The last time we dared to see Lana del Rey was back in January 2012, as part of MTV's Brand New series (alongside Charli XCX and, er, the Maccabees). Just days earlier, poor old Lana made the bold move of appearing on Saturday Night Live, the fallout from which no doubt led her to cancelling the MTV gig and leaving us more than a little bit miffed.
But that was before the release of Born to Die, an international hit from the erstwhile hipster darling and essential epitome of Instagram. Identity questions aside, Lana proved herself to be a solid artiste, delivering an outstanding album by dumping Lizzie Grant for that 'gangster Nancy Sinatra' person we all love and hate.
By the looks of it, sales figures have certainly translated into on-stage confidence. Lana actually seems more Lizzie, looking less like someone's pissed on her favourite sugar daddy and more like she's actually enjoying herself. The Lana del Rey of Video Games might not have sashayed into the adoring crowd for photo opps, but this one does, Jackie O style.
The songs are all present and correct in an unsurprising Lana milieu: think Miami club showcase (complete with palm trees), old world charm, and a stunningly cohesive orchestra. Cola, Blue Jeans, Born to Die, even the cover of Blue Velvet - all rendered absolutely flawlessly, proving that the SNL stint was nothing more than the cracked work of a little girl under immense scrutiny.
If there's any criticism, then that's probably it. For someone who emerged as flawed and mysterious, none of Lana's edge seems to remain. While we do enjoy her singing about being the 'dark side of the American Dream', the truth is she's now exceptionally far from it, carefully extending the epilogue of National Anthem so that superimposed fireworks can capture her meet-and-greet like she really is the First Lady.
And if any further proof is needed that the persona is fading? Well, let's just say nothing quite destroys the fragile intimacy of Video Games like having a thousand people sing along to it. Your p*ssy might not taste like Pepsi cola, love, but it sure does give off the nauseous smell of success.
