Lana's lacking live performances - a discussion

[Beautiful Loser 45,955]

I know we will most likely still write how impressed or disappointed we are of a certain performance in its own thread, but I thought that maybe we could have a discussion here. And I mean a discussion, please don't just write stuff like "I hate Lana's dancers" or whatever and just end it there.

I just thought we could have a discssion on how she got where she is today. We have slowly seen her skipping lines in songs, relying more on pre-recorded backup vocals, sometimes showing up on stage in what I think we all could say a uninspiring outfit (yes, I'm looking at you, black-sweater-and-leggings look). What are your thoughts on how she went from a dolled up, crying-from-her-soul singer to a mellow, soft-singing casual looking singer? Do you think she'll go back to what she used to sing before? (2012, 2014, 2015, whatever year you'd like to think of)

 

I don't think she's always bad these days. I think she was pretty great at Lolla Brazil in 2018 - she skipped around on stage and seemed energetic in her own way and had pretty good vocal moments. I don't think she was great at the beginning of her career either although her way of singing was pretty unique.

I think it might be two things - one, she clearly isn't the same person she was when she recorded BTD and she might have played a persona she had in her mind to fit the aesthetic and the images she was singing about, things she isn't exactly singing about today, and thus, her way of singing changed. That southern accent she could have as Lizzy was cute, but it wasn't exactly her, it was yet another persona (in my opinion) and I guess she ditched that once she became Lana.

Second, I wonder if she knows that just seeing someone you've seen perhaps daily in videos and pictures on the internet might hype a fan up enough that they'll still be satisfied with her minimal effort performances? Fans travel across the country and/or overseas to see her (I did) and some go to several of her shows, so she kind of knows there will always be people out there who will love her, no matter what. Maybe she knows that she can skip lines and fans will still be grateful and dream of seeing her again. Maybe she knows that just seeing her can be enough to make a fan's day when they've been dreaming of seeing/hearing her live for years? And yeah, I know I kind of don't make sense here, I would personally expect more as a fan if I got to see her for the first time and she's barely singing - I'd pretty much only get a live instrumental with her band.

 

So how do you think she got to here? Is she "just" performing on festivals for the cash they bring? Is she getting too comfortable? (nothing bad with feeling confident on stage though, she finally has it) Is she just getting lazy? Or is it something else?

I don't know, but I just feel like this can't be good when even reporters/reviewers start to pick up that half (or nearly) of the setlists are BTD songs and start to question why she's not singing.

 

Apologies for writing an essay.

 

Edit: let me just add that I'm glad she added some new songs to the LATTM tour, I've always wondered what PWYC would sound like live and now I know (although I haven't heard it live, just through videos). Her medley was pretty as well. I don't think it would hurt to switch out a few more songs to keep it interesting, especially for fans who see her several times.

[movebaby 5,379]

so i gotta preface this by saying i've never been to a show of hers, but i've seen enough live video to understand the noticeable...change in performance quality over time. i totally agree that she can get away with putting in very little effort at this point because fans will still show up just to see her (hell, i'd still pay to go to her show if i got the opportunity, at least to have seen it once and have a real opinion). i definitely get so in the moment/into the experience at concerts that the lack of effort would almost definitely matter way less to me in person than it does through a screen! (obviously i would've loved to see the level of showmanship that's in her older performances though) i don't mind the more mellowed out persona necessarily, and i really love the music we've gotten from it, but i don't think it mixes well with the weird vestiges of her more done-up persona that are still around, and i don't think it's as unique as her whole high glamor, high drama, sad-trashy-yet-somehow-elegant-literary-hedonist-lolita deal was when she first broke out. the part that really gets me, though, is how much she's had the crowd sing for her in some shows (lollapalooza chile i wanna say? you guys probably know the one i'm thinking of). that just always comes off as really lazy to me and whenever i see an artist doing it i can't help but think of

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehVMflY2tI0 

 

[godsmonster 13,779]

Honestly, I think she just hates touring in any way, shape, or form

[Beautiful Loser 45,955]

i definitely get so in the moment/into the experience at concerts that the lack of effort would almost definitely matter way less to me in person than it does through a screen!

Yes, I was thinking about that too - I cried when I saw her, I knew that it wasn't her best performance but I was just so happy to finally hear and see her live that I didn't really mind much. But it wouldn't have hurt if she gave a it bit more.

[PARADIXO 31,593]

I literally like, enjoy, appreciate and analyze everything she does in her career; visually, musically, mathematically, etc. I enjoy her dramatic, Lolita lost in the hood, Mexican telenovela-worthy performances of Born to Die just as much as her part-time worldwide popstar, part-time matcha expert shows. I don't think she's gotten any worse. Of course there were some lackluster shows, but that happened every era. The most recent bad show I can think of was her gig in Chile, but that's probably because she arrived in the country just hours before it.

 

Fans calling her lazy is just straight-up stupid. She always reinvents her shows. From the low-key, little orchestra of Born to Die/Paradise with the pretty dresses to the jazz singer in New York aesthetic of the Endless Summer, to the shiny, choreographed pop darling of the LA to the Moon. I think the main reason why some complain about her setlists is because she always avoids "fan favorites"... but it's obvious that she won't perform the most obscure and intimate tracks.

 

I'll always want to go see her live because I always appreciate when she's on stage. Touring Lana is literally my favorite Lana.

 

And I know this is very unpopular but -- her current Off to the Races performances are among my favorites.

[Beautiful Loser 45,955]

I literally like, enjoy, appreciate and analyze everything she does in her career; visually, musically, mathematically, etc. I enjoy her dramatic, Lolita lost in the hood, Mexican telenovela-worthy performances of Born to Die just as much as her part-time worldwide popstar, part-time matcha expert shows. I don't think she's gotten any worse. Of course there were some lackluster shows, but that happened every era. The most recent bad show I can think of was her gig in Chile, but that's probably because she arrived in the country just hours before it.

 

Fans calling her lazy is just straight-up stupid. She always reinvents her shows. From the low-key, little orchestra of Born to Die/Paradise with the pretty dresses to the jazz singer in New York aesthetic of the Endless Summer, to the shiny, choreographed pop darling of the LA to the Moon. I think the main reason why some complain about her setlists is because she always avoids "fan favorites"... but it's obvious that she won't perform the most obscure and intimate tracks.

 

I'll always want to go see her live because I always appreciate when she's on stage. Touring Lana is literally my favorite Lana.

 

And I know this is very unpopular but -- her current Off to the Races performances are among my favorites.

Don’t get me wrong, I totally adore her previous eras in terms of music and looks and I agree that she does change it up a little bit when it comes to her live stages. I’ve never felt that something didn’t feel like Lana, everything she’s done so far is just so Lana to me and everything feels genuine. And, like I’ve mentioned before on this site, I’m glad that she seems to be in a better place now and takes care herself by surrounding herself with friends and trying to live healthier.

I just feel like... man, if I bought a concert ticket and she barely sings, what did I really get for my money? I’m there to listen to her voice after all. And she has so many lovely, beautiful songs to pick and choose from, I don’t quite understand why she won’t play these “fan favorites” - it’s her fans in the crowd after all, no?

[TheBoss 13,239]

 the part that really gets me, though, is how much she's had the crowd sing for her in some shows (lollapalooza chile i wanna say? you guys probably know the one i'm thinking of). 

 

 

The most recent bad show I can think of was her gig in Chile, but that's probably because she arrived in the country just hours before it.

 

I feel personally attacked, that's the only time I've seen her live and I felt like she had a great time

 

Btw I agree with @PARADIXO, I wouldn't change a thing, EXCEPT for those freaking backing tracks, I don't mind when artist use them but god hers are the loudest ones I've heard, I cringe everytime I watch the Paradise performance on Dallas

 

About the singing, I just think they way she sings has changed over time, and sadly she picks songs that just don't fit with her way of singing right now, like OTTR, Radio, NA, etc.

[PARADIXO 31,593]

I feel personally attacked, that's the only time I've seen her live and I felt like she had a great time

 

Btw I agree with @PARADIXO, I wouldn't change a thing, EXCEPT for those freaking backing tracks, I don't mind when artist use them but god hers are the loudest ones I've heard, I cringe everytime I watch the Paradise performance on Dallas

 

About the singing, I just think they way she sings has changed over time, and sadly she picks songs that just don't fit with her way of singing right now, like OTTR, Radio, NA, etc.

 

She did have a great time but, like I said, tours are my favorite part of her eras and I literally watched every single one of her shows a thousand times. And I also saw her live twice. Chile was pretty bad, but I'm extremely happy you (and she) had a great time.

 

And yes, her backing tracks are the loudest ever But that's not really up to her… Her team usually fucks it up. Like, the first 20 minutes of her gig in Brazil '18 were a damn mess in terms of sound and she looked annoyed as hell.

[Doll Harlow 12,350]

I truly feel like this relates to what that pilot instructor said to her... she doesn't trust herself. She shows up and lets the playback and band do half the work for her and she goes and takes photos with the front row. I think she thinks that she has made it (she has) and now she just gets to coast by. But... she isn't exciting to watch in that state of mind. She's best when she's actually trying.

[TheBoss 13,239]

I just feel like... man, if I bought a concert ticket and she barely sings, what did I really get for my money? I’m there to listen to her voice after all. And she has so many lovely, beautiful songs to pick and choose from, I don’t quite understand why she won’t play these “fan favorites” - it’s her fans in the crowd after all, no?

 

You have an upcoming show right? Is it a festival or an actual show? Don't be dissapointed just yet! I'm sure you'll have a great time, from personal experience I had a great time last year and felt that the show was amazing, although a lot of people online disliked my show.

[PARADIXO 31,593]

I'm sure Lolla Sweden will be amazing. The thing with Chile was the fact that she arrived hours before her set and she played a big show in Buenos Aires literally just the night before. She was obviously going to be tired.

[TheBoss 13,239]

Her team usually fucks it up. Like, the first 20 minutes of her gig in Brazil '18 were a damn mess in terms of sound and she looked annoyed as hell.

 

I truly don't understand how they managed to mess up the whole tour without fixing the sound, literally, since BBC Hackney Weekend 2017 until the last shows of LATTM tour

[Beautiful Loser 45,955]

You have an upcoming show right? Is it a festival or an actual show? Don't be dissapointed just yet! I'm sure you'll have a great time, from personal experience I had a great time last year and felt that the show was amazing, although a lot of people online disliked my show.

I do, it’ll be my first festival and I’m going by myself and I’m scared that I’ll get harassed or robbed on my way home or anything. Yeah, I hope I’ll have a great time, I probably start crying like a baby again when she enters the stage lol, I just really hope those backup vocals won’t be too loud and that she won’t skip too many lines.

You’re right though, maybe I’m just creating all these unnecessary negative “what ifs” in my mind - I should just chill and hope for the best. I just thought it would be interesting to read what others think of why/how her vocal performances has changed so much. =P

[TheBoss 13,239]

I'm sure Lolla Sweden will be amazing. The thing with Chile was the fact that she arrived hours before her set and she played a big show in Buenos Aires literally just the night before. She was obviously going to be tired.

 

I think last year was the first year that they did the 3 Lollas in like the same week. No wonder why she stopped singing OTTR and ran off the stage

[PARADIXO 31,593]

I truly don't understand how they managed to mess up the whole tour without fixing the sound, literally, since BBC Hackney Weekend 2017 until the last shows of LATTM tour

 

Don't remind me

[TheBoss 13,239]

Don't remind me

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbB8Cwnbvgw 

[Nobody 21,298]

I truly don't understand how they managed to mess up the whole tour without fixing the sound, literally, since BBC Hackney Weekend 2017 until the last shows of LATTM tour

 

Oh my god I just had a flashback to when she opened that with Cherry and at the end she asked if they could turn her voice up in her in-ear monitors, it was only her second live performance of the song and the poor sis couldn't even hear herself 

[TheBoss 13,239]

Actually now that I remember, is crazy how good she sounded when she just didn't relied on backing tracks that much on LATTM tour, I remember song like BTD, the Medley, TLY and even Cruel World at freaking BBC Big Freaking Weekend 2017 REALLY shinning through.

 

EDIT: Actually fuck that, that performance of Cruel World is probably my favorite performance of Cruel World lmao.

[Hannus 1,617]

for me, the worst part is that i feel so ungrateful when i criticize her live performances, like i know that there are thousands of fans who never get a chance to see her, and i know that it's a HUGE privilege that i got to see her live twice, but at the same time saying that i wasn't disappointed after her lattm show is a lie. (though i try to blame my disappointment on the circumstances, not her performance, that makes me feel a little better  )

[Thunder Revenant 20,682]

As already said before - there is no excuse for playing any BtD song but Summertime Sadness and Video Games. Born To Die and Blue Jeans should be optional tracks for a setlist but that's it.

The shows are played to audiences featuring over-obsessive-stans either way, so there is no reason to bring the "bUt BtD iS hEr mOsT pOpUlAr aLbUm". EVERY other artists switches their live-sets to mainly new songs when they release an album. For Lana it's a highlight if she decides to perform MTWBT 3 years after it's release and if she "adds some spice" to her setlist it means she's doing Lolita or OTTR

The worst thing is when she comes around with the "the band has not learned the track yet" excuse. Her instrumentals aren't that complex and if the band was actually not able to learn those new songs, she should ditch them.

Maybe her vocals have improved, but every tour after the Paradise-tour was a big decline. By now, she has those annoying backgroundforeground-dancers that do cringy moves while Lana herself performs the most commitment-issues-loaded, half-assed version of the  "choreo".

 

And she barely even sings and lets the backing vox do all the work.

But then, most of the fans are only there to celebrate their stan-ism, to shout and cry and sing along and behave like a child. I can see why there is not really any use in putting effort into performing. If she actually hits some great notes, noone will hear it because they all scream their lungs out with their pathetic YAAAAASS-ing anyway.