Q named her the next big things, Patrick Stickles covered "Video Games" and I have been writing about her since October and recently gave her four song EP a Grade of "A".
So that's the plus side. Here is the flip. Helen and Mary ravished her performance on SNL. And my rock critic friends on Facebook were worse. Lana's pop is millionaire Rob Grant and she has had his help in her career. But it is kinda tough to buy this kinda help. Lana was born Elizabeth Grant and spent two years getting nowhere, despite a David Kahane (of Bangles fame) produced album which sank without a trace.
Anyway, the complaints was that she was amateurish on stage. I guess so, though I loved her, especially an excellent "Blue Jean". But underlining that contempt is a sort of class rejection: a what has she done to deserve this?
I am too much a child of punk to do anything but despise the concept. Perhaps you think she sucks, perhaps you hate her her. But don't hate her because she hasn't worked for it. I hate all that "Outliers" crap, spontaneity is as important as experience when it comes to ROCK AND ROLL. Just a willingness to stand up and scream at the top of your lungs accounts for a lot of stuff, accounts for years of slog and beats it. Fuck paying your dues.
This is what NBC anchor Brian williams had to say: "Brooklyn hipster 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'll tell you what Brian, you keep reading the telepromters and leave the music reviewing to the grown-ups.
Whatever awkwardness Lana had on stage on SNL she made up with by just a weird otherness. Just her complete and total differentness. She swayed her body and seemed angular, too thin, a weirdo. She couldn't project herself abd yet she was confident in her own way. She was there not because her daddy was rich but because she was cutting edge and deserved it.
As for all my friends who hate on her? OK, good, let the video games begin.