Am I missing something here? I am a musician, with a good ear, and I don't see what is horrible about this at all! I think she has an affected persona perhaps, but to my ear she is in tune, has very interesting shifts in tone, almost mesmerizing. I don't tend to like SNL acts - a lot compete for the "most horrible" for me - but this is not remotely one of them. What are folks reacting to?
Mark - 12 years ago
Anyone remember the performance by Everlast? Awful. Made me never want to see him live again.
BooBooGlue - 12 years ago
Fear!!! OCT 31 1981---the only band they cut to commercial and FEAR cost $$$$ because of broken equipment from slamdancers. Wait- FEAR also could be the best band ever on SNL!
Carol M - 12 years ago
The worse by far on SNL happened years ago with Marianne Faithful--omg she was terrible... Her voice was gone and this was during her addicted days.
Big G - 12 years ago
Farmer Tomato got it right. The worst had to be Florence +the Machine--so bad in the same ways as Lana del Rey: horribly off key, inept performance, and a voice that could peel paint off walls. Like listening to fingernails across a blackboard. If this is talent, then showbiz is a career for total dolts.
TH - 12 years ago
Hey, didn't Maroon 5 play saturday night live. They blow so bad.
Farmer Tomato - 12 years ago
The worst in my book was Florence +the Machine--so bad in the same ways as Lana del Rey: horrible intonation, drab performance, inept voice.
Patty Bacon - 12 years ago
I didn' know who this woman was when I heard her name at the beginning of the show. I began to watch her and was dumbfounded by what she could possibly be doing on SNL. Her music is like Goth Rap. It's boring, she has very little range, or refuses to use it in her material. I would either become highly depressed if I listened to much of her music, or fall asleep. Although I heard about Ashlee Simpson's performance, I didn't see it. But at least she has some good songs. Albeit, not many, but some. I doubt she'll go as far as Madonna, or even Ashlee Simpson for that matter. I was disappointed to say the least. SNL usually has quality talent. Big fail.
Lucy Munro - 12 years ago
A close second to Lana DeRay was Kate Bush singing "Them Heavy People" in 1978! Gad, I couldn't believe it.
Randy - 12 years ago
Even though Lana Del Rey's performance is not without its flaws, I have seen her on Jools Holland performing Video Games and she was ok there so let's chalk it up to nerves being live and move on. Most the new acts that are "hot" right now haven't had the time to get a feeling for a live perfomance and they all will be shakey. Stop jumping on the next hot thing bandwagon and we'll see better performances.
jamie pilloff - 12 years ago
I'm sorry but I thought she was fabulous! Just because she is not
parading around onstage half naked and looking like she has a certain profession doesn't mean she is not talented. If you watch her video of Video Games you will see that she is a little dark and mysterious as a performer. Her music has meaning and she is telling a story. I find her music very ususual. Hands down to a female artist who is finally exhibiting talent while still dressed is a breath of fresh air! Go Lana!
HevyHev - 12 years ago
Robyn, the Pits! WTF? Wild Flag put out one of the best discs in 2011, they should be on SNL. C'mon Lorne you suckface. And Fred Armisen works with Wild Flag's guitarist Carrie Brownstein on the great Portlandia. You'd think this would make them a shoe-in, but no.
jimdevo - 12 years ago
Sun-Ra. He was some sort of jazz fusionist. He was on back in the late 70's. Look him up.
X - 12 years ago
Fear in 1981. Can't get any worse than that.
Shelly - 12 years ago
I totally agree with the first commenter---ROBYN. I thought it was actually another skit or something!! Lana Del Rey wasn't THAT bad! I was actually a little intrigued. I listened to her on iTunes & on iTunes, she sounds a lot like Tori Amos---she's trying to sound like Tori Amos. But Robyn was a joke. I still think her performance was a skit.
Mike - 12 years ago
Deion Sanders. How can anybody not have Deion Sanders down as the worst musical guest of all time. He "rapped" a horrible song ("must be the money") and was caught lipping it many times.
rmc79 - 12 years ago
By far the worst and most ridiculous performance was by Robyn (whoever that is) the other week when Katy Perry hosted. I kept saying who is this person? Did they just find her on the street when Katy said she would only host? Why is she wearing Frankenstein boots? Is she seizuring? BAD BAD BAD BAD!!!!!
Ash - 12 years ago
How is Black eyed peas not included on this list? They are horrible live. You would have to pay me to attend a concert of theirs live. I would actually prefer they lip synch to their songs than perform live.
m - 12 years ago
Sinead? Seriously? Shame on you EW. She shouldn't even be on this poll. She was right after all.
chrisb - 12 years ago
I usually fast forward through the musical talent or lack of talent. After all of the attention on how bad she performed I had to take a look. The girl has talent. Maybe the wrong songs, but she still sounds good. Before you're critical about this girl, take a look at all the other garbage SNL throws on the screen.
blu - 12 years ago
Come on Lizzy Grant aka Lana Del Rey can not sing live she is only any good as a recording artist, which isn't very difficult even the worst singers can be made to have the voice of an angel in the studio. She isn't going to make a living out of it, to make a living out of music you have to be able to preform so people want to come and hear you sing that means you have to be a good live singer/performer. Not enough money is made from record sales today most money comes from tours and shows I know she was hoping to just be a recording artist but those days have very much gone due to the internet.
RLS - 12 years ago
Florence and the machine is awful... Ashlee Simpson is the absolute worst. Lana Del Rey was absolutely stunning. I was taken by her stage presence, personally, as she caught me off guard. I've since listened to her music on YouTube and will most definitely be buying her album when it hits the shelves. The media's reaction to her SNL appearance is remarkably childish and entirely unwarranted. Juliette Lewis and Eliza Douche-ku are talentless hacks at appear nothing more than jealous of this relative newcomer; which, in and of itself, is humorous in some regard. Lana Del Rey has a beautiful voice and is absolutely gorgeous. She is pure WIN.
jake - 12 years ago
Jessie J. was terrible (is terrible)
mena - 12 years ago
how about robyn who was just on the other week? i would take interesting warbly singing over excessive gyrating and pelvic thrusting with the ocassional random grunts and squeaks thrown in anyday.
Am I missing something here? I am a musician, with a good ear, and I don't see what is horrible about this at all! I think she has an affected persona perhaps, but to my ear she is in tune, has very interesting shifts in tone, almost mesmerizing. I don't tend to like SNL acts - a lot compete for the "most horrible" for me - but this is not remotely one of them. What are folks reacting to?
Anyone remember the performance by Everlast? Awful. Made me never want to see him live again.
Fear!!! OCT 31 1981---the only band they cut to commercial and FEAR cost $$$$ because of broken equipment from slamdancers. Wait- FEAR also could be the best band ever on SNL!
The worse by far on SNL happened years ago with Marianne Faithful--omg she was terrible... Her voice was gone and this was during her addicted days.
Farmer Tomato got it right. The worst had to be Florence +the Machine--so bad in the same ways as Lana del Rey: horribly off key, inept performance, and a voice that could peel paint off walls. Like listening to fingernails across a blackboard. If this is talent, then showbiz is a career for total dolts.
Hey, didn't Maroon 5 play saturday night live. They blow so bad.
The worst in my book was Florence +the Machine--so bad in the same ways as Lana del Rey: horrible intonation, drab performance, inept voice.
I didn' know who this woman was when I heard her name at the beginning of the show. I began to watch her and was dumbfounded by what she could possibly be doing on SNL. Her music is like Goth Rap. It's boring, she has very little range, or refuses to use it in her material. I would either become highly depressed if I listened to much of her music, or fall asleep. Although I heard about Ashlee Simpson's performance, I didn't see it. But at least she has some good songs. Albeit, not many, but some. I doubt she'll go as far as Madonna, or even Ashlee Simpson for that matter. I was disappointed to say the least. SNL usually has quality talent. Big fail.
A close second to Lana DeRay was Kate Bush singing "Them Heavy People" in 1978! Gad, I couldn't believe it.
Even though Lana Del Rey's performance is not without its flaws, I have seen her on Jools Holland performing Video Games and she was ok there so let's chalk it up to nerves being live and move on. Most the new acts that are "hot" right now haven't had the time to get a feeling for a live perfomance and they all will be shakey. Stop jumping on the next hot thing bandwagon and we'll see better performances.
I'm sorry but I thought she was fabulous! Just because she is not
parading around onstage half naked and looking like she has a certain profession doesn't mean she is not talented. If you watch her video of Video Games you will see that she is a little dark and mysterious as a performer. Her music has meaning and she is telling a story. I find her music very ususual. Hands down to a female artist who is finally exhibiting talent while still dressed is a breath of fresh air! Go Lana!
Robyn, the Pits! WTF? Wild Flag put out one of the best discs in 2011, they should be on SNL. C'mon Lorne you suckface. And Fred Armisen works with Wild Flag's guitarist Carrie Brownstein on the great Portlandia. You'd think this would make them a shoe-in, but no.
Sun-Ra. He was some sort of jazz fusionist. He was on back in the late 70's. Look him up.
Fear in 1981. Can't get any worse than that.
I totally agree with the first commenter---ROBYN. I thought it was actually another skit or something!! Lana Del Rey wasn't THAT bad! I was actually a little intrigued. I listened to her on iTunes & on iTunes, she sounds a lot like Tori Amos---she's trying to sound like Tori Amos. But Robyn was a joke. I still think her performance was a skit.
Deion Sanders. How can anybody not have Deion Sanders down as the worst musical guest of all time. He "rapped" a horrible song ("must be the money") and was caught lipping it many times.
By far the worst and most ridiculous performance was by Robyn (whoever that is) the other week when Katy Perry hosted. I kept saying who is this person? Did they just find her on the street when Katy said she would only host? Why is she wearing Frankenstein boots? Is she seizuring? BAD BAD BAD BAD!!!!!
How is Black eyed peas not included on this list? They are horrible live. You would have to pay me to attend a concert of theirs live. I would actually prefer they lip synch to their songs than perform live.
Sinead? Seriously? Shame on you EW. She shouldn't even be on this poll. She was right after all.
I usually fast forward through the musical talent or lack of talent. After all of the attention on how bad she performed I had to take a look. The girl has talent. Maybe the wrong songs, but she still sounds good. Before you're critical about this girl, take a look at all the other garbage SNL throws on the screen.
Come on Lizzy Grant aka Lana Del Rey can not sing live she is only any good as a recording artist, which isn't very difficult even the worst singers can be made to have the voice of an angel in the studio. She isn't going to make a living out of it, to make a living out of music you have to be able to preform so people want to come and hear you sing that means you have to be a good live singer/performer. Not enough money is made from record sales today most money comes from tours and shows I know she was hoping to just be a recording artist but those days have very much gone due to the internet.
Florence and the machine is awful... Ashlee Simpson is the absolute worst. Lana Del Rey was absolutely stunning. I was taken by her stage presence, personally, as she caught me off guard. I've since listened to her music on YouTube and will most definitely be buying her album when it hits the shelves. The media's reaction to her SNL appearance is remarkably childish and entirely unwarranted. Juliette Lewis and Eliza Douche-ku are talentless hacks at appear nothing more than jealous of this relative newcomer; which, in and of itself, is humorous in some regard. Lana Del Rey has a beautiful voice and is absolutely gorgeous. She is pure WIN.
Jessie J. was terrible (is terrible)
how about robyn who was just on the other week? i would take interesting warbly singing over excessive gyrating and pelvic thrusting with the ocassional random grunts and squeaks thrown in anyday.
Pogues in 1990