Lana Del Rey at Wembley review: her voice is enthralling but the night is uneven
All the criticisms from her earlier shows hold true. This is not a multi-hour marathon a la Taylor or Beyoncé. Instead, there's a casual 90-hour run time with multiple breaks for dancers to perform dream ballets to an eerie hologram of Del Rey. One is a cover for a (barely noticeable) costume change, the other seemingly just because. Only 12 or so of her own songs are sung live; the rest are recordings or covers.
But when she sings there is something alchemical, like she's pulling it from another dimension. Some lines do tail away, Del Rey staring with that blank-eyed look she has perfected. But this is all part of her Fifties-housewife-on-Quaaludes shtick. Then she turns around and has fun with it, embellishing her most famous lines with ease. She appears to have wisely dissolved her lip fillers, allowing for every pout, snarl and lip quiver to deliver on the jumbotron.
Although compact, the set list has some excellent runs. Chemtrails Over The Country Club is followed by Ultraviolence, at which point the stage breaks out in blood-red strobing. Ride and then Video Games. Young and Beautiful, Summertime Sadness and Born to Die come in a flurry, followed by — in a fabulous surprise — Venice Bitch. As Del Rey herself pointed out, she hasn't sung that one live for years.
The covers are all excellent choices, thematically on point and showcasing Del Rey's ability to make a song entirely her own. Her version of Tammy Wynette's Stand By Your Man is goosebump-raising. Addison Rae, who was a delight as the opening act, joins Del Rey on stage towards the end for a rendition of her hit Diet Pepsi.
As for the staging, it's... a lot. Maybe it could best be described as a Southern Gothic twist on Miss Havisham. Del Rey enters through the front door of a peeling blue clapboard house, draping herself around a rickety porch in a yellowed lace dress. Dancers haunt the swampy stage in white dresses like an Americana Gisele. Del Rey - dressed in custom Valentino, designed by Creative Director Alessandro Michele - sits on a swing as though Fragonard painted her in Florida. There's a bridal prosession where flowers pop out of the stage in sync with Del Rey's steps, leading to a rose arch on a scissor lift.
Every image is beautiful and strange, like a moodboard left out to get mildewed and stained. But often the staging felt over-busy, with Del Rey lost in the maelstrom. Did we really need the pole dancers shimmying up old-fashioned street lights, fans and feathers whirling and twirling, a piano that rose from the podium just to drip water. Her repertoire's themes of self-destructive love can stand alone. It doesn't need to be underscored to literally by setting fire to the house while singing about setting a house on fire.
Unfortunately, the spectacle can feel like a cover for Del Rey's laconic performing style. It feels churlish to compare Del Rey to the other women artists currently tour. Perhaps seeing Charli xcx, Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo alone in the past month has blown my tastebuds out for pop extravaganzas and feats of physical and emotional exertion.
Del Rey's voice is so wondrous, her every micro expression so enthralling, that she could have performed alone on stage in a single spotlight and it would have been enough. But then, could they have charged so much for tickets?
Lana Del Rey at Wembley Stadium, 4 July, tickets and infomation here.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Jessie J reveals ‘no cancer spread' after operation
Singer Jessie J has revealed she has 'no cancer spread' following an operation, after announcing earlier this year she had been diagnosed with 'early breast cancer'. The 37-year-old, whose real name is Jessica Cornish, posted a picture of her son saying 'mummy's going to be OK' on Instagram while announcing the news. She said in the post: 'And I am OK, results = I have no cancer spread, happy tears are real. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jessie J (@jessiej) 'Thank you for the prayers, the love, the well wishes, the joy and all the positive energy. 'This video is from the night before my surgery. We called it baby boy. You are my biggest ray of light and with you in my life, the darkness will never win. 'Lots of healing to go and one more surgery to make these cousins look more like sisters, but for now it's gratitude time and I am changing my name to The LopJess monster.' In early June, the Price Tag singer said she had been spending time 'in and out of tests' when announcing her diagnosis. She said in a post at the time: 'I was diagnosed with early breast cancer. 'Cancer sucks in any form, but I'm holding on to the word 'early'. 'It's a very dramatic way to get a boob job. I am going to disappear for a bit after Summertime Ball to have my surgery, and I will come back with massive tits and more music.' The pop star said she had announced her diagnosis publicly to help her process the news, and to show solidarity with others who were going through a similar experience. The London-born singer welcomed her son, Sky Safir Cornish Colman, in 2023, having had a miscarriage in November 2021. She has battled with ill health throughout her life, having been diagnosed with a heart condition aged eight, suffering a minor stroke aged 18 and having briefly gone deaf in 2020. Jessie J performed at Capital's Summertime Ball last month, where she promised fans she would 'beat' breast cancer. The singer-songwriter has had three number one songs in the UK singles charts with Domino, Price Tag, and Bang Bang. She was awarded four Mobo awards in 2011 including Best UK Act, Best Newcomer, Best Song for Do It Like A Dude and Best Album with Who You Are and won the Brit Award for Rising Star in 2011.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
‘Superman' Star David Corenswet Reached Out to Henry Cavill and Tyler Hoechlin for Advice, but They Said We're ‘Not Gonna Try and Give You Any Tips': ‘Superman's Not So Much for Giving Advice'
The new Superman has to save the world all on his own. In a red carpet interview with Heart at the London premiere of James Gunn's 'Superman,' star David Corenswet discussed asking for advice from Henry Cavill and Tyler Hoechlin, who both played the DC icon in 'Man of Steel' and 'Superman & Lois,' respectively. Although they were 'encouraging' to Corenswet, they didn't want to influence his performance. More from Variety James Gunn Offers Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Look at 'Superman' in New Photo Book Why Nicholas Hoult Lost Superman Role to David Corenswet: He's a 'More Controlled Actor' and Had 'Really Good' Chemistry With Another Lois Lane James Gunn Says 'Superman' Won't Confuse Moviegoers With So Many Characters: 'Oppenheimer' Had 'Three Times as Many Speaking Roles' 'Both of them, interestingly, sort of said in their own words, 'I'm not gonna try and give you any tips,'' Corenswet explained. 'And I think that's a very Superman thing. Superman's not so much for giving advice or dictating how other people should be.' He continued, 'They really just conveyed to me an encouragement and a sense of 'have fun with it', which I think is Superman's way of doing it too. They were very encouraging and we had a lovely experience. I'm excited to meet them one day. It'll be great when we can all get in a room together.' Joining Corenswet in 'Superman,' which releases July 11, are Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, María Gabriela de Faría as The Engineer, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen and Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl. On the heels of 'Superman,' Gunn teased who he imagines leading another project that is 'being written right now': a Wonder Woman feature film. He suggested 'Hit Man' star Adria Arjona was one of his top picks for the titular role. 'I follow Adria on Instagram, but everybody came out [and thought], 'He just followed her, that means she's Wonder Woman,'' Gunn said. 'She'd be a great Wonder Woman, by the way.' Best of Variety Oscars 2026: George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, Wagner Moura and More Among Early Contenders to Watch New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts?
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Ozzy Osbourne goes out on a high at farewell gig
Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath have gone out with a bang at what they say will be their final gig, in front of 40,000 fans and supported by an all-star line-up of rock legends who have been influenced by the founding fathers of heavy metal. Ozzy, 76, who has Parkinson's disease, sang while seated on a black throne - clapping, waving his arms and pulling wild-eyed looks, just like old times. He appeared overwhelmed at some moments. "You have no idea how I feel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart," he told the crowd at Villa Park in Birmingham. He was joined by the full original Sabbath line-up for the first time in 20 years. The show's bill also included fellow rock gods Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Slayer, the Rolling Stones' Ronnie Wood and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler. Wearing a leather overcoat and gold armband bearing his name, Ozzy rose from below the stage in his throne to a huge roar from the crowd. "Are you ready? Let the madness begin," he called. "It's so good to be on this stage. You have no idea," he told the crowd, who responded by chanting his name. As it happened: Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath's final gig Farewell to rock's wildest frontman The best photos from Black Sabbath's farewell After playing five songs from his solo career, Ozzy was joined by his Sabbath bandmates - guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist and lyricist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward - for four more, finishing with 1970 classic Paranoid. The Parkinson's, other health problems and age have taken their toll, meaning he performed sitting down throughout. His voice wavered a bit but still packed a fair punch. Fans came from all over the world - if they could get tickets - for the all-day Back to the Beginning gig at Aston Villa's football stadium, a stone's throw from Ozzy's childhood home. The star-studded show was dubbed the "heavy metal Live Aid", and profits will go to charity. The pitch was a sea of Black Sabbath T-shirts and rock hand signs, with some areas becoming a melee of moshing. One person waved an inflatable bat, a reference to the infamous 1982 incident when Ozzy bit the head off a live bat on stage - the most notorious moment of many in the rock star's wild career. The day's other performers paid homage to him and the other band members. "Without Sabbath there would be no Metallica," the US group's frontman James Hetfield told the crowd during their set. "Thank you for giving us a purpose in life." Guns N' Roses' appearance included a cover of Sabbath's 1978 song Never Say Die, with frontman Axl Rose ending with the cry: "Birmingham! Ozzy! Sabbath! Thank you!" A series of star-studded supergroups saw Steven Tyler, who has suffered serious vocal problems in recent years, sound back on form as part of a band including Ronnie Wood, Blink-182's Travis Barker and Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello, who put together the event's line-up. Another version of the band included Smashing Pumpkins singer Billy Corgan and KK Downing from Judas Priest, another of the West Midlands' original metal heroes. Younger performers included Yungblud, who sang one of Sabbath's more tender songs, Changes, originally released in 1972, and which Ozzy took to number one as a duet with daughter Kelly in 2003. Yungblud was part of another supergroup whose revolving cast of musicians included members of Megadeth, Faith No More and Anthrax. There was also a titanic battle of three drummers in a "drum-off" between Barker, Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Danny Carey of Tool. Pantera frontman Phil Anselmo told the crowd the artists on the bill "would all be different people" without Black Sabbath. "That's the truth. I wouldn't be up here with this microphone in my hand without Black Sabbath. The greatest of all time." Hollywood actor Jason Momoa was the show's compere and while introducing Pantera, told fans he was joining the moshpit, saying: "Make some space for me, I'm coming in." At another point, he told the crowd: "The history of Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne is to look back at the best who've ever done it. We have some of the greatest rock and metal musicians ever here today on this stage." Momoa's Minecraft Movie co-star Jack Black sent a video message, as did other big names ranging from Billy Idol to Dolly Parton. "Black Sabbath really kind of started all this, the metal era," former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar told BBC News backstage. "Everyone looks at them like the kings, and if the kings are going to go out then we're going to go honour them. "Everyone that was asked to do this, shoot, you drop everything and do this. This is going to go down in history as the greatest metal event of all of all time." Ozzy said beforehand that the show would be "a goodbye as far as my live performances go, and what a way to go out". The line-up of legends "means everything", he said in an interview provided by organisers. "I am forever in their debt for showing up for me and the fans. I can't quite put it into words, but I feel very emotional and blessed." Ticket prices ranged from about £200 to £2,000, with profits being shared between Cure Parkinson's, Birmingham Children's Hospital and Acorn Children's Hospice. Black Sabbath Ozzy Osbourne solo Metallica Guns N' Roses Slayer Tool Pantera Supergroup including Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), Ronnie Wood (the Rolling Stones), Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), Adam Jones (Tool), KK Downing (Judas Priest), Vernon Reid (Living Colour), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Sammy Hagar (Van Halen), Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine), Travis Barker (Blink-182) and Tobias Forge (Ghost) Drum-off - Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Travis Barker (Blink-182) and Danny Carey (Tool) Gojira Alice in Chains Anthrax Supergroup including Lzzy Hale (Halestorm), David Ellefson (Megadeth), Mike Bordin (Faith No More), David Draiman (Disturbed), Scott Ian (Anthrax), Yungblud and Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme) Lamb of God Halestorm Rival Sons Mastodon Why I kick down Peak District stone stacks Excellent or awful - why Lifetime ISAs divide opinion Not getting a summer job? Here are eight ways to change that How Trump is using the 'Madman Theory' to try to change the world (and it's working)