In case you haven’t heard, global superstar Lily Allen has resurfaced to the spotlight. The singer recaptured all of our attention when she released her first studio album in seven years. West End Girl. The record recalls her divorce from David Harbour. This extremely detailed account of the divorce continues to hold the attention of fans old and new. When the album came out, fans went into a frenzy full of speculation. Not only is Allen’s record utterly personal, it landed itself on some of the most prestigious best albums of the year lists like Variety.
Over the weekend, Lily Allen was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live. She brought two songs from West End Girl to the SNL stage that people were bound to talk about.
It’s Saturday Night!
Lily Allen’s last appearance on SNL was back in 2007, almost twenty years ago. Last night was her triumphant return to the stage. One of the tracks she performed was “Sleepwalking.” On stage, Allen laid on a bed dressed in lingerie, lit up in romantic, intimate lighting. The stage design was a bedroom, fitting for the song. She set the tone and mood for the story she was telling viewers. “Sleepwalking” addresses disconnection. The song is about going through the motions and routines of a relationship without fully engaging. Her captivating performance of the song emphasized her vulnerability not just as an artist, but as a human being.
Who is Madeline?
The moment that really stole the show was Allen’s performance of her hit “Madeline.” Out of all the songs on West End Girl, “Madeline” is one that caused some of the most speculation and commotion about Allen’s divorce. “Madeline” is about her estranged husband’s mistress. The song vividly recounts the singer’s experience about her confrontation with Madeline. Lyrically, it feels straight out of a diary. The song directly addresses Madeline in a search for answers.
The stage design was similar to that of “Sleepwalking,” but it was more elaborate. This time, Allen was not in the bed. Another woman, an actor playing as Madeline joined her on stage. Allen gave a raw, vulnerable performance reliving this difficult time in her life. The song’s conversational element comes to life on stage with Allen’s dialogue with the woman lying in the bed. She relived the experience on SNL.
Towards the end of the performance, Dakota Johnson walks out from behind the curtains and surprises the crowd. It was heartbreaking watching Lily sing “Madeline.” All of her emotion on display struck at heartstrings.
A Night to Remember
Both performances spoke loudly. They were intimate and vulnerable, so viewers heard everything Allen had to say. She crushed it.
In addition to two songs, Allen joined some of the cast and host Josh O’Connor for a skit. Allen made a cameo in the end of the skit after the cast riffed parodies of her song “West End Girl.”
Next, Allen will embark on a huge tour playing West End Girl in its entirety for crowds worldwide.
