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.
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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)