This performance is a a bit old, especially in internet time, but I find myself listening to this version of Lady Gaga’s, Edge of Glory, every once in awhile. I’ve been a huge Stern fan for a long time and even got into some trouble in high school when I insisted on carrying around his second book, Miss America, and had it repeatedly taken from me by teachers because of its perceived racy content. Nevermind the fact that the teacher who took it from me had the nipple-tastic poster of Farrah Fawcett hanging in his office. Let that swirl around in your head for a moment. Here’s some help picturing it too:

I’m also a fan of Lady Gaga. Not a “Little Monster” level fan, but one nonetheless. That goes over well when I tell my friends who look at me and see a straight 31-year-old man who has a scruffy beard and pot belly and could pass as a young Jerry Garcia, minus the drug induced haze. I say, “Fuck it.” I dig her music and her screw you attitude when it comes to her being who she wants to be.

I also love Howard Stern as a performer and most especially, as an interviewer. I have no problem stating the truth when I say that Stern is hands down, the best interviewer alive today. That’s why his interview with Lady Gaga was so good. And that’s why that performance is so damn powerful. He’s got an interesting way of getting those deep dark bits of information out of his guests and then they in turn can let go. Lady Gaga did that when she sang that song. She was letting go.

So check out the video.

It’s fucking good.