Lana Del Rey’s Saturday Night Live appearance has been pregnant with expectations almost since the day it was announced, with fans celebrating her warp-speed ascent and critics insisting the dusky, bloody beautiful pop sensation behind “Video Games” doesn’t deserve to take on one of music’s most prestigious stages. (Sorry, The Jonathan Ross Show.) Did the Born To Die singer knock ‘em dead? See for yourself.

Lana Del Rey, “Video Games”

Lana Del Rey, “Blue Jeans”

Del Rey (currently outranking Madonna on the Idolator Hype Index) told MTV before the show that she felt fully deserving of the SNL spotlight:

“I definitely think it’s an honor. … I don’t think they’ve ever had anyone [perform] who didn’t even have a record out, so I do appreciate it… [But I got it] because I’m a good musician. And I may not have a record out now, but I have been singing for a very long time, and I think that ['SNL' creator] Lorne [Michaels] knows that, and everyone over there knows that. It’s not a fluke decision.”

We may have to wait for Born To Die (one of 2012’s most anticipated albums) to know for sure. But you can decide now if Del Rey’s SNL performance measured up to your own expectations, and tell us on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments.

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