“It don’t get no better, that was gorgeous,” declared Late Show musical director Paul Schaffer following Lana Del Rey‘s Thursday night performance of “Video Games.” Host David Letterman agreed, asking the much-hyped newcomer whether she could come back the next day. “And how about Monday?,” he cracked.
It was a starkly different reaction than the one the sexy singer received following her Saturday Night Live debut, which had thousands of viewers debating whether the 25-year-old should have been allowed such valuable TV time considering how green she was in the area of live performances.
STORY: Lana Del Rey’s ‘Born to Die’: What the Critics Are Saying
Well, what a difference two weeks can make. Taking the stage at the legendary Ed Sullivan Theater, a far more controlled and relaxed Del Rey delivered a stellar string-heavy rendition of her breakout song “Video Games,” injecting the sort of nuances indie music fans were craving when she first emerged as the genre’s great hope.
Her hushed, sultry voice finally got a proper showcase, but not every camera angle was flattering, and those nails… well, perhaps getting beat up by hundreds of critics, both professional and otherwise, has resulted in a more practical tactic: if Del Rey is feeling defensive, she could simply claw someone’s eye out. And wouldn’t that be a sight to see?
Until then, check out Del Rey’s Letterman appearance below and let us know: did she redeem herself with this performance?
Twitter: @shirleyhalperin
Related Stories
More from The Hollywood Reporter
-
![]()
-
![]()
-
Wynonna Judd
Naomi Judd Celebrated as “Legend Who Left Country Music Better Than She Found It” in Memorial Service
![]()
-
![]()
-
Megan Fox
Machine Gun Kelly Calls Megan Fox His “Wife,” Refers to “Our Unborn Child” During Billboard Music Awards Performance
![]()
-
Travis Scott
Travis Scott Delivers Snow-Filled Performance at First Awards Show Since Astroworld Tragedy
![]()
