♡ PART 7: “HOW TO BE A HEARTBREAKER” ♡ | MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS from Atlantic Records UK on Vimeo.
By Justin Lyons
Welsh singer, Marina Diamandis aka Marina & The Diamonds broke through in 2009 as a DIY, pop artist known for catchy hooks and commanding vocals. Her buzzworthy debut record The Family Jewels featured blog favorites “I’m A Robot” and “Mowgli Road” and gained major label attention. Her recent sophomore effort Electra Heart still showcased Diamandis’ ethereal vocals, but traded quirky pop for fully formed dance pop anthems and a retro alter ego. Production from top 40 heavy hitters like Stargate, Dr. Luke, Diplo, and Cirkut hoped to put Diamandis in the same arena as Britney, Katy and Rihanna, but failed to see commercial success of her idols. Fans at Center Stage don’t keep track of Sound Scan numbers though, as tickets were sold out for a night of power pop at the Midtown venue. Party starters Icona Pop warmed up the crowd with a simple table set up of DJ and sampling gear. Fans threw up “arm hearts” and bounced as the pulsing beats of “Ready For The Weekend” and “I Love It” shook the floor.
Diamindis’ stage was outfitted with retro patterned backdrop, bedroom lounge furniture, and an Electra Heart neon light appropriately emblazoned in pink. Marina’s four piece band took the stage just before she strolled out in fur wedges and a bridal veil. Her campy garb matched the tongue and cheek fun of pop anthem “Homewrecker”. She sported a form-fitted dress and various wardrobe pieces inspired by her obsession with beauty pageants and 50’s fashion. Marina’s retro character from Electra Heart accentuated her playful nature throughout the night. She sashayed around the stage to match the driving rhythm guitar of “Mowgli’s Road” and belted the saccharine-filled hook on the synth dance spectacle of “Bubble Gum Bitch”. Highlights of the night included Marina’s hiccup-styled vocals on her first hit “I Am Not A Robot” and the electronic-fueled dance track “Radioactive”.
While Marina hasn’t likely met all of her own pop milestones, it is doubtful she won’t eventually. She fully embraces the role of starlet and has a unique vocals that crush any of her pop peers. Marina’s confidence on stage and efforts to be lyrically more than your average pop star on glittering cuts like “Sex Yeah”, “Power and Control” and stepping behind the piano on “Teen Idle” should help her accomplish those feats soon.
Marina & The Diamonds Set List
Homewrecker
Oh No
Mowgli’s Road
Lies
I Am Not A Robot
The State of Dreaming
Power and Control
Bubble Gum Bitch
Starring Role
Obsession
Sex Yeah
Primadonna
Shampain
Hollywood
Radioactive
Fear and Loathing
Encore
Teen Idle
How To Be A Heartwrecker
