IanadeIrey

This song has moved me much too heavily. There's such a confidence in her delivery of the verses, which is starkly contrasted by a very fragile and vulnerable vocal in the pre-choruses. The lyrics contain multitudes to them that I know I've only just scratched the surface of. I really feel the sentiment of this song to my core. <3

I think the selfies for the other singles you mentioned were a different case, though, because they weren’t edited to look this extreme (for example, some users have pointed out that there appears to be bruises edited onto her on only 2 out of the 3 single covers, and in those songs, she mentions her relationship with her parents). Maybe in the past, the use of a selfie was just out of convenience but given the lyrical density of the songs we heard, I personally think that the selfie has some sort of significance. If she does come out and say there was no reason to use it, then I’d give you that but I’m not so sure - maybe when the album comes out we’ll know!

Well I’m sure there’s a reason for that, which would be what I said up there. I don’t think Lana would make an artwork bad just for the fun of it. It’s to make a statement (at least I think so)!

She’s owning the whole narrative that her artworks are “bad” by making that selfie the artwork. I don’t see how that’s different from Taylor Swift, for example, owning her reputation of being a “snake” and employing the snake as a symbol for her album. Yes, it’s not aesthetically pleasing compared to her other covers, but that is the whole point. For anyone who’s struggling to reconcile the cover and her usual creative output, maybe frame it like this: Lana’s true genius is in her intent and artists provoke thought, even if it’s not conventionally appealing. She’s doing just that, which, to me, shows artistic growth/evolution (in a sense)!

Thank you, means so much coming from the queen of painted portraits I agree! I really feel like Lana’s on this path to becoming a very sophisticated songwriter whose lyrics are becoming more and more poetic and personal. Joni Mitchell’s painted album covers are beautiful and I love Joan’s paintings, I would love if Lana did a painted cover

She’s truly reached a new creative peak the writing on all 3 of these songs is just amazing and is a testament to her gift as a songwriter. The lyrics you included are just so poetic and pretty and full of symbolism there’s also so much to unpack in BB and TB as well. Every individual lyric has layers to it

Aw I love June Christy! <3 I would love if Lana embraced the classic, portrait-style album cover of that time. thank you

After listening to the three tracks, I would love if the album cover was something simple, serene, and muted. I think it would be really fitting to have the visuals contrast the very intense lyricism but also reflect the classicism of the production/sound. This album feels like it’s going to dive into a lot of the psyche prefacing Lana Del Rey as we know her, so I think a simple portrait would be perfect. I made this “painted” one - I think it matches the music well

Ooh, that's true! Plus, if I remember correctly, didn't some international division of her label confirm July 21st before she did? I remember Paris Match magazine as being one of the more noteworthy reporters of the July 21st date, but I think some UMG division overseas must have also confirmed it. Same with Chemtrails, I think, they confirmed it would be out in March before the pre-order went up. I'm hopeful about July 4th too!

Knowing that the last song for COTCC was written in February 2020, it's interesting to note that by the time we first knew about Chemtrails, Lana's headspace had already shifted to these new songs. Her going blonde, the Interview Magazine video, QFTC, Behind the Iron Gates....all of these things seem to be motifs that will run throughout the album. I wonder how Lana felt about releasing an album as idealistic as Chemtrails when the reality as it was coming out was anything but. That must have been a real dichotomy and I guess that explains all the uncertainty surrounding it. I'm really looking forward to seeing how the crazy year we've all had will weave its way into this record. I can tell it's going to be soul-crushing, earth-shattering, a real journey. I loved Patent Leather Do-Over as well - it truly is a "magnum opus" when it comes to her poetry - and the writing on these 3 songs is incredible. She really tapped into a new creative vein of introspection amidst this pandemic. This record + the next poetry book are just going to be a new peak for Lana. I am soooo excited!

I hope it’s out on July 4th, but unfortunately, I don’t think that tweet confirms anything even though it’s from UMG, a mere tweet doesn’t compare to a major publication like Rolling Stone, for example, which previously reported that Lust for Life would come out on May 26th. Same with Interview Magazine reporting that Chemtrails would be out in September.

Yessss, all 3 songs have been on repeat for me all day today and yesterday!

I think in Blue Banisters, the man said he would come back every May and paint her banisters blue - but he never did, so that’s why her sisters painted them green and gray. I think she was speaking generally about her experiences in love but I would assume she was also thinking about Sean Larkin, since she mentions Oklahoma (which is where he’s from). Plus, all of the songs on COTCC were written before they broke up, so I think some of the songs on the forthcoming album will address their relationship ending and will delve into how her upbringing led her to enter that relationship. Text Book captures that perfectly, it seems - she attributes the effect her mother had on her relationship with her father and how that led her to compensate for what she was missing in that familial unit through her relationship with Sean. Sorry, such a long answer! But yes, I think the songs are written in response to her relationship with Sean, with her linking it to her relationship with her father and mother.

It would be iconic if that becomes the BB cover, but right now, I’m thinking it’s only for the single because her FaceBook and YouTube headers use that picture and it says “Blue Banisters out now”, which can only refer to the single. She’s changed her headers to reflect singles that have come out before the album in previous eras, so I think we have yet to see the actual album cover. But I totally would not be surprised if we’ve already seen the cover and would be here for it!

I actually thought the same - I really like it as a header! Her name in the same font from the Chemtrails cover + the BB logo being the same shade of blue pulls it together as well

Here’s the new header and profile picture on FB -

I really think this album is going to be all about how her relationship with her mother affected every facet of her life. Our relationships with our parents truly do inform our relationships with others and our relationships with ourselves. I’ve said it before but I really, really appreciate Lana being this open and honest about that lately. Sending love out there to everyone who can relate to what she’s feeling in these songs. ♥️

14 is such a lovely round number for Lana’s records. I really hope Blue Banisters has 14 songs, though we’ll gladly take more It seems she has a lot to say with this album. I mean, she is catching us up on her thoughts from the last 20 months (18 at the time of the Music Week interview) so I think we’re in for a longer album.

Yes, exactly - her life story is wrapped up in all of those records, so all of them serve a purpose, ultimately!

Yes. And I also avoid comparing her records because I know they truly are manifestations of her soul. Comparing them kind of defeats the whole purpose. You can have a favourite of course, but to say that one is “better” than the other in a way that puts down a body of work is really going against Lana’s whole essence as an artist.

PSA: when people bring up the fact that “she’s 35 years old” it’s not to say that 35 is an “old” age (just saying because there have been countless times where people interpret that argument as ageist), but rather, there is a natural evolution that we’ve been socialized to undergo as we approach our thirties. I see what both sides are saying - but I personally think that the music is going to continue to get deeper and more vulnerable, and that may be reflected in the production. It’s not inherently “better” than her previous records but it’s more mature (I’m using that term objectively) and representative of who Lana is at this moment in time. I’m always here for wherever Lana takes us and that seems to be the majority, which is amazing. I get the qualms about comparing an album she wrote when she was 25 compared to an album she wrote at 35, but there is naturally going to be a shift there. It would be weird if there wasn’t.

I really, really like how when she says “hot coffee, I’m better...” it almost sounds like she’s saying “hot coffee, I’m bitter.” Coffee on its own is often thought of as having a bitter taste, and given the lines about her “father’s wife” and the second verse and chorus in particular, I wonder if that was intentional — to have it sound like both “better” and “bitter.” It would definitely fit thematically because there is a hint of bitterness in the song, but then she affirms to her lover that she won’t “burn like the others” which links back to the line actually being “I’m better with you.” Ugh!! she’s brilliant

I happily surrender

This album and Behind the Iron Gates being released close to each other is going to be such a moment. I fear the earth to be scorched when she drops these 2 projects. The heat and fire of artistry will be too much to handle

OK a couple thoughts about the release of the album - 1. The use of the term “buzz singles” in the press release is probably the same thing as NFR. I remember when MAC, VB, and Hope were referred to as “buzz singles” and it sent everyone into a frenzy about whether or not they’d be on the album, and they of course ended up on the record so I think these 3 tracks are going to be on the album and the term “buzz single” is probably used very loosely. 2. A few days ago, one of the ATRL insiders (I think @/issgoulding) said that the album is out in less than 2 months ( @Nikogo posted it pages ago <3). People knew two weeks ago that the singles would come out this week so I imagine that they would also know when the album was coming, especially since they have the songs. I really think and hope July 4th will happen, or at least the album will be released this summer.