Despite the on-and-off thunderstorm that plagued the night and eventually cut it short, Lana Del Rey’s Dallas stop on her 2023 “Did You Know There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd” tour provided a magnetic and soulful performance.
Del Rey’s Dallas concert marked her third performance on the tour Tuesday, Sept. 19 at the Dos Equis Pavilion. Dedicated fans and casual TikTok audio listeners alike were ecstatic when the artist released tour dates, especially since Del Rey has not been on tour since 2018.
Heavy rain began to fall around 7 p.m., an hour before the show was supposed to start. Those who had been sitting on the lawn bolted toward the covered seating area in an effort not to get wet. Frequent updates were sent out through the on-stage crew and Del Rey’s Instagram to keep the show going.
After the hourlong delay, fans were ready to sing their hearts out. Del Rey made her first appearance at 9 p.m., an hour later than scheduled, opening with the ballad “Norman F*****g Rockwell.” Despite the song’s slow rhythm and soft tone, the excited screams of fans carried strong energy through the ballad’s depressing lyrics.
The crowd’s energy peaked during back-to-back performances of “Born to Die,” “Diet Mountain Dew” and “Summertime Sadness.” Stunning blue, green and red lighting captured the essence of the songs, as did the fantastic backup dancers who moved fluidly around Del Rey. “Born to Die” in particular stood out as her strongest performance, perfectly showcasing Del Rey’s emotional vocals and the Americana influence on her music and aesthetic.
The set continued this aesthetic, with gorgeous antique mirrors on either end of the stage, a simple wooden chair and small table adorned with soft pink flowers and a large piano elevated center stage. Visuals depicted on the screen switched between clips from her music videos, such as “Chemtrails Over the Country Club” and “Ride,” and theme-fitting landscapes. Backup dancers swapped between ruffled white clothing and a black nondescript one piece. These outfit choices perfectly highlight Del Rey’s off-white and black vintage dress. The vintage look is one expected from Del Rey, as was the bow pinning up her hair a look many diehard fans sported.
While past shows this tour have ended with the title track of her newest album “Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd,” an incoming thunderstorm caused Del Rey to end the show early. Instead, another fan favorite, “Video Games,” closed the show with fans begging for her to continue. Del Rey’s iconic floral swing made an appearance during the finale, making the perfect ending to a fantastic show. As the rain picked up, Del Rey left the audience with a few parting words.
“God has come and pulled me down to the ground,” Rey said. “And we persist anyways, because it’s just better to do what you love than be scared to fail. I’m just saying that because we’re finally all together after fourteen years here. We’re happy. What a fucking miracle. We woke up another day, we’re super happy, and stay safe or fucking don’t. You know what I’m saying? Have fun! And never forget to let passion be your true north.”
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