Lana Del Rey On SNL: Internet Sensation Bombs On Her U.S. TV Debut (VIDEO)

Internet phenomenon Lana Del Rey had her U.S. television debut on SNL Saturday night. Del Rey has thus far remained largely within the confines of the internet -- she first gained international attention with her song, "Video Games," and followed up with a series of internet releases in rapid succession, all of which will be featured on her forthcoming album, Born To Die. According to Stereogum, she's the first artist to perform on SNL before the release of a major label album since Natalie Imbruglia.

Her performance Saturday night was under high scrutiny by those who are familiar with her internet videos, and her American debut for those who've never heard her name. For these reasons, it possibly couldn't have gone worse. Del Rey, who had expressed her nervousness before the show, was pitchy and strangely guttural in her renditions of "Video Games" and "Blue Jeans." Those who have only heard Del Rey online wondered whether she just isn't meant for the stage. Those who hadn't wondered how she slipped through the cracks and onto SNL. According to the Hollywood Reporter, actress Juliette Lewis tweeted, "Wow watching this 'singer' on SNL is like watching a 12 yearold in their bedroom when they're pretending to sing and perform. #signofourtimes." The tweet has since been removed from Lewis' account. The rest of the Twitterverse shared similar reactions, calling the performance "cringeworthy" and a "snoozefest." Perez Hilton warned that we "#DontBuyTheHype." Others were kinder -- one tweeter said "it was better than Ashlee Simpsons' disaster."

Still, we wonder how little this has to do with talent, and how much with nerves. After all, we've seen her perform for a television audience outside the U.S. Her rendition of "Video Games" on Jools Holland, for one, was decent, and far from deserving this sort of criticism. Is this just be a case of being pushed into the spotlight too fast, with too much pressure for perfection? Or has Del Rey's starpower faded before she's even put out her first album? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Watch Del Rey perform "Video Games":

Watch Del Rey perform "Blue Jeans":

Read reactions to Del Rey's performances on Twitter:

• Perez Hilton

• Luke Stammen

• Kristin

• Alex

• Ali Houghton

• HIPSTER RUNOFF

• Leah L. White

• Jan

• Eddie Argos

Comments

[SusanGraves]

07:20 AM on 04/04/2013

I am a huge fan of Lana Del Rey.Basically her album "Born to Die" is my favorite album.

chic

[diogyphus]

08:34 PM on 03/10/2013

Dunno her and didn't see her performance, nor have I ever heard her stuff in any format or venue that I know of.

That said, I don't think I've ever seen a good performance by anyone on Saturday Night live in the 30 plus years I've viewed it.

[Miss Caat]

07:05 AM on 02/02/2013

The singer in question has a unique style and maintains an unconventional performance practice (obvious register switching, live singing, etc) and whether one likes it or not, there has to be some credit given for that. My personal opinion is that she had a case of nerves and it meant some of her choices were not strong and were not as well-executed as they were in the studio or in other live venues. She has issues with breath control, managing her register breaks, and makes some unconscious phrasing choices and enunciation choices that could be more thoughtfully chosen for the effect she wants. She is no more or less talented a singer than most on the market, and it's a shame she's been so harshly reviewed for being willing to color even a little outside the lines.

The reality is that most untrained singers sound somewhat awkward live and without a singalong track of some kind or live help on the mixing board. Does it make them less talented? Less interesting? Less worth listening to? A personal choice, to be certain, but let's be clear that there's a difference between personal preference and a technical critique.

Also - in obtaining two music degrees, I never once encountered the term "pitchy".

[whyimagine]

12:42 AM on 01/25/2013

I think this poor girl is symptomatic of a generation bred on corporate bullshit music.
It (her music) sounds like it should/could be good, but ends up being nothing more than pretentious foolishness.
No surprise then, that without professional handlers, Her vapid performance reflected this emptyness.
SW

[jaygone]

09:20 AM on 01/22/2013

Sounds like the mainstream star machine is not friendly to the new frontier and new faces that the internet can provide. HA.

[Ulysses Elias]

11:21 PM on 10/31/2012

Lana's recorded versions are really quite lovely and the singer is also gorgeous. Her performance on SNL was only average. But honestly, it was nowhere near as bad as people are making out. Surely every singer can have an off day?

[staples123]

05:09 PM on 09/11/2012

She gives 'dull as dishwater' a whole new meaning for me ;S

Maybe I'm missing something but at least she's doing well.

[Jeansoutlet Truerelgiion]

02:42 AM on 06/10/2012

what a cool truereligionjeans!!let us go to http://sosoemall.com

[Virmary Quandt]

04:57 PM on 05/23/2012

She is a wonderful artist. She didn't perform maybe the way you Americans love it super sexy, and almost naked. She's new so give her a chance and at least she has a voice. It is more than obvious that she was nervous. Don't we all get nervous? Stop complaining and go try it yourself see if you are better. God some people are just mean and negative. There are worse artist that are pure performance and little talent!! Britney Spears is a good example! And still you adore her! She has talent and I love her!!!! She's different

[Savory]

06:38 PM on 06/27/2012

aw shut up. You know nothing about Americans and their varied tastes. You just want to flame a whole Country because or your petty jealousies. You can't migrate here, so instead, you slam us. There are people from all walks of life here, all the best stars were created right here, and you don't get to be part of us.

[Bettie Gaylor Saccardo]

12:26 AM on 04/29/2012

I've heard far worse on SNL

[SFMichael]

10:07 PM on 04/26/2012

OH MY GOD, I only just saw the performance a few days ago. on a re-run of Saturady Night Live.
And I thought LANA DEl RAY was mesmerizing. VIDEO GAMES was like an angel had fallen frmo heaven. Vocally, her voice was SUBLIME.... she uses it as an instrument of emotional expression...
not like the common-roller-coaster-to-impress of the likes of starsearch or lowbrow stuff like that.
She is an angel and a HUGE talent. My jaw dropped ,,, the beauty of her performance and her laid back style of moving was entrancing....
Anyone, who did not like it, is probably more into bubblegum or god knows what.
Lana Del Ray KILLED IT on SNL!

[earthlurban]

11:28 PM on 03/28/2012

I Lohuhuoooved her performance, she was everything and more. realistic...c'mon isn't that what we crave from music...heart....reality...soul...ummmphhh...she gave it, thank you Lana Del Ray

[Loriw801]

06:54 AM on 03/23/2012

Okay, so I'm just getting around to watching these videos. I didn't want to at the height of the "hype" because I wanted to not be influenced.
This girl reminds me of Neko Case; which is a very good thing. She has an "interesting" voice that makes me want to lean into and really listen.
Of course she was nervous! Even seasoned professionals get nervous during their performances.
Her stage presence was "awkward"; to say the least. I think she'd fair much better sitting on a bar stool.
Also, the main thing that drove me bonkers was the fact that she had to touch her hair, no less than, 12 times during each performance. Lana...get a pony tail holder or braid your hair!
That was truly distracting to me.
Otherwise...rock on! I think she's going to do very well.

[LifeIsBrief]

02:59 PM on 03/19/2012

I really liked the songs AND she's great to look at. What's the problem?

I'll buy her cd.

[teapot90]

03:32 PM on 03/14/2012

I love her. Unique style, unique sound and pretty as a picture. Way better than so many of the SNL performers. Also I caught Lana recently on the Letterman show and she blew everyone there away.