Nile Rodgers Defends Lady Gaga's Grammy Tribute to David Bowie

On Monday night (February 15), Lady Gaga paid homage to her hero David Bowie by butchering "Heroes" and an assortment of other songs — like, a lot of other songs — onstage at the 58th Grammy Awards. She was joined onstage by Bowie collaborator and Chic co-founder Nile Rodgers for a medley that included snippets of "Space Oddity," "Changes," "Ziggy Stardust," "Suffragette City," "Rebel Rebel," "Fashion," "Fame," "Under Pressure," "Let's Dance" and the aforementioned "Heroes," prompting many viewers to complain about the all-over-the-place nature of the performance.
 
Even Bowie's son Duncan Jones weighed in, tweeting a vague but not very encouraging: "Overexcited or irrational, typically as a result of infatuation or excessive enthusiasm; mentally confused. Damn it! What IS that word!?"
 
Now, Rodgers has stepped in to defend Gaga's tribute performance, responding to critics on Twitter and saying he's proud of what they did given the constraints that inevitably accompany a live telecast.
 

Many artists and tributes were performed, we did what we thought and still think was right in our short time slot. x https://t.co/NottaU93am

— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) February 17, 2016

I did 4 projects with David including his BIGGEST by far! I think I had an amazing relationship w him. https://t.co/X89gmhewAX

— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) February 17, 2016

I don't mind hate as you call it, I call it "difference of opinion" sometime it makes me smarter, other times??? https://t.co/u49s0h4ciU

— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) February 17, 2016

Don't take it so seriously. If David or I tried to listen to everyone, we'd have never finished ANYTHING! https://t.co/oHcuKNnJ4p

— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) February 17, 2016

He has a right to his feelings and opinions too. My brother's favorite works of mine are all my instrumentals. https://t.co/GDj28EVDkL

— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) February 17, 2016

ABSOLUTELY!!! ALL DAY LONG. Do you have any idea of how many songs (hits) I've done w DB of other people's songs? https://t.co/zLb9XZYN02

— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) February 17, 2016

It's not fair to other artists. https://t.co/7YQas5QKxg

— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) February 17, 2016

 

I'd love to keep chatting but I have to see my mom early in the AM. Peace and love EVERYBODY.

— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) February 17, 2016

Relive the segment in the player below.