Max Verstappen wasn’t the only winner at the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday night (Oct. 11). Lana Del Rey gathered an enormous crowd when she headlined the F1’s music festival, in what was a rare appearance in Asia. And she hinted at more to come.
The superstar U.S. pop artist had top billing on the final night of the F1, for an exclusive performance and first headline spot in this city state. Del Rey drew an enormous crowd at the Padang Stage, numbering some 60,000 and presented in front of the 18 towering Corinthian columns of Singapore’s City Hall.
On a typically steamy October night, Lana cruised through a 75-minute set that got underway with “Young and Beautiful,” and strolled through her various eras, including “Ultraviolence,” “Chemtrails Over the Country Club,” “Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd,” and “Born to Die.”
Lana and her backing singers and dancers looked right at home in their Southern-Gothic “shotgun” house, the centerpiece of a stage design which has popped up for recent stadium and festival tours.
“Oh my goodness Singapore, how are you,” she remarked after an early-set rendition of “Video Games.” “Did you get to see the races?”
The 14-song spot wrapped up with “Summertime Sadness,” and the warmest of assurances. “I know it’s not going to be the last time we see you,” she enthused near the finale. “Thank-you very much for my first big, big show here.”
Fans in this part of the world have been starved of Lana and her sad girl anthems. She made a brief appearance in Singapore back in 2012 for an intimate performance at a Mulberry store, and has visited China for private events. A full-scale regional tour, however, has yet to materialize.
Del Rey’s concert drew an end to the three-day F1 entertainment, which included sets by JJ Lin, Split Enz, The Killers, Goo Goo Dolls, Zara Larsson, Janet Jackson and Mark Ronson.
Earlier on the night, Red Bull’s four-times world champion Max Verstappen collected his maiden Singapore Grand Prix, taking the checkered flag from pole position. It took the Dutch master 10 attempts to win on the Marina Bay street circuit.