Lana Del Rey made notable appearances during her Coachella performance, featuring her recent collaborators Jack Antonoff and Jon Batiste, both of whom will be performing their own sets later in the weekend. Additionally, she surprised the audience by inviting Billie Eilish to join her for two unexpected duets.

Positioned on a terrace that provided a view of the expansive stage, the pair initially collaborated on Eilish’s song “Ocean Eyes,” and subsequently utilized their vocal abilities for a rendition of “Video Games.” Both tracks signify the initial significant breakthroughs in the careers of both performers.

As their combined presentation concluded, the two exchanged enthusiastic remarks about their own fan bases. Enthused Del Rey expressed her admiration for her singing companion, stating that her voice represents both their generation and the listener’s generation. Del Rey also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to perform with her singing partner while they sang her favorite song.

Eilish responded sharply, saying, “Leave me alone,” as they both burst into laughing.

“This is the purpose for the existence of half of you individuals, including myself!” Eilish proceeded to address the audience. “Lana Del Rey, everyone, let’s focus!”

Del Rey performed a new version of the song “Candy Necklace,” which they collaborated on for Del Rey’s latest album, “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd,” released in 2023. The song received a nomination for the category of best pop duo/group performance at the 2024 Grammys. Throughout the majority of the performance, Batiste played the piano while she knelt on top of the instrument. However, towards the end, she stood down and they started spontaneously exchanging vocal lines.

“Occasionally, one requires the presence and energy of another individual to accompany them, and in this case, that individual is always going to be Jon Batiste,” stated the main performer.

After Eilish’s performance, Del Rey was accompanied by her collaborator and co-writer, Antonoff, to recite the song “Hope Is a Dangerous Thing for a Woman Like Me — but I Have It.” Alternatively, a variation of her was accompanied by Antonoff: He played the piano with absolute certainty in person, while she materialized as a larger-than-life hologram, solely for that particular performance. The track originates from her “Normal Fucking Rockwell” album released in 2019.

The setlist featured a few uncommon live performances, such as the opening song “Without You,” which fans claim she hasn’t performed since 2014, and her rendition of Sublime’s “Doin’ Time,” which she hasn’t done since 2019. This could be seen as a reference to the fact that a modern version of Sublime is also scheduled to perform at Coachella.

Del Rey’s presence left a lasting impact on both the attendees and those who watched the event through the YouTube webcast. Her entrance and leave at Coachella were undeniably one of the most remarkable in history. She rode in and out among the audience, using walled off parts to separate the crowd, while seated on a motorcycle. At times, she stood up and blew kisses as she passed by. She was accompanied by six dancers who followed her closely, each clutching onto a motorcycle driver. These motorcades lasted for many minutes.

The hour-and-a-half performance was favorably received by the enormous audience, maybe due to its contrasting moods and musical selection in comparison to the preceding acts of the day. The presence of live singing and instrumentation clearly distinguished this musician from other performers at Coachella that day. The Del Rey show primarily focused on showcasing a subtle yet resolute feminine energy, in contrast to the aggressive qualities emphasized by other performers. Del Rey, along with her female dancers and backup singers, exuded this gentle energy through their attire of dresses and soft, beautiful singing. However, they skillfully employed this understated energy to address the bold themes for which Del Rey is renowned.

Starting with the initial drone shots of her motorcades and continuing with what could be considered graceful pole dancing, followed by a series of piano ballads in the second half of the performance, her show had a distinct late-night atmosphere. Despite starting at 11:20 p.m. as planned and lasting until almost 1 a.m., the show maintained this vibe. It is quite challenging to successfully achieve a relaxed and melancholic atmosphere associated with summertime sadness in a prominent performance slot. Perhaps only Del Rey possesses the ability to provide a headline festival set that is both relaxed and pleasant, while also firmly reestablishing her dominance.