This past weekend, singer Lana Del Rey performed on Saturday Night Live, and the response has been an overwhelming thumbs down. Now the guest host of the show, actor Daniel Radcliffe, has come to her defence, claiming that her performance was not as bad as people are saying, and that she is being judged unfairly.
Del Rey, who has also released music under her real name, Lizzy Grant, is the daughter of a millionaire. Her father helped pay for the initial marketing of her career, and this seems to be a point of contention. The fact that she changed her name to Lana Del Rey at the suggestion of her management, and comes from hipster heaven (Brooklyn) has lead people to claim she's manufactured.
Radcliffe has his own take on the performance: "It was unfortunate that people seemed to turn on her so quickly...I also think people are making it about things other than the performance. If you read what people are saying about her online, it's all about her past and her family and stuff that's nobody else's business...I don't think it warranted anywhere near that reaction."
He may be in the minority, but he's not alone. Actress/singer Juliette Lewis initially tweeted: "Wow watching this ‘singer’ on SNL is like watching a 12 yearold [sic] in their bedroom when theyre pretending to sing and perform #signofourtimes.” But the next morning not only was her critical tweet deleted, but she had changed her tune, so to speak: "I woke up singing a @LanaDelRey song!...Such great haunting melodies! Regardless of my own taste LIVE she's a #FreshandYummy songwriter. Period"
Anchorman, and former SNL host, Brian Williams wrote an email to Gawker.com, which has been made public, wondering why the media blog wasn't being more critical of the singer: "Brooklyn hippster [sic] Lana Del Rey had one of the worst outings in SNL history last night — booked on the strength of her TWO SONG web EP, the least-experienced musical guest in the show's history, for starters."
I'm not sure why a news anchor (who, admittedly, was pretty good when he hosted the show a few years ago) is being given kudos for criticizing a young pop singer, but his opinion seems to be echoing all over the internet.
I can't help but wondering if Lana wasn't a pretty, young, wealthy, self-admitted newbie, that anyone would have paid any attention at all.
I watched the performance the next evening, already aware of the Lana-bashing, and I must admit, it didn't blow me away...in any way. It was mediocre, but not terrible. No worse than Radiohead's performance of "Lotus Flower" late last year. It's clear that she was nervous, and who wouldn't be? It is a huge deal to perform on a show like SNL, especially for a relative newcomer.
Now, of course, everyone knows who Lana Del Rey is, and with a record coming out later this month, that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Did you see the show? Do you think she was that bad? Or is this the usual example of the twittersphere jumping on yet another bandwagon?
I'm a fan of imperfect voices, of singers whose renderings of songs are little rough around the edges - and I thought she was awful. The flat notes didn't bother me. But her presence was so empty and passionless, I almost thought it was some kind of ironic joke...
"Seriously, is she f***ing with us?"
This article is still off the mark. Her rich parents and lack of street cred are beside the point.
The songs just aren't very good, and the performance made them worse.
I wouldn't call it a bad performance - it's not like she walked off stage after the wrong vocal track got played (hi, Ashlee Simpson!) It's just boring - she has no stage presence or expressiveness in her face of voice. And sorry, but I think her voice is terrible - I can't tell if all the flat notes are incompetence or just a really annoying affectation. That's personal taste - the performance itself is competent, if uninspired.
I listened to this singer for the first time and I was BLOWN AWAY by her voice and different levels of emotion and range she could reach in just one song! Her lyrics are fantastic with a fluidity and honesty that will just keep getting better and better as she grows in the confidence of how much she truly has to offer!! One can understand every word she sings which is very hard these days with many singers. Her singing, her voice, her looks, everything is truly the real package and she will be a force to be reckoned with. She defies type-casting, her voice is bluesy, pop, soulful and captivating all at once. She will definitely have the last laugh over all the so-called critics. Lana, keep believing in yourself and your talent regardless of where you come from. If touching peoples' hearts with your songs is your true desire, then you go Girl, you have touched mine!! ..... Toronto, Canada.
I love this newbie, who's actually not such a newbie if you do a little digging into her history. Nonetheless, she has reinvented herself as so many of us wish we could, and her recorded music is going to leave the critics speechless, because it is truly special and gorgeous, as is she. So she had stage fright, that will change in time and she's grows and learns. Songwriting and recording wise, it is clear she is finding her stride. No other female artist has captured me as much, and I'm an avid music listener and follower. Love her. Lana, keep shining lovely lady. xx La, South Africa
who cares what brian williams says? i've seen MANY way worse SNL performances over the years. people just jealous she's already rich and thus, getting an opportunity that so many would kill for.
just because you have a pretty face and want to be a singer does not mean you should...at least not in public.
Posted by: dtothey | 01/27/2012 at 12:12 PM
I'm a fan of imperfect voices, of singers whose renderings of songs are little rough around the edges - and I thought she was awful. The flat notes didn't bother me. But her presence was so empty and passionless, I almost thought it was some kind of ironic joke...
"Seriously, is she f***ing with us?"
This article is still off the mark. Her rich parents and lack of street cred are beside the point.
The songs just aren't very good, and the performance made them worse.
Posted by: vigo | 01/25/2012 at 05:33 PM
I wouldn't call it a bad performance - it's not like she walked off stage after the wrong vocal track got played (hi, Ashlee Simpson!) It's just boring - she has no stage presence or expressiveness in her face of voice. And sorry, but I think her voice is terrible - I can't tell if all the flat notes are incompetence or just a really annoying affectation. That's personal taste - the performance itself is competent, if uninspired.
Posted by: empressmitzi | 01/25/2012 at 02:08 PM
I listened to this singer for the first time and I was BLOWN AWAY by her voice and different levels of emotion and range she could reach in just one song! Her lyrics are fantastic with a fluidity and honesty that will just keep getting better and better as she grows in the confidence of how much she truly has to offer!! One can understand every word she sings which is very hard these days with many singers. Her singing, her voice, her looks, everything is truly the real package and she will be a force to be reckoned with. She defies type-casting, her voice is bluesy, pop, soulful and captivating all at once. She will definitely have the last laugh over all the so-called critics. Lana, keep believing in yourself and your talent regardless of where you come from. If touching peoples' hearts with your songs is your true desire, then you go Girl, you have touched mine!! ..... Toronto, Canada.
Posted by: Lanalynn | 01/25/2012 at 01:03 PM
I love this newbie, who's actually not such a newbie if you do a little digging into her history. Nonetheless, she has reinvented herself as so many of us wish we could, and her recorded music is going to leave the critics speechless, because it is truly special and gorgeous, as is she. So she had stage fright, that will change in time and she's grows and learns. Songwriting and recording wise, it is clear she is finding her stride. No other female artist has captured me as much, and I'm an avid music listener and follower. Love her. Lana, keep shining lovely lady. xx La, South Africa
Posted by: La, South Africa | 01/25/2012 at 05:33 AM
who cares what brian williams says? i've seen MANY way worse SNL performances over the years. people just jealous she's already rich and thus, getting an opportunity that so many would kill for.
Posted by: jass | 01/18/2012 at 06:39 PM