Lady Gaga 'paid $2m' to sing at opening of European Games

Baku, one of the richest capital cities in Eastern Europe thanks to the oil money in Azerbaijan, witnessed the singer perform a set which was widely acclaimed as a superb centrepiece for the ceremony as the first ever European Games opened up on Friday night.

It subsequently emerged that her performance didn't come cheap, with the eye-watering sum (for a set of just 10 minutes) in stark contrast to the nominal £1 fees demanded by the likes of Paul McCartney at the opening of the London 2012 Olympics.

Was it worth it? Liam Morgan of Inside The Games said yes, even if he found Gaga's flower-strewn piano somewhat offputting: "It was difficult not to stand back and think that having Gaga perform was a true coup for the event as a whole.

"There would have been many inside the stadium who thought she was more than worth the money but it is fair to say that she should have had a much more central role rather than being hidden behind a bush.

"Gaga would have gotten used to being stowed away however as she was reportedly kept hidden in a hotel in Azerbaijan before the ceremony in order to maintain the element of surprise."