Weekend 2 review: Here's why Lana Del Rey was the perfect headliner for Coachella 2024

Lana Del Rey's melancholy anthems about broken romance, glamour and tragedy made her the perfect headliner for this year's Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival — especially for the times we're living in.

At a time when many young people are suffering anxiety and stress in all areas of everyday life, struggling in "situationships," are obsessed with glamour, feeling lonely and the pressures of social media, the themes in Del Rey's music are relatable for the 18 to 27 demographic.

Her Friday performance started the same way as last week, riding to the stage on the back of a motorcycle and beginning with "Without You," a somber tune with the lyrics “Tell me life is beautiful, they all think I have it all.”

More: Coachella 2024: Here's the complete setlist from Lana Del Rey's Weekend 2 headlining set

The stage featured tall white columns and winding staircases, with two balconies that combined black and white live video and vintage stock footage. These elements worked in harmony with the different live production of each song. Throughout the whole set, her backup dancers were a subtle but impressive part of the performance.

Her 2012 hit "Summertime Sadness" was elegant and theatrical, with backup dancers twirling reflective tanning mirrors. Another early hit, "Born To Die," was gloomier.

Billie Eilish, who sang "Ocean Eyes" and "Video Games" during last week's set, didn't return. Instead, Camila Cabello performed her new single “I LUV IT” with Del Rey, while Jon Batiste returned for "Candy Necklace" and Jack Antonoff for "hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have – but I have it."

Last week, Del Rey was finished ahead of the 1 a.m. curfewb. This week, however, she earned the first fine of this year's festival by going almost 10 minutes over, closing with "A&W."

A decade after her first performance at Coachella at the Outdoor Theater, Del Rey's return as a headliner was nothing short of spectacular. The seasoned songstress took the stage once again ("almost 10 years to the day," as she told the crowd) impressing the crowd with confidence and artistry.

And like some of those goopy inspirational quotes we come across on Facebook say, "you have to feel it to heal it" and "the only way out is through." Like many musical shamans, Del Rey is pointing us towards the exit doors of inner-struggle.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Here's why Lana Del Rey was the perfect headliner for Coachella 2024