Lana Del Rey on "SNL": Did she blow it?

By: Lauren Moraski
Topics: Television ,; Music

Lana Del Rey attends the Q awards at The Grosvenor House Hotel on Oct. 24, 2011, in London.

(Credit: Getty)

(CBS) Newcomer and much-buzzed-about songstress Lana Del Rey doesn't even have a full-length album out, yet she made her national television debut on Saturday.

But did she blow it?

A Google search finds critics blasting the 25-year-old singer-songwriter, describing her performance as off-key and just plain awkward.

Even celebrities have chimed in.

"Wow watching this 'singer' on SNL is like watching a 12 year old in their bedroom when they're pretending to sing and perform. #signofourtimes," Juliette Lewis wrote on Twitter, according to the Hollywood Reporter. That tweet has since been deleted.

"I'm a good musician," Del Rey told MTV News recently. "And I may not have a record out now, but I have been singing for a very long time, and I think that [SNL's] Lorne [Michaels] knows that, and everyone over there knows that. It's not a fluke decision."

Del Rey's debut album will be released on Jan. 31.

Tell us: Do you think Lana Del Rey bombed her "SNL" performance?

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by yoonster January 18, 2012 3:15 PM EST: At least unlike most of the musical guests, she didn't lip synch. Sounded fine to me. Just lacking some polish. But who cares? I timeshift to Weekend Update anyway. :); Reply to this comment


by erasmus111 January 17, 2012 3:11 PM EST: OMG. I don't know what all the fuss is about. Is she the greatest singer? No. But I do not think it was that bad. She wasn't out of tune. There may have been a few "iffy" ones, but that's it. I have certainly heard a lot worse.; Reply to this comment


by culturecritic January 16, 2012 9:09 AM EST: Pitchy, self-indulgent and definitely not ready-for-prime-time or any other time. The songs are long, droning, poor written and arranged. Those two performances are complete network time killers. There is so much talent out there. How did this nightmare ever make it into public?; Reply to this comment


by Mimsy_Borogove January 16, 2012 8:07 AM EST: People who judge her on this one performance are lazy and ignorant! Go to Youtube and listen to her on Jools Holland's show. That was also broadcast live and she was a little nervous but her voice was sublime, heartbreaking, addictive. Sure, SNL was an agonising train wreck. But give the girl a chance. Her talent justifies it. And if you bother to listen to the studio version you'll be hooked. The video - which she made herself - is hypnotic.; Reply to this comment


by byebyebb January 16, 2012 6:42 AM EST: I personally think that she can not sing I have heard a few live performances and her other TV appearances and they all sounded quite flat and off key, for someone who has apparently been singing for 8yrs perhaps she should except it's just not her strongest gift in life.; Reply to this comment


by Mollygizer January 15, 2012 11:24 PM EST: As a person holding a degree in Vocal Performance from a top university, I enjoy many forms of music. Lana's inability to shift from her mix to her head voice, as well as simply sustain a note with any quality or pitch, is absurd. Perhaps she was terrified. It would be the only excuse; by the number of times she grabbed her diaphragm subtly or touched her hair (which was nowhere short of several dozen times), I would say this would be a likely choice. But if so, it marks her as a child, not as a superstar. It was nothing short of abysmal.; Reply to this comment

by via85 January 15, 2012 9:12 PM EST

I thought her SNL performance was a skit at first...

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by jwill16s January 15, 2012 9:34 PM EST: Ditto. Terrible.


by radishes10 January 18, 2012 5:56 PM EST: Me too. I kept expecting her to peel off that face and be Kristen or Abby. Or Andy. She may be great on a 5 inch smartphone but definitely not ready for TV.