Lana Del Rey’s Saturday Night Live appearance has been pregnant with expectations almost since the day it was announced, with fans celebrating her warp-speed ascent and critics insisting the dusky, bloody beautiful pop sensation behind “Video Games” actually doesn’t deserve to take on one of music’s most prestigious stages so early in her career. (Sorry, The Jonathan Ross Show.) Did the Born To Die singer knock ‘em dead? See for yourself.
Lana Del Rey, “Video Games”
Lana Del Rey, “Blue Jeans”
Del Rey (currently outranking Madonna on the Idolator Hype Index) told MTV before the show that she felt fully deserving of the SNL spotlight:
“I definitely think it’s an honor. … I don’t think they’ve ever had anyone [perform] who didn’t even have a record out, so I do appreciate it… [But I got it] because I’m a good musician. And I may not have a record out now, but I have been singing for a very long time, and I think that ['SNL' creator] Lorne [Michaels] knows that, and everyone over there knows that. It’s not a fluke decision.”
We may have to wait for Born To Die (one of 2012′s most anticipated albums) to know for sure. But you can decide now if Del Rey’s SNL performance measured up to your own expectations, and tell us on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments. (Videos via The Audio Perv.)
There have been many much, much worse performances than this on SNL. That was two good songs and not done poorly at all. I admire Brian Williams, but music critic he is not. He should stick to the news.
I really don’t know why she was singing with that odd accent. Like an old Russian woman or something. Her voice keeps changing throughout a single song. I love Lana Del Rey but this wasn’t a good performance. Her Video Games performance on German TV was so much better.