LANA DEL REY
July 10, 2013 - 9:30 pm
Glamorous femme fatale, fashion icon, immensely successful singer, Lana Del Rey is all of the above and more. In just over 2 years, her astonishing presence, seductive look and distinctive voice have made her a huge international star. Currently the ambassador of some of the world’s best-known brands, she will be gracing our shores for one exclusive night to perform all her hits (“Video Games”, “Summertime Sadness”, “Ride”…).
A Lana Del Rey concert is a truly unforgettable experience: “exuding film-noir class, her charisma is off the scale” (The Guardian).
BIOGRAPHY
Sometimes stars emerge. Sometimes stars are thrust upon us. And sometimes stars simply slip into the atmosphere as if propelled by something otherworldly. It is into this last category that the astonishing presence, voice, look and feel of Lana Del Rey falls. Musical stardom is not an option with Ms. Del Rey. It is her vocation.
The singer has described herself as a “self-styled gangsta Nancy Sinatra”. Before signing to a major record label, Del Rey provided sole production of her music videos. Musically, she draws influence from what she deems to be the masters of each genre, including Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Eminem, and Britney Spears, as well as from poetry and film noir.
Elizabeth Grant (born June 21, 1986) better known by her stage name Lana Del Rey is an American singer-songwriter. Her music has been noted for its cinematic sound and its references to various aspects of pop culture, particularly that of the 1950s and ‘60s Americana. Her stage name is a combination of the late old Hollywood actress Lana Turner and the Ford Del Rey and her music videos have an eerily nostalgic vibe. Many of her fans actually discovered her music through the DIY video for “Video Games” she filmed and edited. However she had already been recording music and making moody homespun videos for eight years when it was posted on YouTube.
Del Rey initially began performing in clubs in New York City at age 18 and signed her first recording contract when she was 20 years old with 5 Points Records, releasing her first digital album Lana Del Ray a.k.a. Lizzy Grant in January 2010. Del Rey bought herself out of the contract with 5 Points Records in April 2010 and signed a joint contract with Interscope, Polydor, and Stranger Records in October 2011.
After she released her debut single “Video Games” in June 2011, a music video created by Del Rey for the song was posted on YouTube in August 2011. After the song became a viral internet hit with over 20 million views, her second studio album, Born to Die, was released in January 2012. The album sold over 3.6 million copies worldwide in 2012, making it the fifth best-selling album of 2012. Charting across Europe, the album spawned numerous top ten hits, including “Off to the Races”, “Blue Jeans”, “National Anthem”, “Born to Die”, and “Summertime Sadness”.
With the release of her third EP, Paradise, Del Rey spawned her third top ten album in the United States, debuting at number 10 on the Billboard 200 with 67,000 copies sold in its first week. It includes a cover of “Blue Velvet”, “Burning Desire” and the epic “Ride”, which was produced by Rick Rubin.
To date, her discography includes two full-length studio albums, three EPs, seven singles, and eight music videos. She has won the Q Award for “Best New Thing”, a GQ Award for “Woman of the Year”, a BRIT Award for “International Breakthrough Act” and another for “International Pop Female Solo Artist”, and an EMA for “Best Alternative Act”.
Del Rey has endorsed clothing line H&M, serving as the model for their Fall and Winter 2012 collection. She has also recently been named the face of the new Jaguar F-Type car and has had the rare accolade of a Mulberry bag named after her.
You’d think she would be resting on her laurels, but she isn’t. The last three months have seen a surge in recording activity. In March, she released a reverent version of Leonard Cohen’s “Chelsea Hotel #2”. In April, she covered “Summer Wine”, a song made famous by one of her inspirations, Nancy Sinatra.
Lana del Rey followed that with her best chart performance to date with the release of “Young and Beautiful”, the lead single and key love song from the soundtrack to The Great Gatsby, which crashed into the iTunes top 10 in early May.
Currently on wrapping up the first leg of her 2013 tour, she has just added a series of dates for the summer season including July 10 in Lebanon! Her performances are unforgettable experiences and she has received so much praise for her exceptional voice and charming stage presence that we’re expecting the entire city of Byblos to light up the moment she comes on stage: a true vision!
