When one imagines a collaboration between Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Hype Williams, the mind reels with visions of outlandish costumes, hip-displacing dance moves, DayGlo flames, fish-eye lenses ... the list goes on and on. (Gaga said last month that she told Beyoncé, "I don't want to show up in some frickin' hair bow and be fashion Gaga in your video.' I said, 'I want to do you,' " which offers some explanation.)
– The weirdest part of Beyoncé’s collaboration with Lady Gaga for the “Video Phone” video, which premiered on MTV early today, is Gaga's cameo—"mostly because it's shockingly normal," writes James Montgomery. "It's definitely not the Gaga we're used to seeing," nor the Beyoncé for that matter. Gaga dons a plain leotard and elbow-length white gloves, notes Amy Odell in New York; Beyonce "wears a crazy mirrored tribal bikini, drag makeup, what looks like a metal bra, various bootie shorts, and her favorite new accessory: garters" The verdict? "Beyoncé sure did try hard. At last we get to see her gyrating on a motorcycle wielding a big plastic gun with her orange cape flapping in the wind!"