I've been asked to talk about this experience by several people, and I'm deliriously tired from having just gotten home, but I'll try, although other people on the forum actually have, like, photographic evidence.
I made it into the first showing, and I was one of the last people. She was playing "Ride", which seemed like standard procedure for it's premiere, so I wasn't paying much attention. And then a new song starts and I hear the words "crystal meth", so I'm flailing and demanding how this can be happening. It was "American", and it's my understanding that before I arrived they played a lot more of the songs. I did record it, but you can clearly hear me talking at parts where I thought I was being quiet...I'll upload it anyway, if it won't get snatched off YouTube. Plus, I don't want to be ridiculed by desperate YouTube stans Distinct lyric: "Drive fast, I can almost taste it now."
So after "American", they introduced Lana Del Rey. She got onstage and laughed, you know the laugh. She said how grateful she was that she had all these fans who'd show up to an event that wasn't even a concert, and basically alluded to how the fans make it so much better in light of the backlash she's experienced. We all had a moment.
She then introduced the video with Anthony Mandler. She started making her way to the very back--where she sat watching it--but in the process was swarmed. Not even gonna lie, I made my way right into that cluster. She's so much more delicate than I ever imagined. Just how tiny her body is and how doll-like her face is. Mostly I kinda went "BLAGH LANA" and side-hugged her and caressed her hair. She's beyond stunning in person, even in jeans. Especially in jeans.
I'll tell you now so you don't get excited that all my attempts to get some personal Lana on Chance time were pretty much dashed--I asked for a signature twice and she only said that she couldn't, which was understandable because she was walking but DAMN. I'm such a dork, I just kinda reached out and touched her arm as she was walking by and she looked back at me. That's not the extent of our conversing, but I don't have any signatures or pictures.
The video. THE VIDEO. It's nearly indescribable, but I'll try. The whole time she's with a lot of skeezy men--like, three or four on different occasions. All older, rugged, ugly, and bikers. I really need you guys to see it because it's so good. Of course I have some bias, having seen it projected in a theater, but cinematically I think it's her best. NO INSTAGRAM FILTERS ON THIS ONE, THANK GOD. In short, she's partying in the desert with some bikers, straddling several dudes in the sand and pointing guns at them, indeed swinging on this mysterious tire swing, hanging out at a gas station, playing pinball with a biker sort of spooning her, getting into a car like a prostitute. It's Americana, it's trash, it's beautiful. It's Lana. What can I say? It's exquisite. She's on all fours for the ending monologue--by memory, I really loved that part, and also one part in the desert where she's wearing an Indian headdress. Bits of the video keep rushing back to me. The part where she is holding the flag, like in the promo photo, is so beautiful. I need to watch it again. There's so much to love about this video, I wish I could eloquently describe it all. It'll be all of ours to enjoy soon enough, but if you can--get that shit HD projected somewhere I cried. I cried my fucking eyes out.
Afterwards came the Q&A. I'll try to pick out the meaningful stuff. Someone asked what inspired the song "Ride", and she said that she was a lot more excited at the beginning of her career than she she was in the middle or even now--a clear reference to her backlash and trying to deal with fame, if you ask me. She said that's what she loved and preferred in her downtime--"riding motorcycles...and men :haha: "
She's touring early next year, although she expressed her hatred for the idea and said she'd rather take us all to hang out on the boardwalk on Sunday. GODDAMN SHE IS SO CUTE.
I can finally answer the question "what would you say if you met Lana?" Anthony Mandler chose me, seeing my desperation clear across the room, and I said, "Can you talk about why you re-recorded 'Yayo'...and some other songs from the album?" There was a general "ooh" of agreement, I noticed, but NO--I didn't ask about Jimmy Gnecco. NO--I didn't ask about unreleased material. Still, it wasn't THE shittiest question, right? Anyway, she said she liked the song because she considers it something of a jazz standard and it can go all in one take, but she didn't like how it turned out originally. So, yeah, stans...we're all WRONG in loving that song :creepy: And then I thanked her very much and sat down, although I was hoping she'd talk about an emotional connection to the song and give me some discreet Lanalysis material, not gonna lie. Please be happy with me, forum.
Someone asked if she had any plans for "Never Let Me Go" and she said, "It'll probably live on YouTube, like all the other leaked material!"
Someone asked if she is dating anyone, and she said yes.
She said she was misinterpreted when asked about quitting music and the Vogue Australia interview. She said she meant doing music for films, not acting in them. When pressed, she said that she thought the Paradise Edition was much better than Born to Die and was basically really happy with it. I'm hoping that means she's optimistic, not that she's said what she had to say.
Someone asked if she had any advice for budding singers, and she basically said that your expectations will never live up to your imagination. I thought that was kinda sad.
She said she is best at being a passenger on a motorcycle
After that, I went and waited in an alleyway to meet her. Other folks saw the video multiple times (damn I wish, I could've heard some more Paradise tracks) and spent their time wisely. Me, I waited and waited for her for hours. I met some pretty cool people, but at the end of the day her management wouldn't allow her to do a meet-and-greet, according to the staff of the theater. (CURSE YOU, BEN MAWSON!) That said, I waited until the very end. Me, my driver, and our three new friends were the last five people waiting in front of the theater in case she came back, not exaggerating. But she didn't. I'm pretty bummed about that, but not as much as I anticipated...like, I touched her, and she recognized my stan worship for "Yayo", and I saw the most amazing video ever on a giant screen, and I have the monologue printed out all pretty and I'll for sure frame it.
It was a great night. I can't wait for you guys to see the video. I don't think anyone will be disappointed. I truly don't.
