'I'm a diehard Lana Del Rey fan - everyone's wrong about her new tour'
Alongside a handful of other artists, the 40-year-old music artist has soundtracked my adolescence and early adulthood.
The melody of Summertime Sadness takes me back to sunny days spent with my sisters. Dark Paradise and Carmen became the anthem of my own indie pop-themed teen crash-out about the existential point of it all .
Norman F**king Rockwell! came out in my first year of university as I discovered the world on my own for the first time, threaded together with the backing music of Lana's ethereal notes
In recent years, Lana's Did You Know There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Boulevard and A&W perfectly capture the essence of childhood nostalgia mixed with the relentless dread of growing older, and all the messiness that it entails.
I tried to watch Lana for the first time in February 2020 – I think we can all guess how that one ended. So, this was attempt number two.
I'm not naive. I've heard the stories of the Born to Die hitmakers' poor stage etiquette – notoriously showing up late, singing off her phone, and disappointing fans with the short show lengths.
Still, when I first saw the poor reviews rolling in for her UK and Ireland stadium tour (complaints of a poor setlist and underwhelming 90-minute performance) I was still gutted and bracing myself for disappointment.
The Christian preacher we walked past on the stroll from Wembley Park station to the entrance, warning us of the hellfire that awaited, felt weirdly prescient.
And I would be lying if I said I had much interest in TikTok sensation turned debut pop star Addison Rae (who was opening for Lana as well as featuring in her set).
When she strolled onto stage five minutes early, I breathed a sigh of relief. The rest of the set proved just how wrong people had been.
Not only did Lana look a vision on stage, leaning into her familiar old Hollywood aesthetic, but her stage set-up (a tree-adorned home) felt fitting in its beauty and simplicity.
Then, of course, came the music. Ultimately, when it came down to it, belting out the lyrics to Venice B**ch, Ultraviolence, Summertime Sadness, Video Games and Young and Beautiful alongside thousands of others made the whole experience worth it.
For the eighth year, 150,000 festival goers will descend on Glasgow Green from 11-13 July to see the liked of 50 Cent, Gracie Abrams and Biffy Clyro, and you could be there!
Metro has teamed up with Rockstar Energy presents TRNSMT Festival to offer four VIP tickets to one lucky winner.
For a chance to win this massive music prize, simply enter your details here.
You have until midnight on Sunday 6 July 2025 to enter using the form below. Entrants must be 18+. Good luck! T&Cs apply*.
Click here if form is not loading.
* Open to legal residents of Great Britain (excluding Northern Ireland) aged 18 or over. Promotion opens at 18:01 BST on 2 July 2025 and closes at 23:59 BST on 6 July 2025. The promotion is free to enter; however internet access is required. Entrant must visit https://metro.co.uk/2025/07/02/win-vip-tickets-see-50-cent-gracie-abrams-biffy-clyro-trnsmt-festival-2025-23539991/ and when prompted by the form, submit their name, email, telephone number, date of birth and postcode. Acceptance of the terms and conditions is necessary to enter the promotion. There will be one (1) winner. The winner will win four (4) VIP weekend tickets for TRNSMT Festival, running from 11th – 13th July 2025 at Glasgow Green, in Glasgow ('Prize'). Proof of age and photographic ID are required for entry for all guests (the guests of the winner must be at least 16 years old at the time of entry). The Prize, including entry and attendance at TRSNMT festival, is subject to and governed by the Promoter's full ticket terms and conditions. 1 prize available. 1 entry per person. Full T&Cs apply, see here.
Lana commanded the room like a witch casts a spell, with all of us hooked onto her every word and move.
Her strength has always been in the way her music connects with her audience, and the unique husk of her voice that imbues an added gravitas to her songs.
It's clear she cared about the audience experience as well, commenting on her attempts to make the sounds as high quality as possible between songs. Even her duet with Addison Rae, Diet Pepsi, ended up being a hoot.
Of course, there is no denying that the show still felt short and – given it was her first stadium tour – lengthening her setlist to cover more of her songs (including some wildcards) would have elevated this to a five-star experience.
Especially as she no longer had a new album to promote, given its unexpected delay.
My friends and I spent the whole day (July 4) anticipating she would sing National Anthem as a nod to American Independence Day to no avail. More Trending
It also felt cheeky to have a pre-recorded projection sing some of her songs when so many had paid a lot to experience her vocals live.
When compared to the theatrics brought by Taylor Swift, Beyonce, hey, even newcomers like Olivia Rodrigo – perhaps there was more scope for Lana to use the stage to create a larger-than-life performance.
In the end, the highs by far outweighed the lows and if my biggest note was that I simply wished there was more – then I'll take it as a win.
Got a story?
If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
34 minutes ago
- Metro
'I lost both eyes and my guide dog in one year - then stand-up comedy saved me'
Sydney May hates X-Factor style sob stories. She also doesn't want any kind of admiration for putting her shoes on the right feet. So if you've come here for that, please gently leave. What she can say, proudly, is that she's done something many able-bodied people wouldn't allow themselves: stand up on stage and very successfully make people laugh. So well, in fact, that she's won two gongs this year – including the Comedy Bloomers' LGBTQ new comedian of the year award. That's a huge achievement for anyone: not just for a blind person. 'People are always like, 'Oh, my God, you're amazing. How do you do that? I couldn't put toast in the toaster if I couldn't see,'' Sydney tells Metro over Zoom. 'I'm like, 'Of course you could..' So it's really nice to be admired for being good at something, and not just good despite the fact that you can't see.' As a baby, Sydney had retinoblastoma, which is a form of retinal cancer. 'My mum kept saying, 'Something's wrong. She's squinting.' They said, 'Babies always squint'.' While Sydney had some sight as a baby, she has no memory of being able to see as the cancer quickly took hold. But it's not all doom and gloom. 'In many ways, I count myself lucky,' Sydney says. 'I had cancer, and the only thing it took was my eyes. 'Some people find the concept of me saying I'm lucky to be a hard one, but I'd say it could have been a hell of a lot worse.' As per the NHS, Retinoblastoma is a rare type of eye cancer that can affect young children. It affects the retina, which is at the back of the eye. Retinoblastoma can affect 1 or both eyes. The main symptom is a white glow or white reflection in the centre of the eye (pupil). You may be able to see it from just looking at the eye, or you may see it in low light or in photos where a flash has been used. Other symptoms of retinoblastoma can include: the eyes pointing in a different direction (squint) the coloured part of the eye (iris) changing colour swelling around the eye uncontrolled eye movements vision problems pain in 1 or both eyes Your child may otherwise seem well. Treatment aims to get rid of the cancer, but there is a high chance your child may lose some, or all, of their vision in the affected eye. But life is not without its struggles, as Sydney experienced a few years ago. While her eyes did not work, Sydney still had them. But when they began to deteriorate and die, she made the decision to have them removed in what ended up being an 'incredibly painful' post-operation recovery. She then lost her guide dog of eight years (and she's now three years into a waiting list to get a new one). This all happened within a 12-month period. 'I'm harder against physical pain than I used to be before,' she says. 'But the emotional stuff I've been through as well has not been fun, and comedy really came at a time when I needed something. 'I didn't know what it was. I just needed something new, and I found it.' As a blind comedian, Sydney can feel everything on stage. Her senses are heightened to pick up on the atmosphere. 'It's really important that people laugh. I always say it's no good smiling,' Sydney chuckles. Sydney thinks it was an advantage in the Comedy Bloomers final that she couldn't see the audiences' faces, which were lit up alarmingly bright for the comedians. 'In a way I think it can be an advantage that I don't have to see the audience, but it does mean I need to feel them,' she says. 'I need to hear them. I guess I'm sensitive to the energy in the room. I need to feel that energy.' Sydney's favourite rooms are small, intimate venues, where chuckles spread like contagion. 'If it's a big room and they're really far away, you just feel like you're working a bit harder for the laughs,' she says. If people are disrespectful and talk through shows, that's doubly distracting for Sydney. 'I probably am sensitive to that, but I think all comedians live in fear of the silences and talking. That's everyone, I think,' she says. What's certain is that while Sydney has only been doing comedy for a year and a half, she's got the on-stage confidence of a veteran. One question… How? 'I don't get particularly nervous. I just really love it. I just enjoy it. I get massive adrenaline rushes and a huge buzz from doing it,' she says. While many comedians are guilty of endlessly seeking social validation, it's possible Sydney is made of tougher stuff. Generally speaking. 'I'm not going to say it's more difficult for me than anybody, because everyone has struggles and challenges in life, but I think I've had to develop a fairly thick skin,' she admits. More Trending Next year, Sydney's goal is Edinburgh. But first she needs to expand her five-minute set. 'There's a lot of comedy related to my blindness, because that's just how life works. But I'm also very, very determined that it will not be the only thing I talk about,' Sydney says. 'There are more aspects to life, and to my life. It's not the only thing to me.' The Comedy Bloomers' LGBTQ New Comedian of the Year grand final will be broadcast on streaming channel OUTFlix on July 31. Follow Sydney on social media here. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: 'My 3-day childbirth hell turned me into a leaking, traumatised animal' MORE: 'Nobody's got $4,500,000': The moment a Beatles legend saved Monty Python MORE: 'Epic' sci-fi series returns to streaming — and four more shows to binge this month
Metro
34 minutes ago
- Metro
My date was going well until my braces got stuck... down there
Ollie* made me light up like Blackpool illuminations. I was 21, at university, and hadn't had the best history with guys. I'd been out on dates but never really found that chemistry where I wanted to take it further. Ollie was different. He was on the same course as me and I had flirted with him for weeks. We had gone for drinks together in groups but we always found ourselves sitting near each other and bursting into laughter. My heart skipped a beat when he pulled me to one side after a night out and asked if I fancied going for a drink together. 'What now?', I replied. 'No, I want to do this properly', he laughed back. I floated and smiled all the way home in my boozy haze. A few nights later it was time for our date – I had tried every outfit I owned on to see what looked right, even though I saw him most days in lectures. X Factor icon Diana Vickers and Metro's dating expert Alice Giddings dive into your wildest sex, love, and dating dilemmas – every Tuesday. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or watch on YouTube. And be sure to follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode. You can also join the fun on our WhatsApp Group Chat here – share your dilemmas and Diana and Alice may just give you a call. I think I settled on some horrendous electric blue boots and what I thought was a very cool, edgy dress with a bold red face painted on it. If only my outfit was the worst bit of the date. We met at the student union and it couldn't have gone better. We were laughing together and bonding over snake bites and politics. We didn't want the night to end so wound up at Friday's cheesy dance night at the union. We kept away from everyone else and just spent time together having our first kiss on the dance floor. I remember having butterflies and feeling like I might burst with happiness. We left together and walked home holding hands and got some chips on the way. It felt natural to go back to his house – I had known him for ages. Oh how I wish I had waited. We had a drink with his housemates who all wanted to peer at me before we went into his room with red, freshly laundered, bedsheets. He actually knew how to work a washing machine! Another tick in my mind. This was going so well. Then the unthinkable happened – I still cringe and turn crimson when I think about it. I'm just going to come out with it: We had started being very intimate when his penis got stuck in my dental brace. My stupid glistening brand new braces my parents had bought me for my 21st birthday. He let out a blood curdling scream and his housemate raced in to see what had happened. There I was, still attached to his penis, feeling very vulnerable and absolutely mortified. I remember offering to go to A&E with him and he looked at me in horror His housemate phoned a friend doing medicine to ask what he should do – it was even worse listening to them on the phone discussing it. Though it was better than the option I had thought of, which was to phone my mum who was a nurse. I was petrified I had broken it for life. I wanted the ground to actually swallow me up. Instead his housemate, as gently as he could, detached his penis from my brace. The shame. It felt like there was blood spurting out everywhere all over the red sheets. I remember offering to go to A&E with him and he looked at me in horror. Instead Ollie went with his housemate. I probably should have left then but in my drunken state I fell asleep and had to sneak out the next morning before they were back. When I woke up after making it back into my own bed, the post-alcohol guilt started to come through. The flashbacks of what had happened. So, How Did It Go? is a weekly series that will make you cringe with second-hand embarrassment or ooze with jealousy as people share their worst and best date stories. Want to spill the beans about your own awkward encounter or love story? Contact I looked down to see the time and realised I had left my beloved Storm watch behind. It was so special to me. I had saved up for it when I was young and it meant enough to me that I couldn't just dismiss its loss as collateral damage from the night before. I had to work up the courage to call him to see how he was and to ask if I could pick up my watch. It wasn't surprising that he didn't answer. So I tried a text. My housemates were in fits of hysterics. I was met with a chorus of 'there is no way he is going to meet you to give you the watch back'. Well he did. I remember driving there with my stomach in knots. He was outside his place and handed it back to me. I asked if he fancied doing something again. He looked at me like I was a mass murderer and said no. More Trending After that, we never spoke again. I would see him around university and felt shame in the pit of my stomach every time I did. I couldn't stop myself, but I would also get the giggles – which really didn't help mend our relationship. *Names have been changed View More » This article was originally published April 6, 2024 MORE: I uncovered my husband's dirty secret while he was in a coma MORE: I'm 16 – my boss's question about my sex life disgusted me MORE: Our boss let us spend the day visiting porn sites in the name of research
Metro
4 hours ago
- Metro
Cain demands conflicted Dingle choose a side as war is waged in Emmerdale
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A war is brewing in Emmerdale and it's Dingles vs Tates as they battle over Moira Dingle's (Natalie J Robb) farmland. Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) is more determined than ever to get the land for Kim Tate (Claire King). Joe has a vested interest in getting Kim as much money as possible following the ordeal with Doctor Crowley. The struck off doc, who violently threatened Joe into paying him £100k, turned up as Kim Tate's new boyfriend Eddie and made it clear to Joe he's only in it for Kim's cash. After betraying her, Joe is now working hard to prove to Kim that he can be trusted. He confesses to Dawn Taylor (Olivia Bromley) that he has a plan to get the land while Moira tries to hang onto it by the fingernails. Desperate to maintain her livelihood, she tempts fate by telling her sons their home is safe. But Kyle knows better and heads off to protect his family's home. As he surveys the property, he is confronted by two masked teenagers who he disturbs in a barn. Acting on instinct, Kyle grabs a pitchfork and stabs one in the leg. The teens scarper when Moira appears and scares them off. Cain (Jeff Hordley) immediately blames Joe, but he denies any knowledge. Moira takes it to the police, but Swirling says there's not much that can be done. The battle lines are drawn, and Joe retaliates with his own call to the police, resulting in Moira's arrest. She's quickly told things do not look good. More Trending At a time like this what the Dingles need is to club together. What they don't need is one of their own working for the enemy. Want to be the first to hear shocking EastEnders spoilers? Who's leaving Coronation Street? The latest gossip from Emmerdale? Join 10,000 soaps fans on Metro's WhatsApp Soaps community and get access to spoiler galleries, must-watch videos, and exclusive interviews. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications so you can see when we've just dropped the latest spoilers! Cain turns to Sam (James Hooton), who is in the Tates' pockets and Joe's right hand man, demanding that he picks a side. As things escalate, Cain is forced to remind him he's a Dingle. Cain slaps him with an ultimatum, either he's Team Dingle or he's Team Tate. View More » Sam owes a lot to the Tates, but family is family. Which side will he choose? MORE: All Emmerdale spoiler videos for next week as legend 'saves the day' MORE: Emmerdale legend in danger as Joe Tate sets out to destroy her MORE: All Emmerdale spoilers for next week as arrest is made
