Watch Halsey Perform ‘Darling’ With Lindsey Buckingham on SNL
Halsey made her fourth appearance as Saturday Night Live‘s musical guest on October 9th, where she performed two songs off her latest album If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power. The 27-year-old pop star delivered an energetic performance of her album’s lead single “I am not a woman, I’m a god” for her first selection, donning a futuristic black leather bodysuit and surrounded by fog on a sci-fi set. French filmmaker Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Green Hornet) served as creative director for the segment.
Halsey slowed things down for her second performance, by collaborating with the legendary former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham for the beautiful acoustic ballad “Darling.” It was co-produced by Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor and his frequent collaborator Atticus Ross. This time around, Halsey donned a puffy black gown with a black top hat and veil. Buckingham stood by her, providing stellar guitar work and additional vocals. He wore a leather jacket and denim jeans.
The aesthetic of that performance couldn’t be more different from the former. The pair performed in front of a dimly lit, grey and green hazy backdrop and stood regally behind their microphones, with Halsey channelling Buckingham’s former bandmate, Stevie Nicks’ haunting look.
“The first performance is power, cold, desolate and intricate: me before,” Halsey tweeted after the show. “The second is love, lush and organic and dreamy: me after. And how wonderfully they both co-exist!” And in another tweet: “I can’t believe I just did SNL for the 5th time!!!!!! It never gets old. Always electrifying and so fun to finally perform the new songs.”
Watch both performances below:
The episode also saw Kim Kardashian make her SNL hosting debut. She and Halsey both appeared in a sketch where Kim played her sister Kourtney and Halsey played Kendall Jenner.
The singer’s fourth album, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, was released on 27th of August. It debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart and topped Alternative Albums.
—Silviya Yohannan
