaga? “It was a questions that lovers of pop culture and music were asked to differentiate themselves 10 years ago.

In 2013Both artists headed the global musical conversation while preparing to launch new stages in their careers, after albums that defined the sound of their generation.

But, as usually happens with women in the industry, the comparison quickly became competition, and the narrative faced its fans beyond music.

Now, a decade later, that old woman rivalry Relive … although this time with an unexpected turn.

Last Saturday, April 26, the Mexico City It was the scene of an unexpected star collision.

And is that Lady Gaga and Katy Perrytwo of the most iconic figures of modern pop, agreed in the Mexican capital with the start of their respective tours of Latin America.

Perry offered his third consecutive show at the Mexico City Arena; Gaga, his expected return after 13 years of absence, debuting at the GNP Seguros stadium.

Both concerts were Sold-out. But it was not just a matter of aguoros or logistics: the coincidence revived an old artistic dispute between the two singers who, for more than a decade, symbolized two different ways of understanding the Pop.

Lady Gaga and Katy Perry debuted in 2008 With just 20 days apart. Gaga launched “Just dance”, the first single from The Famewhile Perry impacted with “I kissed to girl”, from One of the Boys.

It was the beginning of an unst declared but evident rivalry, fed by the media, fans and industry. Both broke into American pop sought new leaders after the decline of figures such as Britney Spears or the Backstreet Boys.

The competition was accentuated in 2013, when Gaga and Perry launched their simple “Applause” and “Roar”, respectively.

The battle for number one in the Rankings It also reflected the moment they lived: Perry on the top of their popularity; Gaga in a difficult period after the failure of Artpop.

Years later, the balance leaned. In 2015, Perry headed half the Super Bowl, while Gaga seemed to have retracted. But in 2017, Gaga took over on the same stage and, by 2019, he was crowned with a Oscara Grammya Golden Globe and a BAFTA thanks to A STAR IS BORN.

Perry, on the other hand, faced a decrease in popularity. His media presence decreased, and his music stopped dominating the Charts As I had done years ago.

Even so, his fans base remained firm, especially in Latin America. He even confirmed his return to Argentina at the end of the year, with two concerts scheduled for the September 9 and 10 in it Movistar Arena.

In November 2024, Perry announced his return to Mexico with The Lifeses Tourwhich would have its first stop on April 26, 2025 at the CDMX sand.

Four months later, Gaga announced the presentation of his tour Long live the Mayhem! For that same day, in the much broader GNP Seguros stadium, with capacity for 65,000 people, almost triple the colleague’s enclosure.

Fans interpreted him as a new chapter in rivalry. Social networks burned with comparisons, popular surveys, and the old narrative of “Team Perry” vs. “Little Monsters”.

For weeks, the competition for media attention remained alive, until the unexpected turn came that would end the prolonged musical enmity.

On Sunday, April 27, just one night after closing his series of concerts at the CDMX Arena, Katy Perry was seen among the audience of the second Show of Lady Gaga.

It was not a discreet appearance: the singer recorded videos, sang excited from the stands and shared them on her social networks.

“The show was magnificent. Your dress! The sand! Every moment was the time. Very proud of you and grateful to grow together, Lady Gaga. I love you,” Perry wrote on Instagram.

The publication not only surprised his followers, he also seemed to end, with a simple and generous gesture, to a dispute that had lasted 17 years.

Perry’s gesture was celebrated by the fans of both artists. Although there are no official statements about formal reconciliation, its presence in the Gaga concert – and the message that accompanied it – were enough to dissipate the tension.

For the first time in years, the story stopped revolving around the competition and focused on mutual admiration.

Throughout their careers, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga grew within the same music industry, constantly compared and put in competence direct since its inception.

However, that same competition worked as a creative engine that prompted them to define unique styles and to develop artistic proposals that only each one, from their singularity, could offer.

A shared pressure that also allowed them to highlight, not to resemble, but by differentiate.