It's amazing that Lana's reputation has positively grown in many ways - critics finally embrace her music, she stuck to her guns with her visual style so it seems more authentic and therefore more respected, etc - but in order to become a true all-rounder she needs to start delivering a killer stage show. It's almost like she's in her new prime (not saying this is her peak, I hope it gets even better from here!) so it would be a perfect time for her to overhaul her approach to shows and make great live performances another thing she's known for, especially after the whole SNL debacle.
Don't get me wrong - Lana can deliver a great live show, in that she's very talented and we all know she can sing. It's almost like she chooses not to. As people have already said in this thread: heavy backing track, relying on the audience to sing-along, not leaving her comfort zone, etc. All of these things add up to make the experience not as incredible as it could be. Our girl desperately needs a vocal coach or stage coach - could you imagine 2019 Lana doing this? (it's the Olympia performance of Burning Desire!) Or indeed this?! (Heart Shaped Box) If Lana did something like her Heart Shaped Box performance now I honestly believe it would go viral tbh. She seems comfortable on stage these days, but she still lacks the confidence to really go for it with her vocals, especially without heavy backing track. I mean, like people have said, there's NO excuse for a backing track in songs like Bartender. Maybe for a couple of harmonies here and there, but that's at an absolute maximum.
Then there's obviously the setlist issue which we've all ranted about time and time again, but it's even more offensive now that she's embarked on the NFR tour with barely any NFR songs. I mean, just thinking about it now:
The Greatest is one of her most acclaimed songs to date, it would be incredible in a live setting and it's fairly upbeat, so not having on the setlist is unbelievable.
Love Song isn't a song I particularly like but I know a lot of people do and it's VERY relaxed vocally, so it's not difficult to sing; she doesn't even have to do the full thing since the song is quite meandering and slow, but she could at least do the first verse and chorus and a short outro, no? That takes up under 2 minutes of set time and those who love that song will be happy.
She could rotate Fuck It, I Love You and The Next Best American Record on different dates, switching them out or asking the audience which one they'd rather hear - Lana's audience interaction is really endearing and usually a highlight of her shows. Or hey, wild thought but maybe she could just do them both since it is the NFR tour
Cinnamon Girl is a fan fave and that long-ass outro would give her a chance to vape, have a drink, recoup some breath, have a lil rest, etc.
I could go on but I won't
Certain songs will always be tour staples. I think it's fair and understandable that she plays Born To Die, Blue Jeans and Video Games at every show. Those were her breakthrough tracks and I'm sure for a lot of fans they have a lot of nostalgic appeal, especially more casual fans. Plus Video Games is always a live highlight, her voice is consistently gorgeous with that one. I even, to a degree, understand Summertime Sadness and as much as I'm sick of it I'm okay with it staying on the setlist permanently - that was a big song for her and it's a little more upbeat and gives the casual audience a chance for a singalong. National Anthem has GOT TO GO. It doesn't sound good live anymore, it's not her biggest from Born To Die and frankly if people wanted to see that song live they should've gone to see her when she toured BTD/Paradise
On the flipside, there are certain songs that aren't tour staples that I feel should be.
West Coast should always be on a Lana setlist, imo - it's the lead single from another massive album of hers, it's upbeat and danceable, it sounds SO good live and I don't think it's too difficult for Lana to sing.
I'd love if Salvatore became a song you expected at almost every show. I know it's a random deep cut, but it would be so amazing live if done properly with the full band - those Western/Spanish guitars, a big bombastic chorus, an incredible bridge that's more paired back but then leads up to a HUGE and explosive final chorus, and Lana's vocals always sound gorgeous when she's singing this song. It would also assure that Honeymoon got at least one song on every setlist, cause we all know it deserves a moment to shine but it's so often neglected.
I sorta feel like either Ride or Ultraviolence should be on every setlist, but it would be a case of one or the other - if she plays Ride then no Ultraviolence, and vice versa. I can't really justify this one *13 Beaches voice* it's just the way I feeeeeeeeellllll
This is a delusional dream of mine and I know it sounds completely random but I'd LOVE if Burning Desire was a tour staple for Lana. Of course it will never happen, but I would LIVE!! Even though it's just a forgotten bonus track and tbh the studio version isn't even that great, the live version of the song is INCREDIBLE, it's much more rock-inspired and heavy and I think it would be a great song to have near the start of setlists; it's short so it doesn't rob another song of a spot, but it's a song that could really get the audience pumped. I know Lana's shows aren't about dancing about and bopping out but a change of pace is always nice and every great live show needs a little excitement. I love the way the audience starts clapping at the bridge when she performed this song in Olympia
Finally, Lana really needs to retire that stale old medley. It was cute at first, but it's gotten very old very quickly. I do like the idea of having a medley though - maybe she could do one for her more trap-inspired electronic tracks, like a Freak / Art Deco / In My Feelings medley leading up to The Blackest Day or High By The Beach? That would fit perfectly at the end of Cinnamon Girl. Or how about a more rock-ish medley, like Body Electric / Money Power Glory (rock version with added guitar) / Gods and Monsters leading up to California?
idk I have a lot of thoughts regarding this. Lana will always do what she wants and that's fine but in an ideal world I'm sure we'd all LOVE for her to have more power in her live shows.
So i made a couple of different single arts for some of the songs on Ultraviolence, including an alternative album cover. It didn't take much work but i like how these came out. Tell me what you think. I tried to format this post so it would be easier to swallow, i did my best. personally my favourite is the single version of ultraviolence and my least favourite is fucked my way up to the top
Veinsineon liked a post in a topic by croxodile in Fan Made Ultraviolence Single Covers