Top 20 Best Lana Del Rey Songs
These Lana Del Rey songs are so many shades of cool. Welcome to MsMojo, and we’ll be looking at some of the most iconic songs across Lana Del Rey’s discography.
Transcript
00:00 I heard that you like the bad girls, Lonnie.
00:04 Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we'll
00:07 be looking at some of the most iconic songs
00:09 across Lana Del Rey's discography.
00:11 I am young and playing hard.
00:17 Number 20, White Dress.
00:19 I was a waitress wearing a white dress.
00:23 How I do it is--
00:25 Before there was Lana Del Rey, there was Lizzy Grant.
00:29 While her pre-persona work isn't widely known outside her fan
00:33 base, there are still elements of it in her recent discography.
00:37 White Dress captures that era of her career perfectly.
00:40 It touches on her life during that point in time
00:43 and how she worked at a restaurant
00:45 before becoming famous.
00:46 Just a little kid, so young to be.
00:50 One motif that she's recently introduced
00:52 is how she's yearning for a time when
00:54 she wasn't as well-known, which definitely
00:57 comes through in this track.
00:58 Her gorgeous falsetto voice complements
01:01 the soft instrumentation, creating a dulcet melody
01:04 that draws the listener in.
01:06 It's a stellar callback to her old work,
01:08 while still showcasing how much she's evolved.
01:11 Kind of makes me feel like maybe I was better off.
01:17 Number 19, Shades of Cool.
01:20 My baby lives in shades of blue with eyes enchanted.
01:28 From the opening chords, Lana gives her listeners
01:30 something sonically different with this track.
01:33 Sounding almost like a James Bond anthem
01:35 with its lush guitars and the undulation of Lana's voice,
01:39 the song has a very cinematic quality to it.
01:42 [MUSIC - LANA, "I CAN'T BREAK THROUGH YOUR WORLD"]
01:46 Can't break through your world.
01:49 The subject is a man Lana just can't
01:51 seem to fix, a topic that comes up many times in her song
01:55 writing.
01:55 We feel for Lana and hear the ache in her voice as she sings.
01:59 Can't break through your world.
02:02 The film noir style music video, meanwhile,
02:05 pairs well with the lyrics and gives it
02:08 a cool Californian vibe.
02:10 Number 18, Radio.
02:12 Not even they can stop me now.
02:18 While she's primarily known for her darker music,
02:21 Radio proves that this artist can pull off fun bops as well.
02:24 It's optimistic and focuses on how
02:27 finding love can make your other problems seem to disappear.
02:30 [MUSIC - RADIO, "SWEET LIKE CINNAMON"]
02:36 The production is bright and dynamic
02:39 and perfectly captures the feeling
02:41 of being liked and chosen.
02:43 Despite not being released as a single,
02:45 it has stood the test of time and has
02:47 become one of her more well-known works online.
02:50 The fact that it still sounds fresh over a decade later
02:53 is a feat in itself.
02:55 It was proof that, even early on in her career,
02:58 she's a versatile artist who can't be put into a box.
03:01 [MUSIC - RADIO, "SWEET LIKE CINNAMON"]
03:04 Number 17, High by the Beach.
03:06 [MUSIC - RADIO, "HIGH BY THE BEACH"]
03:13 After the somber tone and themes of ultraviolence,
03:17 Honeymoon was the ultimate respite.
03:19 It was a return to the electronic sound on Born to Die,
03:23 but with a slightly softer edge.
03:25 High by the Beach is the best example,
03:27 a part dream pop, part trap pop symphony,
03:30 where the singer laments about a relationship that's
03:33 become toxic.
03:34 [MUSIC - HIGH BY THE BEACH]
03:41 Even with the ambivalent lyrics and slightly muted production,
03:45 the song manages to be captivatingly catchy.
03:48 It was an exemplary way of transitioning from one era
03:51 to the next while still remaining true to her roots.
03:54 Departing from her previous sound was a risk,
03:57 but it was definitely worth it in the end.
03:59 [MUSIC - HIGH BY THE BEACH]
04:05 Number 16, Arcadia.
04:07 [MUSIC - ARCADIA, "MAP OF LA"]
04:15 Lana Del Rey's recent work has offered fans
04:18 a more honest version of herself and her feelings,
04:21 particularly when it comes to her career.
04:23 While Arcadia may sound like a classic breakup ballad,
04:26 a deep dive into the lyrics suggests
04:29 that she's ready to leave the music industry rather
04:32 than a traditional relationship.
04:33 [MUSIC - ARCADIA, "MAP OF LA"]
04:40 She reflects on how she was put onto a pedestal
04:43 just to be ripped back down, not unlike what happens
04:46 to other stars of her caliber.
04:48 She opted for a more stripped back sound,
04:50 which highlighted her rich voice and showed how far she's
04:53 come as a vocalist.
04:54 Despite the lyrical content, she has persevered and released
04:58 more music, and we couldn't be more relieved.
05:01 [MUSIC - ARCADIA, "MAP OF LA"]
05:06 Number 15, West Coast.
05:08 [MUSIC - WEST COAST, "DOWN ON THE WEST COAST"]
05:16 There's something inherently cool about this song,
05:18 from the roll of the drums kicking it off
05:20 to the surprise tempo shift midway through the chorus.
05:24 Her vocals change along with the tempo,
05:26 moving from a hard edge to a breathy softness.
05:29 [MUSIC - WEST COAST, "DOWN ON THE WEST COAST"]
05:33 Lyrically, it's an ode to the West Coast
05:36 and its icons, golden gods, and rock and roll groupies.
05:40 She also weaves a narrative about falling
05:42 into another doomed romance, but ultimately giving into it.
05:46 It's the most rock and roll song of Lana's career.
05:49 And at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100
05:51 is, to date, her best charting debut.
05:54 [MUSIC - BILLBOARD HOT 100, "BLUE JEANS"]
06:00 Number 14, "Blue Jeans."
06:03 [MUSIC - BLUE JEANS, "BLUE JEANS"]
06:10 Lana's known for the imagery in her songs.
06:12 And from the first line, we know exactly the kind
06:15 of James Dean bad boy she's describing by the blue jeans
06:19 and white t-shirt he wears.
06:21 Lana shows her rough side with this one,
06:23 as she promises to love her bad boy lover more than--
06:26 [MUSIC - BLUE JEANS, "BLUE JEANS"]
06:28 It's hard to tell whether this is
06:29 the song of a wounded woman in an unhealthy romantic
06:32 relationship or the sinister promises of a dark obsession.
06:36 But either way, she was committed to her man.
06:39 [MUSIC - BLUE JEANS, "BLUE JEANS"]
06:43 Number 13, "Brooklyn Baby."
06:46 [MUSIC - BROOKLYN BABY, "BROOKLYN BABY"]
06:49 Written by Lana with Barry O'Neill
06:51 and produced by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys,
06:54 this song is a fun tongue-in-cheek send-up
06:57 of hipster culture in Brooklyn, as she
06:59 sings about her rare jazz collection,
07:01 the feathers in her hair, and the hydroponic weed she smokes.
07:05 [MUSIC - BROOKLYN BABY, "BROOKLYN BABY"]
07:09 Like many of the songs on "Ultraviolence,"
07:12 it sounds like she's channeling a 1960s girl group.
07:15 But the inspiration of the song was really
07:17 Lou Reed, who she name checks in the chorus.
07:20 Lana was actually meant to work with Reed, but tragically,
07:23 he died the same day she landed in New York.
07:26 [MUSIC - BROOKLYN BABY, "BROOKLYN BABY"]
07:29 Number 12, "Love."
07:31 [MUSIC - BROOKLYN BABY, "LOVE"]
07:36 Love explores themes that are unique for the singer.
07:39 She focuses on the positive aspects
07:41 of being in a relationship and feeling deep love for somebody.
07:45 The lyrics are about allowing yourself
07:47 to enjoy those powerful emotions while they're still there
07:50 and to live in the moment rather than worrying
07:52 about it fading away.
07:54 [MUSIC - BROOKLYN BABY, "LOVE"]
07:58 The dreamy arrangement helps convey that
08:01 and gives whoever's listening a hopeful feeling of what's
08:03 to come.
08:04 She's also primarily singing in a lower octave, which
08:07 gives the piece a mature and distinct sound.
08:10 The climax comes when she suddenly
08:12 posits herself as the subject rather than the listener.
08:16 [MUSIC - BROOKLYN BABY, "LOVE"]
08:19 Number 11, "The Greatest."
08:21 [MUSIC - BROOKLYN BABY, "THE GREATEST"]
08:26 The mark of a great song is when it can capture
08:29 the essence of the artist.
08:30 "The Greatest" serves as a perfect example
08:33 of how Del Rey can walk the line between classic
08:36 and contemporary.
08:37 On this track, she croons about how she just wants things
08:40 to be simple again, both in her relationships
08:43 and in life itself.
08:44 [MUSIC - BROOKLYN BABY, "THE GREATEST"]
08:50 The band playing is reminiscent of one
08:52 you might hear in an old cocktail lounge,
08:55 and it gives the song a rather lovely vintage vibe
08:58 despite modern lyrics.
08:59 The artist flexes her knowledge of pop culture
09:02 by making a variety of references,
09:04 from classic artists like the Beach Boys
09:07 to more recent phenomena like live streams.
09:09 The result is a grand piece with striking lyricism
09:12 that became an instant classic.
09:14 [MUSIC - BROOKLYN BABY, "THE GREATEST"]
09:19 Number 10, "National Anthem."
09:21 [MUSIC - BROOKLYN BABY, "NATIONAL ANTHEM"]
09:27 An anthem for a new generation, this song
09:29 embodies Lana at her most playful
09:31 as she raps/sings memorable lines,
09:35 "Money is the anthem of success," over a hip hop beat
09:38 and bursting fireworks.
09:40 The song has a lazy, warm feeling to it
09:43 as she sings of a high-class, materialistic world
09:46 full of trips to the Hamptons and rides in Bugatti Veyrons.
09:50 [MUSIC - BROOKLYN BABY, "NATIONAL ANTHEM"]
09:56 In the accompanying video, she cast herself
09:59 as both Marilyn Monroe and Jackie Kennedy Onassis
10:02 to rapper A$AP Rocky's JFK, giving listeners
10:06 a new vision of classic Americana images.
10:08 [MUSIC - BROOKLYN BABY, "NATIONAL ANTHEM"]
10:13 Number 9, "Young and Beautiful."
10:15 [MUSIC - BROOKLYN BABY, "YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL"]
10:19 Lana is one of Hollywood's go-to girls
10:22 for moody soundtrack anthems, and this track
10:24 started it all.
10:26 Written for the "Great Gatsby" soundtrack,
10:28 Lana sings from the perspective of Daisy Buchanan,
10:31 a woman who's afraid that her lover won't want her
10:33 once her looks begin to fade.
10:35 [MUSIC - DAISY BUCHANAN, "YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL"]
10:39 Like any good Del Rey song, it's tragic and heartbreaking.
10:43 The beauty of Lana's voice pairs well
10:45 with the full orchestra behind her,
10:47 giving the song an undeniably haunting sound.
10:50 [MUSIC - DAISY BUCHANAN, "YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL"]
10:56 Number 8, "Hope is a Dangerous Thing for a Woman Like Me
11:00 to Have, But I Have It."
11:01 [MUSIC - DAISY BUCHANAN, "HOPE IS A DANGEROUS THING FOR A WOMAN
11:05 LIKE ME TO HAVE"]
11:08 While Del Rey's lyricism is normally
11:10 praised for its storytelling ability,
11:12 it also shines when she is unapologetically raw.
11:16 This song is so deeply personal.
11:18 She delves into the realities of being famous
11:21 and how it takes a strain on her mental health.
11:23 [MUSIC - DAISY BUCHANAN, "HOPE IS A DANGEROUS THING FOR A WOMAN
11:29 LIKE ME TO HAVE"]
11:30 The accompaniment from the piano emphasizes
11:33 the pure emotion in her voice, and the simplicity
11:35 allows it to shine on its own.
11:37 While the lyrics are dark, there's
11:39 still the faintest bit of hope in her tone,
11:41 which is perfectly fitting.
11:43 This one marked a new beginning of Del Rey opening up
11:46 to her fans and allowing them to see
11:48 a more personal side of herself.
11:49 [MUSIC - DAISY BUCHANAN, "HOPE IS A DANGEROUS THING FOR A WOMAN
11:54 LIKE ME TO HAVE"]
11:57 Number seven, "A&W."
12:00 [MUSIC - A&W, "AND W"]
12:04 One thing to know about Lana Del Rey
12:06 is that you should always expect the unexpected.
12:09 "A&W" starts off as a gloomy tune where the artist reflects
12:12 on her life.
12:13 Then, just as you're ready to succumb to the sadness,
12:16 she flips the entire piece on its head.
12:18 [MUSIC - LANA DEL REY, "AND W"]
12:24 Utilizing a steady, pulsing beat,
12:26 she transitions into part two, a fun, poppier section
12:30 about a man who's only with her to feel a rush.
12:33 Before long, the bleakness from part one
12:35 is traded for pure elation, and we get a hilarious threat
12:39 to expose this man's behavior to his mother.
12:42 It's different from anything she's released before
12:45 and shows that she always has new tricks up her sleeve.
12:47 [MUSIC - LANA DEL REY, "AND W"]
12:51 Number six, "Summertime Sadness."
12:54 [MUSIC - LANA DEL REY, "SUMMERTIME SADNESS"]
13:02 Not many artists sing about the melancholy of the summertime,
13:05 but leave it to Lana to explore the underside of what many
13:09 think is the most carefree season.
13:11 Cedric Gervais, a well-known house DJ,
13:14 remixed the song in the summer of 2013.
13:17 [MUSIC - CEDRIC GERVAIS, "SUMMERTIME SADNESS"]
13:24 His remix turned it into a sleeper hit
13:26 since it debuted on the Billboard charts at 72,
13:30 but climbed all the way to the number six spot.
13:32 The ballad became an unlikely contender
13:34 for a coveted song of the summer spot
13:37 and one of Lana's highest charting songs to date.
13:40 [MUSIC - LANA DEL REY, "SUMMERTIME SADNESS"]
13:44 Number five, "Venice Bitch."
13:47 [MUSIC - LANA DEL REY, "VENICE BITCH"]
13:50 Clocking in at just over 9 and 1/2 minutes,
13:52 "Venice Bitch" is her longest song
13:54 and one of her most ambitious.
13:56 It starts out as a classic love ballad,
13:59 but as it progresses, it turns into something much more
14:02 unique.
14:02 Jack Antonoff's production helps transition
14:05 from the softer verses into a beachy and slightly psychedelic
14:09 breakdown.
14:10 [MUSIC - JACK ANTONOFF, "VENICE BITCH"]
14:15 There are several sections where she doesn't sing at all,
14:18 but the sound design helps keep the listener invested.
14:21 It became an instant fan favorite
14:23 and served as proof that Del Rey could release longer and more
14:27 experimental work.
14:28 [MUSIC - LANA DEL REY, "VENICE BITCH"]
14:33 She revisited the iconic track on 2023's "Taco Truck XVB,"
14:39 where she surprised her fans by turning it into a trap
14:41 remix of the original.
14:43 [MUSIC - LANA DEL REY, "VENICE BITCH"]
14:46 Number four, "Born to Die."
14:48 [MUSIC - LANA DEL REY, "BORN TO DIE"]
14:52 It's the titular song off her sophomore album,
14:55 and it places listeners firmly into the singer's world.
14:58 Lana tells the story of a relationship
15:00 that was cursed from the start, but she's
15:02 determined to see it through to its bitter end.
15:05 Her lyrics have been described as apocalyptic,
15:07 as she sings of the couple's last time together
15:10 and pleas for her lover to keep making her laugh,
15:13 despite their impending deaths.
15:15 [MUSIC - LANA DEL REY, "BORN TO DIE"]
15:21 It's one of her most cinematic songs,
15:23 with critics comparing its sound to the score of "Gone
15:26 With the Wind" and famed composer John Berry's signature
15:30 style of full, robust strings.
15:32 [MUSIC - LANA DEL REY, "BORN TO DIE"]
15:38 Number three, "Norman F***ing Rockwell."
15:40 [MUSIC - LANA DEL REY, "BORN TO DIE"]
15:44 As the titular track of her acclaimed 2019 album,
15:47 this single has quickly risen the ranks of her discography
15:50 and swiftly became beloved by both fans and critics.
15:54 It opens up with a soft string intro
15:57 before diving into a piano solo, cementing the vintage sound
16:00 of the rest of the album.
16:02 Despite touching on the classic themes
16:04 of a failing relationship, the lyrics
16:06 were more mature compared to her previous work.
16:08 [MUSIC - LANA DEL REY, "BORN TO DIE"]
16:13 It also highlights her impressive vocal range,
16:16 as she easily switches from her lower to higher register.
16:19 It even earned her a Grammy nomination
16:21 for Song of the Year, her first in the category.
16:24 It's the perfect opener for the album
16:26 and demonstrates the progression in her musicality.
16:30 [MUSIC - LANA DEL REY, "BORN TO DIE"]
16:35 Number two, Ride.
16:37 [MUSIC - RIDE, "RIDE"]
16:42 Produced by the legendary Rick Rubin,
16:44 this track is one of her standouts,
16:46 blending all of Lana's favorite topics into one song--
16:50 her love for bad boys, her feelings of loneliness
16:53 and being misunderstood, as well as her obsession with older
16:56 men as daddy figures.
16:58 [MUSIC - RIDE, "RIDE"]
17:03 Lana's vocals are husky and mournful,
17:06 which fits right into the blue-eyed soul
17:08 genre she's channeling.
17:09 She extended the song with the inclusion
17:11 of a monologue for her 10-minute-long music video.
17:14 The video stirred up some controversy
17:16 for her cultural appropriation of wearing
17:18 a Native American headdress, as she pointed a gun to her head.
17:22 [MUSIC - RIDE, "JUST LIVE"]
17:27 Before we unveil our top pick, here
17:29 are a few honorable mentions.
17:31 Say Yes to Heaven.
17:33 This previously unreleased track hit number 18
17:36 on the Billboard Global 200.
17:38 [MUSIC - RIDE, "SAY YES TO HEAVEN"]
17:45 Peppers.
17:46 Inspired by the Red Hot Chili Peppers,
17:48 this song with Tommy Genesis highlights her versatility.
17:52 [MUSIC - RIDE, "CRUEL WORLD"]
17:59 Cruel World.
18:00 This somber yet gorgeous number helped set the tone
18:03 for the rest of "Ultraviolence."
18:04 [MUSIC - RIDE, "CRUEL WORLD"]
18:08 Music to Watch Boys To.
18:10 Lana showed off her impressive lyricism
18:12 in this noir-inspired song.
18:15 [MUSIC - RIDE, "DARK PARADISE"]
18:21 Dark Paradise.
18:23 She helped usher in a melancholic sound
18:25 for pop music, which Dark Paradise captured perfectly.
18:29 [MUSIC - DARK PARADISE]
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18:51 Number 1, Video Games.
18:53 [MUSIC - VIDEO GAMES, "WINGING IN THE BACKYARD"]
18:55 (SINGING) Pull up in your fast car, whistling my name.
18:59 The song that started it all.
19:01 When it appeared on the internet in 2011,
19:04 Lana instantly drew both admirers and critics
19:07 for her unique Baroque pop style.
19:09 (SINGING) Heaven is a place on Earth with you.
19:13 Tell me all the things you want to do.
19:17 The hype monster was at an all-time high
19:19 when she gave a less-than-stellar performance
19:21 of the song on "Saturday Night Live."
19:24 Regardless of the live performance,
19:26 it's quintessential Lana with its melancholy tone,
19:29 the swell of the violins, and her pleas
19:31 to keep a distant boyfriend happy.
19:33 When Lana's at her most vulnerable, she's at her best.
19:36 And this song is her A-game.
19:38 (SINGING) Baby, now you do.
19:40 (SINGING) Now you do.
19:42 (SINGING) Now you do.
19:45 What Lana song resonates with you the most?
19:48 Let us know in the comments below.
19:50 Do you agree with our picks?
19:51 Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo,
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19:58 [MUSIC PLAYING]
20:02 [MUSIC PLAYING]
20:05 (upbeat music)
20:08 (gentle music)