Lana Del Rey, new musical icon or fad?

 

You see this woman at the top of the page? Her name is Lana Del Rey, which is a mysterious name for a mysterious woman. This 25 year old New York singer-songwriter recently released her second studio album, Born to Die. With a debut single like Video Games, everyone was expecting a new shock in the industry of music and finally the results are pretty mixed. Actually the expectations were huge as this lady seemed to be promising to return Hollywood to the glamour of the 1950’s and 1960’s. Some people seemed disappointed by songs that are too repetitive. Yet others say that she just took their breath away. It is obvious that a lot of people felt sympathy for this sweet fresh voice. So the question is, Lana Del Rey, are you really honest about your music, or is it only about money and plastic surgery?

First it is undeniable, after having watched her three videos, that she doesn’t bring us into an old fashioned universe with its colours and the quality of the videos but it still feels like Lana is not really genuine. Some of the lyrics and melodies of her songs are really too similar. Take Born to Die for example, add some sensual phrases and whisper them and you have National Anthem. This album is a good album but describing every song would be a waste of time as the 3 songs, Born to Die, Video Games and Blue Jeans, bear the same shadowy melancholy as the rest of her songs. Here is the real problem: she came like a fury with three aces and then she had nothing left to offer. Lana Del Rey would be some sort of artifice in the way she captivates people with her entrancing voice and music yet, in reality, she is only singing flat lyrics.

The ambiance of the beginning of Hollywood is also obviously there but in a wrong way. Did you know that her first album Kill Kill, produced when she was still known under the name Lizzy Grant, was a total disaster? Maybe this is just a coincidence. Maybe she has simply been formatted in her music and in the way that she looks. Despite our criticism we “give” that album a 6/10 because of the unique tone of voice and a surprising recycling of the vintage universe.

I chose to interview Cléa B, a 17 year old teenage girl who is deeply in love with her boyfriend, to learn what youth thought about this new musical phenomenon

Interviewer: Good evening Cléa so you obviously listened to Lana Del Rey's album Born to Die. First what did you think about it? Did you like it?

Cléa: Actually, I only knew the song called "Video Games" and when I listened to the whole album, it was completely new for me. This album is amazing. Lana Del Rey's voice is absolutely wonderful and all the songs are beautiful. It calms me down.

Interviewer: Yeah I personally also like it. What about the lyrics? Did you connect with them? Do you think this album can be listened to at any time and anywhere?

Cléa: I like listening to Lana Del Rey's songs when I’m in my bed, they calm me down a little.

Her lyrics all speak about love, pain, and desire. It's hard to identify yourself with them but they're beautiful.

Interviewer: You probably know that Lana Del Rey was not always that famous. She underwent surgery and her new music is not the same as it used to be. Do you think she was pushed to become a pop icon or do you think she just wanted to get to the top by herself?

Cléa: I heard she was thinking about stopping music. So I think that she didn't want to become that famous. She has been criticized a lot and she has taken it very badly. But anyway, even if she underwent surgery, we're not supposed to judge her on that. Her music is important.

Interviewer: Finally do you think she and her work are meant to last in time?

Cléa: If she said she was about to stop music, I don't think so! But her songs will last, that's for sure.

Interviewer: Thanks a lot for your time it was interesting and very pleasant talking to you.

Cléa: You're welcome!

Survey

Our journalists asked people to listen to songs from the first and the second album of Lana Del Rey and they had to decide which one they preferred, results below:

	Percentage
1. Kill Kill	7,2
2. Born to Die	92,8

First according to the people prefer her second album, which proves us that this music was meant to be listened to by a large audience. However her debut album feels much more natural which is why it was maybe more aimed at a jazz loving and knowledgeable audience. Nowadays music is for sure working old genres and it is such a shame to make business out of this. This story is probably not over Lana Del Rey certainly has another trick in her pocket and this time we might be more surprised.

                                                                                 A.