Last week was Lady Gaga’s 30^th birthday, and I thought that looking back at some of her best live performances would be a great way to celebrate. Her career has been full of show stoppers, so it was difficult to narrow it down. Here are what I consider to be Lady Gaga’s Top 10 Performances (so far) presented in chronological order…

1. Paparazzi (VMA 2009)

This performance took America by surprise. It shocked viewers and left them wondering just who this new pop star was. I remember watching in awe and admiring the theatricality of the performance, as well as Lady Gaga’s vocal ability. At the end of the performance, Gaga rose above the stage, covered in blood and hanging by one hand. The sound of camera shutters could be heard, and Lady Gaga was born.

2. Bad Romance/Speechless (AMA 2009)

Gaga’s The Fame Monster had just been released. She started with her smash “Bad Romance.” The performance was complete with choreography and perfect vocals. Then, the music stopped. Gaga headed towards a piano encased in glass. She took the microphone stand and shattered the glass, making her way to the piano. There, she performed “Speechless,” a song Gaga wrote as a plea to her father to get open-heart surgery that would save his life.

3. Poker Face/Speechless/Your Song (Grammys 2010)

At the 2010 Grammy Awards, Gaga teamed up with Elton John to give a performance that would steal the show. She started by singing her smash “Poker Face,” then went into a mashup of Gaga’s “Speechless” and Elton’s “Your Song.” The theatrics involved in the performance are incredible and the chemistry between the two is undeniable.

4. Born This Way (Grammys 2011)

After being carried through the red carpet in what she called a “vessel,” but was widely referred to as an egg, Gaga took to the stage to debut her new song “Born This Way.” This debut performance would lead to a long list of accomplishments and accolades for her then upcoming album of the same name.

5. Edge of Glory (Howard Stern 2011)

This version of “Edge of Glory” brings new life into the song. Gaga, sitting at the piano, describes her inspiration for the song, then begins to play. Her voice and the piano are all anyone needs to see that she is something special. If this list wasn’t chronological, this would be at the top.

6. Yoü And I (VMA 2011)

Lady Gaga took the stage as Jo Calderone, her fictional male alter-ego. Jo opened up the show with a monologue, describing how Gaga is “not real.” Instead, she is “theater.” Performance art has always been important to Gaga and this performance is no exception.

7. Gypsy (Sukkiri 2013)

All Lady Gaga needs to deliver a moving performance is a piano and her voice. This acoustic version of “Gypsy” is passionate and vocally flawless. Before she performed this song for the first time, Gaga told the audience, “I wrote this song as I was traveling around the world…they say ‘a Gypsy doesn’t have a home.’ But I do have a home. I have a home with you always.”

8. What’s Up (ArtRave 2014)

Gaga decided to sing her own rendition of this 4 Non Blondes classic in Vienna during her ArtRave tour. This performance showcases Gaga’s rock n’ roll ability. On YouTube, a viewer commented, “I always knew she was much more than just pop.” Throughout her career, she sure has proven that to be true.

9. The Sound Of Music Medley (Oscars 2015)

Gaga’s "Sound of Music" tribute at the 2015 Oscars was the biggest moment in the show in terms of Twitter and Facebook reactions. The performance, which was followed by Julie Andrews making an appearance, was a huge success, prompting Tweets stating things like “Gaga just won the Oscars.”

10. Til it Happens to You (Oscars 2016)

Gaga performed “Til It Happens To You,” the Oscar-nominated song she co-wrote with Diane Warren for "The Hunting Ground," the 2015 documentary about sexual assault on college campuses, at the 2016 Oscars. Towards the end of the song, a wall rose behind her, revealing 50 survivors of sexual assault. The survivors had messages like “Not Your Fault” written across their arms. This powerful performance is a standout for so many reasons.

Okay...I have to include one more. So, here is bonus number 11.

11. National Anthem (Super Bowl 50)

Lady Gaga has stated that being asked to perform The National Anthem at the Super Bowl has been “one of the highlights” of her career. She fearlessly tackled the song and gave a powerful performance that will go down in Super Bowl history.

Gaga has confirmed that her next album will be released this year, so I cannot wait to see what she has in store. Throughout her career, she has provided us with vocally and visually stunning performances, and I am sure what’s to come will be no exception.