Lana Del Rey at BST Hyde Park 2023: 5 moments that prove London has her heart
and live on Freeview channel 276
Lana Del Rey showed her love for the capital over the weekend as she treated BST Hyde Park attendees to a nostalgic soulful set while wrapping up this year’s instalment of the music festival. Young And Beautiful and Born To Die were just some of the iconic throwback hits she performed.
Del Rey last performed to London crowds in 2017 at the O2 Brixton Academy amid the release of her Lust For Life album. The singer was scheduled to play at the O2 Arena in early 2020 however, due to illness, the show ended up being cancelled.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHaving not performed in the city in six years, the London crowd welcomed her with open arms. Harmonising with the hitmaker across her set, Summertime Sadness, in particular, was a hit with many festival goers.
While her Sunday set closed BST Hyde Park 2023, Del Rey’s appearance at the London-based festival will not be her last of the warmer months. She is also set to take to the stage at Mexico City’s MX’s Foro Sol and Chicago’s Lollapalooza in August.
Despite her upcoming festival sets elsewhere, there were a few times during her London BST Hyde Park in which she shared her devotion for the city.
Her ‘God Bless You London’ intro screen
The singer kicked off her BST Hyde Park set with a special tribute to her fans in the capital. A message which read "God Bless You London" was visible on the central digital display of the stage before Del Rey appeared on stage.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdWhen she added a Hyde Park reference to Pretty When I Cry
During her performance of Pretty When I Cry, Del Rey changed up the lyrics to honour the greenspace her headline show was set in. In one moment of the song, she was heard singing, "My shows in London in Hyde Park."
The time the BST crowd surprised her with a sea of lights
BST Hyde Park attendees also helped make Del Rey’s show a memorable one as they lit up the greenspace with a sea of mobile torch lights. During the singer’s performance of Arcadia, fans showed their love for the singer as they beamed their phone torches in her direction.
The moment did not go unnoticed as Del Rey thanked fans in the closing line of her song. Ending the track, she sang the line "Thank you for the lights. I really loved them."
When she described the capital as her ‘second home’
While introducing her band and extending her thanks to the crowds for taking the time to come and see her, Del Rey reflected on how she feels at "home" in the city. During one moment, she gushed: "This was a second home for a long time".
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdSummertime Sadness garnered a huge singalong from London fans
More than a decade on, Summertime Sadness is still a hit with London crowds as they showed their love for the track by singing in chorus with Del Rey. Praising fans for their ongoing appreciation of the timeless hit, the singer gushed: "I mean, when you show up, you show up."
Comment Guidelines
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.