Overhyped and overrated: Lana Del Rey Bombs on SNL

January 15, 2012
Lana Del Rey Sucks on SNL

Lana Del Rey Sucks on SNL

As soon as 25-year-old singer/songwriter Lana Del Ray‘s “Video Games” spread like herpes across the internet as “real music,” I was determined to pace my judgement. Although I was bored to death and memorably unimpressed by her, I’ve been guilty of ignoring the hype surrounding an artist and consequently missing out on a great thing. Either I enjoy flying against the grain or I just don’t like the initial songs that introduce me to the artist and it can take a year for me to board the bandwagon. This was the case with Lana, the self-proclaimed ”gangsta Nancy Sinatra,” based on “Video Games.” The song seemed to only be labeled a “sultry hit” because it’s about a chick letting her man chill and play video games and of course, she’s hot. She’s quite stunning and knows how to work a camera. Perhaps not so surprising, it took very little time for the daughter of domain investor and millionaire Rob Grant to be signed to Interscope.

wait so people hate on Lana Del Rey cause she was born rich and her name isnt really Lana Del Rey? lol i dont get it
January 15, 2012 3:26 am via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@bleed_purple
Jamarcus Williams

 

Well Lana had her very last chance to change my mind with Saturday Night Live performance that NPR‘s Marc Hirsh said would kill all of the controversies surrounding her wealthy upbringing, lack of credibility and her real name being Elizabeth Grant — as if she’s the first artist to ever use a stage name. I won’t pretend to understand why people are upset about the latter, nor do I care. Marc also claimed that bloggers/haters would “become almost entirely irrelevant once Harry Potter introduces her tomorrow night on SNL.”

So how’d she do? If you enjoy watching drunk karaoke — she did great! It was also hard to miss the awkward swaying, the horrible wig and the lips that scream botox-abuse. Her performances were laughable if not painful. I don’t care about her name or her affluent family; all she had to do was deliver. Even those who otherwise enjoy her music were horrified.

I've enjoyed her previous music & videos but, Lana Del Ray on SNL totally set herself up for parody, look 4 it on a future SNL real soon ;-)
January 15, 2012 2:34 am via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite
@PopBitez
Pop Bitez/ Scott H.

 

Viewers immediately took their frustrations to Twitter including celebrities such as actress/singer Juliette Lewis who tweeted, “Wow this ‘singer’ on SNL is like watching a 12 year old in their bedroom when theyre pretending to sing and perform #signofourtimes.”

Does this determine whether or not she’ll be successful? Not necessarily. American pop music is filled with artists that bomb so badly during live performances that they are better off lip-syncing, e.g. Britney Spears. Even after Florence + The Machine‘s lead vocalist shit all over our eardrums during Vh1 Divas last December, it didn’t change the minds of those who enjoy her band’s studio albums. That will be where Lana Del Rey‘s upcoming debut will need to meet expectations of her fan base. For her “haters” like myself, I’ll be hoping that she and any other pretty-faced, vocally-mediocre-at-best starlets stick with modeling.

Watch her SNL performances below.

Lana Del Rey performs “Video Games” on SNL

Lana Del Rey performs “Blue Jeans” on SNL

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thanks hypetrak.com
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About theComplex

Editor, designer, photographer and overall geek. Lover of music, politics, technology and fashion. A serial day-dreamer. View all posts by theComplex →
By theComplex| 21 Comments | Music, On TV, Rants
  • http://twitter.com/moody31 Adi

    That was hard to watch especially as an initial fan before she got famous. What happened to her? I could barely listen to the whole video. It was an ear sore. 

    • http://www.thecomplexmedia.com/blog/ theComplex

      Understandable, Adi. It’s extremely disappointing when an artist you enjoy is horrible live. On the contrary, it is an amazing feeling when an artist or band does even better live than they do in the studio album – though this has also frustrated me. With that said, I remember seeing Aaliyah perform live early in her career and it was horrendous. She eventually redeemed herself and there’s nothing that says Lana Del Rey can’t do the same with her initial fans. It just may take some to win over those of us who aren’t fans at all.

      • http://twitter.com/moody31 Adi

        Agreed. I have seen other live videos of her that she didn’t do too bad in, but in this live session it was almost as if she was trying to make her voice go too deep at parts, and too high in other parts. I hope the best for her, but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what she can do in the future after her album drops. Until then, and after, I’ll still to The Weeknd’s music. 

        • Jowe35

          Absolute LA spoiled Crap. Every other LA nit wit who thinks they are a model, buying up a Tori Amos record and and a mic soon after. Then pitching a fit to daddy “Why dont people look at me?” and there you go. Another picket crammed in the fence. Unreal, 

  • http://www.thecomplexmedia.com/blog/ theComplex

    So anyone who dares to notice that Lana Del Rey can’t sing live is an idiot? Hmm, that’s all you’ve got?

    “A nervous 25 year old” that pales in comparison to stellar live performers such as Adele, who was even younger when she performed on SNL and performs perfectly on pitch regularly. Never off, never questionably inebriated and never needs anyone to defend her.

    How about young singers such as Jessie J – an artist who gives every performance her all but still struggles to gain solid footing? Okay, let’s stick with Americans – Lauryn Hill, also younger than Del Rey when she sang live on SNL in 1998. She was taking a huge risk going out on her own after the end of the Fugees and could have arguably been “nervous.” Did that stop her from delivering? No. Even seasoned artists talk about their nerves so stop with the excuses! 

    With that said, this SNL performance was not Del Rey’s first live performance and she seems to consistently sing off-key though this was definitely her worst. Furthermore, what does my happiness have to do with recognizing something and venting about it? People that don’t carry your opinion of life are unhappy?

    Let’s be real. Lana is not a child and she is did not do well lastnight, period. Record execs didn’t make Lana sing poorly, she sang poorly because she can’t sing and from the looks of it, high off of her ass. Execs do know the advantages of shoving an artist down people’s throats however and that is exactly what they are doing with her.

    To you and anyone who else who defends her poor performance last night, you aren’t helping her at all. It wasn’t “okay” or “decent” or a performance that just “could have been better.” It was dreadful and she obviously isn’t ready for the fame she’s chosen nor is she ready for live audiences. Clearly, her being “different” and “doll-faced” are not enough.

    • Esternagrosc

      She isn’t even 25, even that is a fake, she’s 27

      • http://www.thecomplexmedia.com/blog/ theComplex

        hmm, how do you know that she’s 27?

  • http://www.thecomplexmedia.com/blog/ theComplex

    So anyone who dares to notice that Lana Del Rey can’t sing live is an idiot? Hmm, that’s all you’ve got?

    “A nervous 25 year old” that pales in comparison to stellar live performers such as Adele, who was even younger when she performed on SNL and performs perfectly on pitch regularly. Never off, never questionably inebriated and never needs anyone to defend her.

    How about young singers such as Jessie J – an artist who gives every performance her all but still struggles to gain solid footing? Okay, let’s stick with Americans – Lauryn Hill, also younger than Del Rey when she sang live on SNL in 1998. She was taking a huge risk going out on her own after the end of the Fugees and could have arguably been “nervous.” Did that stop her from delivering? No. Even seasoned artists talk about their nerves so stop with the excuses! 

    With that said, this SNL performance was not Del Rey’s first live performance and she seems to consistently sing off-key though this was definitely her worst. Furthermore, what does my happiness have to do with recognizing something and venting about it? People that don’t carry your opinion of life are unhappy?

    Let’s be real. Lana is not a child and she is did not do well lastnight, period. Record execs didn’t make Lana sing poorly, she sang poorly because she can’t sing and from the looks of it, high off of her ass. Execs do know the advantages of shoving an artist down people’s throats however and that is exactly what they are doing with her.

    To you and anyone who else who defends her poor performance last night, you aren’t helping her at all. It wasn’t “okay” or “decent” or a performance that just “could have been better.” It was dreadful and she obviously isn’t ready for the fame she’s chosen nor is she ready for live audiences. Clearly, her being “different” and “doll-faced” are not enough.

  • http://www.thecomplexmedia.com/blog/ theComplex

    Haha, no idea about the dress Lana wore and a quick search doesn’t show much but we’ll keep an eye out.

  • Jason

    The reason I have a problem with her stage name is that apparently it was chosen for her by her management team (if her Wikipedia article is to be believed).  Everything about her seems manufactured and designed by committee.  

    • http://www.thecomplexmedia.com/blog/ theComplex

      interesting. Had no idea about that, Jason though it’s also not too suspicious that a label suggests a name change. However is she is a “manufactured” product, as many “artists” are, they should have made sure their product was ready before showing her to the world.

    • http://www.facebook.com/marc.j.agostini Mars de la Mancha

      Conversation at Polydor
      “hey Bob how can we make her lips pooch out a little more?”"Um collagen sir!”
      “perfect lets get her some of that, hmm now she looks vaguely latin”
      “exotic is in sir, white, and specifically anglo-saxon names like Elizabeth and Grant just don’t sell records”
      “Well lets slap a spanish name on this chick and sell some units.”
      “You got it sir, or ad campaign is mainly targeting hipster populations in williamsburg, echo park, london”
      “Fantastic I new I hired you for a good reason”
      “thank you sir”

  • Mrwatchy

    Most girls in my daughter’s high school are every bit as fine as Lana Del Rey. It’s what you do with it, and she doesn’t—there’s nothing inside her. I felt sorry for her. Keep trying, “Lana,” just not in public, thanks.

  • http://twitter.com/ditchobama ditchobama

    She is no worse than most of the musical acts that we have now.

  • Miles0225

    dont quit your day job..oops..

  • Julezterffai

    Sorry to say: but I don’t consider that great songwriting either. Knowing how to pout and look pretty does not a popstar make. A songwriter who doesn’t perform? Adele is a kick-ass songwriter and she “just” stands there and sings her songs and it blows us away. Paul McCartney is 70 – a songwriter for sure, but his whole being has always been in his songs so no probs performing those. It’s because “Lana del Rey” with a vacant persona has NOTHING to say. Problem solved.

    • http://www.thecomplexmedia.com/blog/ theComplex

      unfortunately, plenty of people are buying into Lana Del Rey and her nothingness and in spite of her “talentlessness” too. To each their own, but they can have her.

  • Johd

    SHe stinks…period

    • http://www.thecomplexmedia.com/blog/ theComplex

      hard to argue with that. Funny enough, because of the backlash from her SNL performance, leagues of people who weren’t even fans are lining up to defend her.

  • J123

    First 25 seconds of the song sounds like Vera de Milo (Jim Carrey).

  • Hello_kitty156

    Everything about her (name, look, kind of music) is a marketing strategy. Because she couldn’t make it a few years ago with her real name, her rich daddy made sure this time everything would work out.
    Well…truth be told… she still sucks, period.