Anthem

No matter how much I drill it into my head that she sings "You think you're Hunter S..." in Is This Happiness, I always hear "You think you're Lana Rey" (its the pause-ish before she finishes the S sound).

This thread should be interesting now that UV is out! Young and Beautiful - don't get me wrong, I love this song, but sticking to the definition of overrated versus just naming a song I don't like, I'd say its overrated. The bridge is awful imo and throws off the entire thing but girls just eat it up. Ride (and especially the monologue from the video) - While beautiful, the way the fans recieved it was annoying. Every single "I'm misunderstood"/"my life is so fucked up"/blahblah whiny teen thinks they relate and post the lyrics and parts of the monolgue all over the place. I mean, yeah maybe they can relate to some parts but I just find whining about how bad your life sucks to be annoying as well as the "omg this song is my LIFE" posts. Florida Kilos - yeah its cute and a nice upbeat song for UV but its just too weird for me. It sounds like a song played at some dumb high school spring break party. Dark Paradise - any praise for Dark Paradise is too much and yes fans outside of LB post "everytime I close my eyes its like a dark paradise" all over the place Sad Girl - its boring and repetitive. I don't skip it when it comes on but its not thrilling, I don't see how it could be anyone's favorite off the album but thats just me. I'm so glad to see a certain favorite unreleased song of mine hasn't been mentioned (though I'm sure it'll come up now that this has been resurrected). And how in the world can anyone not like the AKA version of Yayo? Have you heard that bridge??

I was pretty convinced after hearing the Bubblegum Bitch/National Anthem and Primadonna/Burning Desire mash ups that they should collab. I know it seems so crazy and they seem so different but I think if they played on each other's strengths they could make something absolutely amazing. Marina is so strong and bold and Lana makes everything she touches seem ethereal. It would just work, I know.

Edit: I got my problem figured out - yay! I got my UV box set and its too beautiful. I have the picture vinyls on my shelf to display their beauty and CDs (UV, Paradise, and BTD) are in a wooden case next to them. I have like a mini Lana shrine going on. No shame though. I need to figure out something to do with the prints. I'm also looking for a BTD box set if anyone is selling.

I think she'll keep the palm trees and maybe add some other West Coast inspired things to the stage. I also think she'll keep coming down to the front row because she likes it and its one of the things that kind of makes her stand out from others. Same for after the show but I think whether she stays after depends on the crowds for each show and how they behave. The fans will be just as bad in my opinion. Its going to take a long time for the crazy teen girls to disappear from her shows. My biggest concern is that she will start playing at huge venues but I'm not sure if she will do that or not. I think her personality lends her to play at smaller venues even if she is essentially one of the most popular artists in music right now. But I don't know how much say she has in that. I like the idea of her playing several nights in a city, maybe one of the nights will be 18/21+ and the others for all people - seems like a nice compromise. And yes, I think her shows are going to sell out like crazy for a long time in the future (as they rightly should). I want an awesome tour shirt for her merch. I bought the black/gold one when she came to the US and its my favorite shirt I own. I would also love a shotglass with a picture from the UV shoot as well as a nice poster that isn't one of the images from the box set or UO vinyl since I have those already.

I dreamed I was at a concert of hers, except it was like inside a cave. There was a huge crowd of people, then a dirt wall that was like 30 foot high. A few people sat up on the wall in between stalagmites and she was up there too, but there was water separating her from everyone else (no, I don't do drugs. ). I sat up there with my boyfriend, then a small bit of land appeared between the crowd atop the wall and her and people could come up one at a time and get her to sign something. I wanted to go but there were too many people, and she started to withdraw from everyone, but then she made eye contact, hurriedly motioned her hands for me to come to her, so I went. We talked very briefly and she said something but I forgot that part. But I remember being happy. I think it had something to do with my singing or collaborating or something. Yeah I know it sounds really crazy, especially the stage. I think it had something to do with thinking about her concert at Red Rocks. I usually dream about weird, not-so-nice things, so this dream was actually pleasant.

What if she called it that because we came up with it and she just kinda went with it after seeing it leaked? okay *probably* not but its fun to dream

Totally agree on the BB and Gramma parts! And the Yayo part but the entire bridge - its one of my favorite lines of her music period. I'd also say the intro to National Anthem with the firework sounds. All of Methamphetamines but especially the last verse that starts with "what's happening?". I like how she sings "farewell" in that song. The final verse of Pawn Shop Blues when she repeats the first one and you realize what the song is saying - it was a "wow she is on a level far above what I thought" moment when I really listened to it. The "oohs" in the background of the chorus of Smarty. "I'm your favorite girl" from Fucked My Way Up. I imagine her saying it with a sassy smile and a wink. All of AFFA. All of it. I should stop now before I end up saying all of the parts of all of her songs.

Well I can't help but notice when she starts doing the lala/dedah/whatever after the second chorus she clearly says "gaga". Makes me wonder if she is poking fun at Gaga or if its just noise. I don't know anything about their supposed connection so I can't say one way or another but maybe someone who does/cares would.

I love you forever, I really love you forever for posting the rose sweater because I love it EDIT: It just occurred to me that she is wearing it in my profile picture as well. Yep, I should give up now and just buy this thing already.

I mean, I generally like UV way more than BTD, but some of the lyrics, especially the choruses, get so tedious. This is from looking at UV on its own. Born to Die certainly has its moments (Summertime Sadness, there's another big one but I can't think of it) and Paradise has even more (Body Electric, Burning Desire, Ride, bits of others). Not all the songs are like this (Brooklyn Baby, West Coast, Flipside - some of the best songs she has officially released among a few others) and the versus typically make up for the choruses but it gets tiresome when you think of how repetitive some of the songs can be. Some of them could have been even more amazing if their choruses did more than repeat the title endlessly and its kind of sad to see the missed potential. Born to Die has some terrible lyrics, worse than the worst ones on UV, but it had some awesome lyrics too. Born to Die, Video Games, Blue Jeans.. just as mature and good as anything on UV. Its just songs like Dark Paradise and Diet Mountain Dew that bring the album down, along with the lack of a central "feel" and "atmosphere" like what UV has.

1. How did you discover Lana? When and What Era? Well, to a small number of my friends, Lana is actually a nickname (though pronounced differently) of mine, its only a few letters from my actual name. One of my friends who is big into indie/newer music messaged me on Facebook and said something about a singer who "stole" my name. I looked Lana up and found the Born to Die video. I watched it/listened in bits and pieces because I was busy on the Internet and just didn't feel like giving it my whole attention. I kept seeing bits of it though and it really interested me, and several broken plays later I finally sat down and watched the whole thing through. It was February 19th, 2012 (don't judge, I like dates and knowing little things like this D:). She has been my favorite singer probably since the day I first listened to her. 2. First song(s)? Born to Die, then Blue Jeans, then Video Games. That was my power trio for a while. 3.what did you think? I thought it was really weird but her voice was so hypnotic. It wasn't until I got to the Blue Jeans video (the original one at the time) that I even realized that Lana was both of the girls in the Born to Die video. She looked so strange in that video when that's the first time you've ever seen her (and you are only half paying attention). But she was so beautiful in the Blue Jeans video. Video Games was perfect too. 4. Your favourite song(s)? I have too many to list! And I already did this on another thread. 5. Least favourite song(s)? From her released stuff - American, Lolita, Dark Paradise 6. What song(s) "grew" on you? All of the Paradise album except Ride (oddly my least favorite on that album now minus American), some of the others. Her songs kind of grow and fade on me with time, its a cycle. 7. Whats your favourite Lana era as of now? (May jailer, Lizzy Grant, Lana Del Rey) Ooh its hard to say. I'd say maybe Lizzy Grant and the current Ultraviolence era. 8. Favourite Album(s)? LDR aka LG, Ultraviolence, Paradise 9. Least favourite(s) ? I'd say Sirens. 10. Favourite song preformed live? This version of Born to Die Her recent live performance of Old Money All of her performance in Atlanta this past May because I finally got to see her live 11. First song/Album purchased/Downloaded? Well I had all of her songs I could get a hold of for a year illegally, I admit. I finally bought Born to Die in really late 2012, then Paradise shortly after. Only because I wanted to hang them on my dorm wall. Now I've bought like every version of every album there is to buy so I feel better about that first year haha. 12. Favourite song quote/lyric? First of all, my signature, even though I cannot seem to find where she has actually said this. I love it so much I've considered getting it as my first tattoo, but its a little problematic when you aren't 100% sure she even said it lol. Lyrics "Hello heaven, you are a tunnel lined with yellow lights on a dark night" "Baby you'll never grow old in my eyes, with your golden grill true love never dies, we're forever young in paradise" All of AFFA because I love the descriptions of nature "Used to talk about where we'd be and where we'd go, now we know, baby now we know" "Didn't anyone ever tell you its okay to shine?" "Hot summer nights, mid July, when you and I were forever wild", "You were sorta punk rock, I grew up on hip-hop, but you fit me better than my favorite sweater" and "You open up a beer, say get over here and play a video game" because they remind me so much of my boyfriend. We met/fell in love in the summer (and Gatsby was the first movie we saw together actually), and for the second two we sometimes drink alcohol, play games, and listen to punk rock at night haha. Its like prophecy because I loved Lana way before I met him, so it kind of brings me to my next favorite line... "Life imitates art" Gosh her and her music have been such a journey, thinking back on it.

I admit that I'm a snob about music quality, so likely my first listen to this song I turned it off immediately and never thought twice about it. But your comment sparked my interest and I'll be danged if this song isn't one of my favorites now too. You are so right, it is so perfect in every way. I wish there was a nicer quality of it but its no less amazing. And now I've gotten motivated to back through all her stuff I never gave a chance to and give it another listen. As a side thought "Baby you know mama never had much money, but I plan on using this face to pay honey" basically sums up Lana in two lines imo

I JUST finally unboxed my box set from her. Everything in it is so beautiful! My UO vinyl is supposed to be delivered tomorrow too. It makes me a little sad that I've bought UV 4 times over now but everything is so pretty and now I have things to take to her concerts and try and get signed so yay. I just need a record player now.

I alternate between listening to my own favorites from the album and listening to the whole thing, all bonus tracks included, all in order and at the same time. I have a box set coming to me, so I'll have the vinyl eventually, but I don't have a record player (yet) so for now I listen to it on my phone/iTunes on my laptop.

Born to Die Born to Die Summertime Sadness National Anthem Video Games Paradise Bel Air Body Electric Cola Ultraviolence West Coast Brooklyn Baby Flipside Lana Del Ray A.K.A. Lizzy Grant Gramma Yayo Pawn Shop Blues Unreleased Angels Forever Driving in Cars With Boys Serial Killer On Our Way Other Young and Beautiful I guess. Its too hard to pick.

Ooh thanks for this! The song is starting to make a lot more sense to me now. I never really liked Cola because I grew up extremely conservative and thought some of the things in the song were repulsive. I looked at it with a very narrow mind and never really invested myself into the song at all. I'm really starting to appreciate it now though and some of the other songs on Paradise a lot more now that I've put some more thought into them and stopped taking her so literally. She really is brilliant.

I have a confession that I thought she was talking about STDs when I first heard "You got nothing / I got tested". Awkward/TMI.

Hm so she is flaunting her diamonds to homeless people? Just a thought. Seems like a strange thing but class warfare and that kind of materialism kind of (unfortunately) fits right in with the rest of the American imagery she throws in to the verses. I've always wondered what she was trying to "say" in that particular line.

I'd say Meg's song from Hercules or Poor Unfortunate Souls from The Little Mermaid. Some others that aren't Disney but still kid movies would be Tears to Shed from Corpse Bride (on a similar note, Sally's Song from Nightmare Before Christmas too) and Once Upon a December from Anastasia. They'd all have a darker twist to them. I think Once Upon a Dream was an amazing choice for her though. All of these are good suggestions but if she hadn't already done OUD, it would be a top choice in my opinion.

So I have the Paradise vinyl by itself and I was wondering if there were any major differences in the cover between it and the one that says Born to Die : The Paradise Edition. I was looking around online and a store that I found them at had a BTD:P cover that was tinted slightly darker and more orange than the original Paradise one. I've googled images of actual copies that people are holding, and they appear to be the same color, but none of the pictures were in the exact same lighting, etc. I was wondering if any of you had both and could clear this up for me. Same for the CDs. Thank you!

I voted that I liked them equally. There is nothing I can say about UV that hasn't been said already. I can listen to it all the way through, in fact it took many, many listens before I was comfortable listening to the non-single songs without hearing the whole thing. There isn't a song on there that I just can't to listen to, unlike BTD (and Paradise because I think it is significant enough to be in this discussion as well). But with that said, some of the songs on BTD are just magical. Born to Die (song), Video Games, Blue Jeans, National Anthem, Summertime Sadness.. those songs are just legendary on their own and all have beautiful videos (I more prefer Lana's original BJ video though). I just don't feel like there are any songs on UV that stand out so much (maybe Brooklyn Baby/West Coast/Old Money). I'm a fan of the string instruments in BTD too, but the guitars in UV were nice because I like those as well. But since this question is about which album is better, I'd say UV. But the strength of the songs on BTD keep my answer to liking them both the same. One thing I seem to disagree with the masses on is that I don't feel like UV is closer to her Lizzy Grant work, minus Florida Kilos maybe. UV sounds like she is growing more into the character (or whatever) of Lana Del Rey. She is slowing down and maturing up and neither of those words come to mind when I think of Lizzy Grant. Another thing that I don't agree with most people on is that UV is darker than BTD. I don't know why, but I feel like Born to Die is darker, I always imagine her voice floating coming to me from the dark. I could be just weird though.

I want to see Brooklyn Baby, the idea for Black Beauty she said she had, Fucked My Way Up to the Top, and of course, Ultraviolence (which is not an option in the poll?). I think its safe to say that we are getting a PWYC video since she gave us that snippet. I wouldn't be sad for a Cruel World video either.

First off all, this song is most definitely connected to Young and Beautiful. If I recall correctly, Young and Beautiful was not wrote for Gatsby, another song was but they wanted Young and Beautiful instead, and I believe this was that song. She loves imagery in her music, so the references to the hydrangeas and cars are likely to paint a picture for the listener. They are relics of an old time, much the same ways that "old money" represents an older generation. She talks about a love long lost, and her own identity which she can't get back - she'll never be "The Queen of New York City" in the same way that she was with the man a long time ago, she has moved on and evolved in a way that she can't reverse. I think she believes that the end of their love can't be reversed either, because even though she sings "if you call I'll run" and "if you change your mind I'll come", I always got the feeling in her tone that she knows its in vain because nothing will ever change, he will never come back, just like the glory days of "old money" are long gone. Talking about her parents shows an example of a love that is strong and everlasting - the love she wants but will never get. That is why she feels alone, because she will never have what they do with each other with the man she is fixed on. The repetition of the first verse as the final verse shows the cyclical nature of life and love. Kids grow up to be adults, much like Lana and her lover. Love grows, but it fades away with time. The kids don't realize how much their relationships will mean to them until they are older, like her. They are naive but in a beautiful, innocent, free kind of way. This is what she means by the "power of youth". This youthful ignorance is also something that, once lost, cannot be gotten back.

Least favorite to most. Guns and Roses The Other Woman Florida Kilos I usually skip these. I think Florida Kilos is fun - I can see why you guys love it, but it just doesn't do it for me. I like TOW thematically, but its boring to listen to. :/ Sad Girl Cruel World Money Power Glory Is This Happiness Pretty When You Cry These are alright, they just don't catch my attention. I love the rawness in PWYC (she said it was done in one session) and the lyrics to ITH are beautiful, but they don't stand out that much to me. Sometimes I do get MPG in my head though, haha. Shades of Cool Black Beauty Old Money These shine above some of the others. I love the new BB production, although I might have liked it a whole lot more if it hadn't been leaked. I was already kind of over the song when UV came out though I want a video for it and it is still very beautiful. Ultraviolence Fucked My Way Up To The Top Flipside I love these! I love their productions so much even though they vary from one another. I love the guitar in Flipside and FMWUTT is so much fun to scandalously sing in the car to myself. I want to see her perform that live. Brooklyn Baby West Coast I couldn't really choose between these two as being my favorite. I love love love the transitions in WC and the instrumentals in general, and although its more pop-y I like the lyrics too. Brooklyn Baby is just amazing, especially playing loud with my windows down and that reverb.