A few years ago one Lizzy Grant launched her singing career. It went nowhere but south. She reinvented herself as Lana Del Rey – after the dazzling Lana Turner and the car, the Ford Del Rey.
She recorded a simple song called “Video Games”, edited an interesting video for it and uploaded it on to YouTube. It went viral.
The build-up to the release of her debut album was immense as a result. She was touted as the next best thing, the hottest indie star, a saviour, blah, blah, blah.
The album dropped and a shit storm followed. Born to Die was rather good, and it did rather well, but there was no way it could have lived up to the hype. The hype caused by us – the media, the fans and the bottom half of the internet. We built her up, and then attempted to break her down.
She was crucified for an assortment of sins.
She has a rich daddy. She could have taken her inheritance and spent it floating around on a yacht in the Mediterranean wearing Le Coq Sportif.
She implied she had a difficult childhood, when in fact she grew up rich. Yes, money does guarantee happiness, love and stability.
She (and rich daddy) deleted her internet “history” as Lizzy Grant. If I had a rich ass dad I would certainly delete a few things I’ve said or published. Yet, if you Google “Lizzy Grant” you will find a wealth of videos, images and information.
She reinvented herself. Is this not what Madonna has been praised for? Does every pop star not have a created persona?
She is botoxed to the hilt. And? I would personally not stick needless into my lips or forehead, but I like my rock stars to be a little off, a little out there.
Her live performances are uneven. Yes, they are. (Like most people should care in this lip-synching world we live in.) Not because she cannot sing, though, but because she is petrified of performing live. More about that later.
When the shit storm hit the poor girl, and (coat-riding) individuals created websites for the sole purpose of hating her, Lana said she might withdraw from the industry. Luckily she did not, and from that moment onwards it seemed as if the hate did not bother her at all. She continued doing live performances and making more videos, and now she has rereleased the first album as Born to Die – The Paradise Edition. And it kicks ass.
Lyrics
Okay, she’s not Bob Dylan, I admit, but there is a certain Bruce Springsteen / Badlands / “road trip in the middle of the night” quality to them that draws one in. What seduces one completely, though, is the Twin Peaks / David Lynch undercurrent:
In the land of Gods and Monsters
I was an Angel
living in the garden of evil
Screwed up, scared, doing anything that I needed
Shining like a fiery beacon.
Paradise also landed a “Parental Advisory” tag. The lyrics are a tad more explicit, I might add, something that I do not mind.
My pussy taste like Pepsi Cola
My eyes are wide like cherry pies
I got a taste for men who are older
It’s always been, so it’s no surprise.
Vocals
Technically she’s not Diana Krall, no, but she has an emotional “range” that warms the heart and stirs the soul. Her voice is haunting, seductive, sometimes melancholy, and even childlike at times. I guess it will come down to whether you like it or not, but it certainly is interesting.
Melodies
The stripped-down tunes are extremely catchy and surprisingly melodic. And all written by Lana!
Visuals
When it comes to creating striking (and somewhat disturbing) visuals Lana is up there with the best. “Video Games”, the first video and the one that went viral, consisted of existing YouTube clips apparently edited together by Lana herself. That was the start of her retro “gangsta Nancy Sinatra” feel.
“Born to Die”was her first directed/produced attempt at a full music video and it improved on all the elements already present in “Video Games”. The two tigers sitting on either side of her had me from the start. She introduced a sense of vulnerability threatened by violence, abuse and impending doom. The imagery of her being held in front of the burning car is powerful.
The “Blue Jeans” video was certainly a stripped-down version of “Born to Die”, but the impending sense of hurt and doom was still present throughout. The bloody crocodile freaked me out.
“National Anthem”could certainly be interpreted as a critique on American society. It starts off with her re-enacting the famous clip of Marilyn singing “Happy birthday” to JFK and finishes with her re-enacting JFK’s assassination, complete with her crawling over the back of the car trying to gather bits and pieces of her man.
“Ride”is by far the most epic of all the videos on offer. It is a 10-minute short film with all the usual ingredients: vulnerability, threats of abuse, sensuality, obsession and her ever-present older men / Daddy issues. But “Ride” has another element added to it, one that we have caught a glimpse of here and there, but is now the overarching feeling of the song – sadness.
I am looking forward to the next instalment.
Live performances
Scouring YouTube you will find seriously uneven live performances – some completely off key, and others remarkably beautiful.
There is one common denominator when it comes to her live performances – her complete unease with performing live. She is awkward, petrified almost to the point of being unable to move. I think that is the reason for the unevenness.
Summary
I dig her awkwardness, her unease at being in the spotlight, even though she is putting herself there. I find the ambivalence fascinating. It is not the usual “fuck you I am cooler than you” nonsense. I dig the conflicting, disturbing images in her videos, and Paradise has been on repeat since I bought it.