Lana Del Rey: A Retrospective

May 26, 2013. A sold-out crowd in Vicar St. are doing their damnedest to take the roof right off the venue, screaming out of love, admiration, solidarity and respect. Onstage, though, the focus of their affection suddenly looks all at sea. If up to that moment she had maintained a studied detatchment, now the girl in the white summer dress seems overwhelmed by the reception. The glamorous, sultry facade cracks with a stream of tears that she wipes off her face unself-consciously. It is an extraordinarily touching moment of emotional vulnerability.

To understand what happened that night in Dublin, it is necessary to explore the mystery surrounding Lizzy Grant, the understated New York singer-songwriter who would become Lana Del Rey. Even that transition, occurring away from the glare of the spotlight, was a point of extraordinary discussion and debate: were we now looking at a carefully preened and manufactured, industry-driven phenomenon, or at one of the most inventive, inspired and intriguing new artists on the planet?

The truthful answer was: a bit of both. An artist with Hollywood good looks had hit her stride and her record company was marketing her effectively. What’s not to like?

The hermit-like reclusiveness from public glare, the enigmatic videos that launched her to superstardom, and the unique brand of Hollywood noir that ran through her music were all of a piece: meticulously-crafted facets of a singular, and singularly impressive, musical force.

Those who erred on the side of scepticism were quickly outnumbered by a fanbase that brought loyalty to a whole new level. People who loveLana Del Rey really adore her. By the time of that Dublin show, her presence had reached near-mythical status for her growing band of die-hard supporters. She was seen less as an entertainer, than as an iconic figure of almost religious significance.

Which is why that night in Dublin remains a seminal moment in the story of this remarkable and magnetic star.

Our own Celina Murphy reported: “‘We have two more songs left,’ Lana announces, ‘but I just want to say, you know, a lot of people have said a lot of things about me but I really appreciate all of my friends and all of my fans...’ Anything that comes after this is drowned out by the crowd’s elated whoops, and after a minute-or-so of lapping it up, she turns her back to us in an awkward hunch and loses it.”

Tears flowed from beneath the sparkling, gold eye-shadow, as one of music’s most indecipherable individuals appeared to show her true colours in a vividly personal response to the audience’s embrace. At the end of a masterclass in the sort of mysterious performance that had defined her, the sight and sound of real, human emotion catching in her throat, and reducing the normally anthemic ‘Video Games’ to a beautiful, albeit bruised rendition, was a watershed moment.

The breakdown made headlines internationally, setting the rumour

mill in motion. Some fools wondered was it all just another publicity stunt? Others asked was there turmoil in her life – professional or personal – that had caused her to crack. And many wondered was this, perhaps, the first unquestionable sighting of the real Lana Del Rey?

The following year, she was asked about the incident during an interview with Fader, and divulged that a long-standing medical issue had played a part. “It was just heavy,” she said. “It’s just heavy performing for people who really care about you, and you don’t really care that much about yourself sometimes. I thought it was sad. I thought my position was sad. I thought it was sad to be in Ireland singing for people who really care when I wasn’t sure if I did.”

The finer details, we may never know. Lana Del Rey is the archetype of a mystery wrapped in an enigma. In the engrossing tale of this captivating artist, it’s an incident right here in Ireland that provides one of the most notable chapters of all. Here’s hoping September 4, 2016 offers another. Electric Picnic fans, here she comes...