Del Rey started off her show just as she did her first, entering in style with her dancers, riding motorbikes and waving to screaming fans, a likely call back to her music video for “Ride.” After settling on stage, she took a second to look out into the audience. “We are so happy to be here, this is so crazy, ten years ago, almost to the day!” declared Del Rey in reference to her first ever Coachella performance, before launching into a sultry version of “Without You,” hitting every high note and setting the mood for the night.
She continued with her hits, with altered versions of “West Coast,” “Doing Time, “Cherry,” and “Ride,” complete with monologue and swing.
Her surprise guest of the night was Camilla Cabello, who came out to sing “I LUV IT,” wearing a Pepsi Cola shirt. Del Rey added a few accompanying vocals, but mainly hung out on the balcony, watching on as Cabello delivered a high-energy performance.
Cabello’s appearance wasn’t entirely out-of-the-blue (Del Rey had posted a picture of Cabello with the caption “i luv it” back in March), but it was a sharp departure from Del Rey’s softer songs from earlier in the night, highlighting a disconnect between Del Rey’s style of music and the large stage on which she sang.
This is not to say that Del Rey’s stage presence was lacking in any way. Rather, her songs have a perpetually intimate feel, that can get lost in translation in large festivals and arenas. The size of her fan base demands such large venues, but her songs and lyrics paint a picture that could be better received in music halls, with the strength of a full orchestra behind her.
