Emotional Lana Del Rey breaks down in tears before snogging husband as she opens debut stadium tour
And that was all during the first song, so there was plenty to get fans talking.
3
Lana Del Rey kicks off the first night of her debut stadium tour
3
Lana performing on the opening night at Cardiff's Principality Stadium
3
Lana's gig acted like a singalong in the garden of her Louisiana home
Credit: Joe Okpako
When she announced her debut stadium tour last summer, there were questions over whether she'd be able to bring the necessary theatrics to a room with tens of thousands of people in it.
She proved her doubters wrong at the opening night at Cardiff's Principality Stadium, even if her performance of Stars Fell On Alabama did come with unexpected waterworks and a kiss with her other half Jeremy Dufrene, who she married in September.
Composing herself, Lana said: 'It's good, it's just a long way to come.'
She added: 'Oh my goodness. They're good tears.
READ MORE ON LANA DEL REY
SUMMERTIME SADNESS Lana Del Rey fans furious as UK tour goes on sale with sky-high prices
'It's just actually funny to think about it in front of so many people.
'Thank you so much. I love you Cardiff.'
It's a huge feat for a star to headline stadiums without an all-singing, all-dancing pop show, or a massive band to rock out with.
Lana decided to transform the room into her backyard, draped with twinkly fairylights, with the gig acting like a singalong in the garden of her Louisiana home.
On stage, there was a house surrounded by plants and even a pond, from which she, a band and a fleet of singers and dancers performed.
While Lana had a healthy back catalogue to pick from, she opted to play a cover of Tammy Wynette's Stand By Your Man as she settled in.
'The ending was a complete mess' Reading Festival fans slam Lana Del Rey as set is cut short after she's late to the stage
She explained: 'This is the first big show I've done while I've been married.
'I really love singing this song.'
But the real crowd-pleasers were the lush tracks from her early career, with a dramatic string instrumental for Ride, which is impossibly moving, and her breakout hit Video Games performed from a swing.
Lana's power is her irresistible mystique and she kept that up for the entire set.
She will continue her stadium tour this week in Glasgow, Liverpool, Dublin and London.
After turning 40 last Saturday, it's something of a celebration for her.
This set may well leave fans crying out for more, but Lana proved she will be around for many, many years to come.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
18 hours ago
- Telegraph
Grand Theft Auto: the blood-soaked British success story testing Labour's mettle
When it was first released in 1997, Grand Theft Auto (GTA) was met with moral panic. 'Sick, deluded and beneath contempt,' fumed the Police Federation. The game was debated by the House of Lords and castigated by the Daily Mail – all of which helped deliver blockbuster sales. Conceived by a scrappy Scottish games studio based in Dundee, GTA is now a global media juggernaut. The last game in the series, Grand Theft Auto V, released in 2013, has generated $10bn (£7.5bn) in sales over its lifetime. Next spring, its developer, Rockstar Games, owned by US games giant Take-Two Interactive, will return with a new title almost three decades after the original with Grand Theft Auto VI. With a rumoured development cost that outstrips most major Hollywood blockbusters, GTA VI is 'probably the most anticipated game of all time', according to Louise Wooldridge, a researcher at analytics firm Ampere Analysis. 'We can expect it to be one of the most expensive games ever made.' Ampere predicts GTA VI will net more than $1bn in sales on its first day. Michael Patcher, of brokerage firm Wedbush Securities, estimates the new title has cost north of $1.5bn to develop but should make Take-Two billions of dollars in profits. 'I expect a $100 price point for the game,' he says, 'The game will be immensely profitable. It will likely generate $10bn lifetime and another $500m annually from GTA Online.' In anticipation, shares in Take-Two are trading around all-time highs. The business is valued at around $40bn and its stock is up more than 20pc so far this year. The vast sums of money involved mean that GTA, which is still largely developed by teams based in Scotland, is one of the UK's most valuable cultural exports. Wooldridge says: ' Video games are probably a far bigger UK export than most people think. Such a huge title coming out of the UK is very positive for the local industry.' Yet nearly every GTA release has been dogged by controversy. Despite the game's violent themes and 18+ rating, it has always been popular with younger teens. A 2023 YouGov poll found 70pc of Britons had played GTA when they were under 18, with most first playing between the ages of 12 and 15. While the public has become increasingly inured to on-screen sex and violence, the latest GTA will be released into a far more complicated online world than past games. The UK's Online Safety Act has prompted the advent of sweeping age checks across the web – and video games giants are not immune from our newly prudish era of internet censorship. Complicating matters is the fact that Rockstar benefits from hundreds of millions of pounds in tax breaks. Any controversy around the games' content could prompt questions about the appropriateness of this arrangement. As Labour seeks to clean up the internet, can Sir Keir Starmer stomach a blood and sex-soaked billion-dollar British success story? Violence and vice GTA VI will take players to Vice City, a fictionalised version of Miami. Gamers will play as Jason and Lucia, characters inspired by Bonnie and Clyde, as they navigate the city's underbelly (and partake in car chases, heists and gangland killings). Drugs, prostitution and sex have been recurring themes within past GTA games. A hugely popular online mode is likely to return along with a constant stream of downloadable content with new vehicles and missions. Violence is a core part of the gameplay, although the story of GTA is typically told in a tongue-in-cheek manner with jokes and satire. Despite the mature themes, the violence is not as graphic as many horror or action games. And Rockstar's immersive world-building, writing and characters are widely regarded as having turned video games into an art form to rival cinema and TV. Still, that has not stopped a furious backlash from parents' groups and campaigners in the past. The most recent game in the series was pulled from some retailers' shelves in Australia in 2014 over claims it included gratuitous sexual violence. Another game developed by Rockstar, called Manhunt II, was briefly banned from sale in the UK over for encouraging 'visceral killing'. Rockstar has repeatedly insisted its games are not for children. In 2010, one Rockstar executive told the BBC that if an adult bought one of its games for their child they would be a 'terrible parent'. GTA has faced plenty of controversy in the past, but Rockstar has always managed to ride it out. The latest game, however, must navigate newly toughened digital laws in Britain, namely the Online Safety Act. Britain's new online safety regulations do not directly censor violent or sexualised publisher content. Games are handed age ratings under a system known as Pegi. Retailers that sell games to underage users could face fines of £5,000 or up to six months in prison, under laws brought in in 2012. But the Online Safety Act will influence how games are designed in future. The regime regulates multiplayer elements – 'user-to-user' features in regulator-speak. This could include voice chats, forums, text messages or user-generated content. Online services that offer these features and are likely to be accessed by children will be required to stop underage users experiencing a plethora of digital harms, including bullying content, hate speech and 'serious violence'. 'When a game has any functionality that looks like social networking it gets grabbed into that bucket,' says George Osborn, editor of newsletter Video Games Industry Memo. Playing along The rules have already prompted several gamemakers to introduce strict age checks, even for games mainly marketed at children. Roblox, the creator game intended for children under 13, has added ID verification for users who want to access online voice chats. Microsoft's Xbox console has said it will begin age-verifying UK users who want to access certain online features. Rockstar already includes a vast online element to its current game that is expected to return and expand with GTA VI. So far, studios have avoided age verification checks within adult-rated games, reasoning that the age restrictions imposed at point of sale are sufficient. However, some campaigners have pushed for more stringent rules for games. Rachel de Souza, the Children's Commissioner, says the Online Safety Act means it is 'no longer acceptable for companies to sidestep their responsibilities simply because adult features occur in a game'. She adds: 'I want to see highly effective age assurance rolled out on gaming platforms in the same way as is now required for other sites.' Vicki Shotbolt, the chief executive of Parent Zone, adds there is a 'need for a proper approach to age rating games, supported with effective age restrictions'. Complicating matters is the fact that Rockstar has also won significant support from the British taxpayer. Rockstar Games UK received £73m in video games tax relief from HMRC in 2024. The relief allows studios to claim up to 20pc in tax credit against production costs. Tax Watch, the campaign group, has previously called the amount awarded to Rockstar 'staggering'. Since 2020, when work on GTA VI began principal production, the American-owned company has qualified for more than £350m i n subsidies under the scheme, according to Companies House filings. Qualifying for the relief requires its game to have 'passed a cultural test and be certified as British'. Take-Two, Rockstar's parent company, employs roughly 12,000 people, including more than 1,500 in the UK, as well as hundreds of freelance voice actors. UK staff benefit from Rockstar's unusual compensation structure. Take-Two rewards the studio's staff with a significant slice of the profits from its games. As a result, British brothers Sam and Dan Houser, two of Rockstar's co-founders, are worth an estimated £400m, according to The Times. Sam remains president of Rockstar and continues to lead development of GTA, although Dan left in 2020. The duo have always been press shy. Sam Houser was described in a 2008 Wall Street Journal profile as a 'demanding workaholic'. In a 2018 interview, Dan Houser said developers at Rockstar had worked 100-hour weeks to finish its hit Western game, Red Dead Redemption II – known in the industry as 'crunch'. The Housers' father ran Ronnie Scott's, the London jazz club, while their mother appeared in the 1971 gangster thriller Get Carter, starring Michael Caine. GTA VI's online elements mean it is quite likely to find itself in scope of Britain's new online safety laws, although it is not clear if it will be forced to implement age checks, given its mostly older player base. Currently, GTA Online requires no such check. A spokesman for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said rules around 'user-to-user' online services applied to video games as well as social media. Asked about its approach to gaming and the upcoming GTArelease, an Ofcom spokesman said: 'Not all games are in-scope of the Online Safety Act. Where they are, our supervision teams have ongoing discussions with the gaming industry to ensure compliance. 'We're already assessing how platforms are meeting their new child safety duties under the Act, and we won't hesitate to take action where we have concerns.' Industry experts say that the rules are more likely to cause issues for smaller game developers who face huge compliance costs. Buy contrast, such costs can be easily absorbed by a giant like Rockstar. Wooldridge, of Ampere, says: 'Smaller studios might find themselves phasing out chat or social features in their games because they simply can't afford the costs. For GTA it shouldn't prove to be a significant hurdle.' If safety campaigners have their way, children will find it harder to enjoy GTA VI's cornucopia of gangland vice when the game finally is released. Whatever the impact of Britain's digital rules, the game stands to make Take-Two and Rockstar a killing.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Hunter just dropped the perfect cowboy boot wellies for festival season
With plenty of major festivals still to come this summer, a good pair of wellies is essential and Hunter just dropped the perfect cowboy boot ones to complete your festival 'fits Whilst some of the major festivals have already been and gone, there's still plenty more heading our way this summer with Leeds and Reading Festival, Boomtown, Bloodstock and Creamfields still to come. That means there's still plenty of opportunities to wear your favourite festival gear, and a great pair of wellies is an absolute non-negotiable. With cowboy boots still dominating as one of the top trending footwear styles of summer, it's no surprise that many people were planning on wearing theirs to their next festival. That's why Hunter's new l Represent X Hunter collaboration is an absolute must, combining country with countryside for a stylish take on the classic wellies. Keeping all the waterproof, mud-proof and outdoor ready technical features that Hunter wellies are known for, the Represent X Hunter boots swap the traditional wellington boot look for a much more country-fied design that Beyonce herself would be proud of. They feature a low block heel, with raised stitching-inspired designs up the sides, a braided effect up the sides and even pull on tabs on the sides. The only difference between these boots and your usual cowboy boots is that they're made entirely from natural rubber, with a matte finish. There are also two different styles to choose from, and both boots come in a choice of black or khaki green, so you can pair them with all of your festival 'fits. The Represent X Hunter Original Short Boots are priced at £250 and have a mid-shin length and are ideal if you're planning on wading through mud or expecting more rainfall. Alternatively the Represent X Hunter Play Short Boots are more affordable at £220, and have an ankle-length shaft that's great if you aren't planning on tackling deep water and mud but that will still keep your feet dry. Elsewhere at Schuh, you can pick up a pair of Juju Jellies' Dolly boots for £40, which come in a black and white colourway, with stitching details and contrasting panels for that true western-inspired look. Meanwhile at Debenhams, the Absolute Footwear Waterproof Slip On Cowboy Wellington Boots have been slashed from £30.99 to £25, and come in both black and leopard print. However, we're absolutely expecting to see the Represent X Hunter boots everywhere this festival season, with the beauty of them being that they'll still be wearable long after you've packed up your tent and headed home. Perfect for drizzly autumn weather and even chilly snow, you can wear them for everything from dog walks to work commutes in the autumn and winter months, making sure you get plenty of wear out of them.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- The Guardian
Punch bags, penny pushers and Hillbilly shootouts: the 10 best classic seaside arcade machines
The seaside day trip remains an almost essential component of the school summer holidays, and although the big beachfront arcades have changed a lot over the last decade, they are still a magnet for small kids with handfuls of change, as well as adults hoping to spy an old Space Invaders cabinet in the back. As a child of the 1980s, coin-op video games were an obsession, but what really fascinated me were the older machines, the electro-mechanical oddities that hung on into the digital age. Here are 10 of the best – please add your own in the comments. Long before the arrival of computer chips and CRT monitors, arcade driving games featured projected images of landscapes or even scrolling paintings to give the impression of hurtling along a road. The first examples arrived in the 1930s and a few later models, such as Chicago Coin's Speedway and Sega's Grand Prix stuck around in seaside arcades well into the 1980s. I remember playing a later example, Kasco's astonishing 1979 arcade game The Driver, on the pier at Blackpool. It used 16mm footage of a real race to put you right in the action. There was a time when the rapid-fire noise of plastic pucks rebounding around large snooker-like tables was a constant soundtrack in larger arcades. Air Hockey was invented by US company Brunswick Billiards in 1969 and it quickly caught on across the globe offering a fast-paced alternative to pool and table football. You can still find them in retro arcades, especially in traditional seaside towns such as Great Yarmouth, Blackpool and Southend. These large installations feature tin horses lining up on a race track – six to eight players each sit at a cabinet in front of the course and throw balls at a target in order to move their equine racer toward the finishing line: the most accurate player wins. It seems the original version of the game, Kentucky Derby, was brought to Blackpool Pleasure Beach in the 1920s by George Valentine Tonner, an Irish-American soldier, jockey and amusement park concessionaire who also patented an early version of dodgems. Later examples swap horses for donkeys or camels, while a smaller variant, The Derby by Whittaker Bros, invited multiple players to bet on the outcome of automated horse races for a modest payback. Toy vending machines followed gumball machines into American stores, cafes and station platforms in the 1930s, but it was in 1965 that the first gachapon machine was installed in a shop in Tokyo by entrepreneur Ryuzo Shigeta. These dispensed their wares in cute little plastic capsules, and the idea caught on. More commonly known as egg machines in the UK, most 1980s seaside arcades would have a couple outside the entrance, the most famous examples being Glendale's Oranges and Lemons and Lucky Eggs machines, the later of which would dispense your prize from a rotating, clucking hen – which made it that much more special. You'd get rows of these large machines, often at the back of the arcade, giving players a number of chances to lob a basketball through a hoop, usually within a caged play area so you didn't accidentally launch the ball across the room. Classics such as Hoop Shot, Triple Jam and Full Court Fever added features including moving hoops and connected play so you could compete against pals on nearby machines. This was always where the rowdy teens hung out. Originating in the late 19th century these arcade and boardwalk amusements usually feature animated automatons, often stereotypical representations of Gypsies, witches or ancient Middle Eastern royalty. Put in a coin and the mystic character gestures, breathes and speaks your fortune (or deposits a card with your fortune written on it), accompanied by special effects such as a glowing crystal ball. Notable examples include Madame Zita, the creepy 1977 innovation Morgana, whose face is a video projection on to a featureless foam head, and Zoltar, which inspired the 1988 movie Big. Other automaton machines feature dancing puppets and absolutely terrifying laughing clowns. Beloved of young men keen to prove their masculinity, these have been around since at least 190o when the Chicago-based Mills Novelty Co released its Punching Bag model, complete with ornate oak stand. Modern versions have digital displays featuring accurate strength read-outs, but you're still just hitting a ball as hard as you can. Other strength testing machines include the Mr Muscle machine from Italian manufacturer Zamperla, which challenged you to arm wrestle with an intimidating plastic man. Also known as claw machines, these remain a staple arcade experience. You slot in a coin and use the joystick to direct an ineffectual grabber towards your desired toy. Usually, it makes a pathetic attempt before dropping the item millimetres away from the delivery chute (mostly because the claws can be set to only grip at full strength for a minority of attempts). The first commercial example is thought to be the Erie Digger manufactured in the US through the 1920s but since then well-known arcade manufacturers such as Sega and Bally have created their own examples, the former revolutionising the market in the 1980s with its UFO Catcher machines offering larger prizes and a brighter kawaii look. They remain irresistible. Light gun shooting galleries were in every arcade in the 70s and 80s, but my favourite examples were the large installations featuring lifesize scenes to shoot at, often with a wild west, pirate or gangster theme. The one I most remember playing – I think in Blackpool's Coral Island arcade – was called Hillybilly Moonshine and it had several mannequins dressed in overalls as well as a big copper distiller and various barrels and critters. If you hit the hillbillies they fired water pistols at you. You can still find these dotted about in surviving coin-op houses and they're really worth a go. Invented by Ramsgate-based manufacturing firm Cromptons in 1966 (though there were earlier variants), coin push games are the kings of the seaside arcade, dominating the floor space and enticing players with their piles of sparkling treasure surely ready to fall at any second. The original was called Penny Falls, but there are hundreds of variations now, including virtual coin pushers, which move the action on to a screen with lots of special effects. Oh, the hours I spent during summer holidays wandering the arcades of Blackpool and Morecambe, a plastic cup of 2p coins in my hand, scrutinising these seductive machines. 'Penny pushers are absolutely pivotal to the success of the British amusement arcade,' says lecturer and historian Alan Meades, author of Arcade Britannia: A Social History of the British Amusement Arcade. 'Alongside the fruit machine they are where the arcades made their money – penny pushers could last for decades – retooled with currency changes – and recouped their costs time and again.'
