Following on from Wolf came the hottest star of 2012, Lana Del Rey. The American singer performed a short set to a massive crowd who hung on to every word the starlet sang. Since shooting to fame last autumn Lana has kept her live performances to a minimum but she didn't disappoint and seemed humbled by the adoration from the crowd as she sang seven songs from her debut LP, Born To Die and one newie, which veered off to the grungy sound. Dressed in pastel and backed by a band that included a four-piece string section her vocals were strong, fuelled with emotion and sincerity, 'Without You' was idyllic whilst 'Summer Sadness' felt raw. The super smash hit 'Video Games' had the charm that it did the first time you heard it and the set climaxed with 'National Anthem', seeing Del Rey come and hug those in the front row, very brave for the doll-like singer. Once she had left the stage the crowds chanted 'Lana' but that was it, leaving them pining for more.
Grace Jones wiggles in a bin liner and an imperious Lana Del Ray (sic!) proves her mettle at London’s most flamboyant annual fixture
Yet from potential disaster, came glorious triumph. Beyond the hype, her album Born To Die has grown in stature and, once more wooden than a carpenter’s showroom, she has evolved into a glacial, imperious performer, capable of moving hearts on Video Games and National Anthem. As she sang, the sun set and there, in a grim Hackney park, was genuine beauty.
