Lana Del Rey, the acclaimed singer-songwriter known for her ethereal and dreamy musical stylings, made a grand entrance as the headliner of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday night. Arriving on the stage atop a motorcycle, accompanied by her backup singers and dancers, she kicked off the show with the repetitive playing of her song "Jealous Girl" over the speakers. This epic entrance was widely regarded as one of the best in the festival's history.
As Lana Del Rey took the stage, she opened her performance with the hauntingly beautiful "Without You," immediately captivating the audience with her signature sultry and melancholic vocals. The singer, who has become almost synonymous with the Coachella festival, having even written a song titled "Coachella - Woodstock in My Mind," was making her first-ever headlining appearance, a decade after her last Coachella performance in 2014 on the Outdoor Theatre stage.
Throughout the night, Lana Del Rey's long, flowing hair danced in the wind as she graced the stage in a sparkly blue dress, radiating an ethereal presence in which she looked stunning. The visual elements of her performance were equally captivating, with the screens alternating between black and white and vibrant color, showcasing breathtaking imagery of palm trees, crashing waves, and highlights from her illustrious musical career.
Lana Del Rey's highly anticipated Coachella headlining set was a testament to her status as one of the most distinctive and captivating artists in today's music industry. Her dreamy and melancholic sound, collaborating with her dramatic stage presence and visuals, left a lasting impression on the Coachella audience, solidifying her as a true festival icon.
The description of Lana Del Rey's Coachella stage paints a vivid picture of an elaborate, visually striking setup. The three tall white columns, winding staircases on the sides, and two balconies from which she serenaded the audience suggest a grand, theatrical aesthetic. This dramatic stage design provided a fitting backdrop for Del Rey's emotive, cinematic music. However, the text notes that despite this impressive stage, Del Rey was "not featured that much on screen for those standing in the back," hinting that the visual experience may have been more pronounced for those closer to the stage.
Lana Del Rey's Coachella setlist was a comprehensive overview of her extensive 9-album discography, featuring many of her most beloved hits like "Summertime Sadness," "Cherry," "Pretty When You Cry," and "Born to Die." This diverse song selection allowed her to showcase the breadth of her catalog for both die-hard fans and more casual listeners in attendance.
Del Rey's musical style, described as "not the usual hard-hitting, bass-heavy, flashy songs that most Coachella sets feature," stood out from the more bombastic, high-energy performances common at the festival. Yet, this did not diminish the crowd's engagement, as both devoted fans and newcomers were captivated, "swaying throughout the night" to her dreamy, melancholic sound.
As the performance progressed, Del Rey appeared to gain more confidence on stage, though she would at times "limit how much she would sing," opting to have the audience take over certain verses. While disappointing given the quality of her vocals, this decision allowed her fans to participate more actively in the experience. Her standout vocal moments included the sustained chorus on "Ride" and her harmonies with the backup singers on "The Grants."
Interestingly, the backup singers at times threatened to overshadow Del Rey, particularly on "Did You Know That There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd," earning them enthusiastic applause from the crowd. This suggests the backup vocalists delivered impressive performances that complemented and enhanced Del Rey's vocal delivery.
Lana Del Rey's Coachella set was elevated by the inclusion of several special guests, further demonstrating her collaborative spirit and the breadth of her artistic connections within the music industry.
The first guest appearance was from Jon Batiste, with whom Del Rey performed their duet "Candy Necklace." This performance featured Del Rey singing while seated atop Batiste's piano before she began spinning on a pole, eliciting a wild response from the audience. Later in the song, Del Rey allowed Batiste to take the lead, and the two started improvising and ad-libbing lyrics together, showcasing their creative chemistry.
The second and perhaps most anticipated guest was Billie Eilish, the 2022 Coachella headliner. Del Rey and Eilish joined forces to perform Eilish's hit "Ocean Eyes," as well as a duet of Del Rey's "Video Games." The combination of their "heavenly vocals" on these songs was likely a highlight for many in attendance, blending the artistry of two of the most prominent female singers in contemporary music.
Looking over all of her performance Lana Del Rey's Coachella performance was a multifaceted, visually striking, and musically captivating event that drew from her extensive discography and featured memorable collaborations with other acclaimed artists. While she occasionally held back her vocal contributions, her performance still managed to enthrall her diehard fans including more casual listeners with her unique style and different way of delivery.
Who is Lana Del Rey?
Lana Del Rey, whose real name is Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, was born on June 21, 1985, in New York City. She grew up in Lake Placid, New York, and had a relatively privileged upbringing.
She didn't get a lot of popularity till 2010. Lana Del Rey first gained attention in the early 2010s with the release of her debut major label album Born to Die in 2012. This album and its singles like "Video Games" and "Summertime Sadness" helped establish her as a rising star in the indie/alternative pop genre, with her cinematic, melancholic sound and old Hollywood-inspired aesthetic.
Del Rey went on to release a string of critically acclaimed albums that cemented her status as one of the most distinctive and successful artists of her generation. Some of her most acclaimed and popular works of her include:
Born to Die (2012)reached number 2 on the Billboard of United States
Paradise (2012)reached number 10 on the Billboard of United States
Ultraviolence (2014)reached number 1 on the Billboard of United States
Honeymoon (2015)reached number 2 on the Billboard of United States
Lust for Life (2017)reached number 1 on the Billboard of United States
Norman Fucking Rockwell! (2019)reached number 3 on the Billboard of United States
Chemtrails Over the Country Club (2021)reached number 2 on the Billboard of United States
Del Rey has a unique blend of music like baroque pop, dream pop, indie rock, and Americana, with lyrical themes often focused on loss, nostalgia, and the romanticized American experience. Her smoky vocals and cinematic production style have become a signature of her work.
In her musical success, Del Rey has also gained attention for her distinctive fashion sense and personal, channeling old Hollywood glamour introspective persona. She is quite often recognized as a style icon and influential figure in contemporary pop culture.
