Unpopular Lana Opinions

[Guest Chloe]

when she swears for no reason it's like she's trying to show off sometimes

[The Lucky Ones 23]

First time I saw her I thought she is a lesbian. And she'd make a good one, too.

[Guest Chloe]

I hate her long nails.. they kind of scare me. When I met her and she was holding my hand for ages, it really hurt:')

[ednafrau 831]

A lot of people do. For women, it often manifests as something called Intense World Syndrome. Usually IWS makes people want to avoid intense situations (because they are overwhelmed sooner/more easily), but sometimes it expresses itself in thrill-seeking behavior. Or so I've read. I don't think this discussion is mean at all; I think it's exciting that our society is becoming more open about these things, and learning more about what diverse issues different people cope with every day.

 

 

Her "un-feminist" lyrics don't strike me as superficial, but rather complex. Sometimes our culture oversells Power Feminism (IMO, like women aren't allowed to have human needs/weaknesses/failings because at this point in history we have to "represent"), and I see Lana's strong perspective of apparent submissiveness as partly in reaction to that -- a stand for individuality. Yet, I also see her sometimes-submissive demeanor as apparent, an act. Not only because it's fun to role-play, but also to some degree because one effective way to subvert a patriarchal mindset is to infiltrate it and bring about change from within. (I may be projecting this, though, based on my own life story. It resonates so much with me.) For example, I see the video for PMIAM, more than the song, as participating in sexual "exploitation" to regain a sense of personal agency, while at the same time protesting it by interspersing clips of a man being taken away in handcuffs. And again, I may be projecting, but I imagine that she could be doing a similar thing in OTTR, to an extent, though perhaps with more participation and less apparent protest.

 

So anyway, that's what I mean when I say I think Lana subverts both the patriarchy and Power Feminism

 

 

 

Hard living (drugs, thrill-seeking, possible cosmetic surgery) can definitely take a toll. But things like heavy makeup and lack of sleep will temporarily age a person as well. Check out recent airport candids; I think she looks more fresh-faced in them. Also, look at these photos from the Tartan Clef Awards last year -- she's the same Lizzy she always was!

 

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THIS. I am both an egalitarian and a feminist. (I even occasionally call myself a "masculinist," to what I hope is a healthy and beneficial extent, though I don't tend to focus on it as much.) My life has taken me from a casual feminism through patriarchalism into a fierce egalitarianism that seeks to promote and protect women and girls, men and boys, and those who don't quite feel they fit into those categories. But I am uncomfortable with both Power Feminism and Victim Feminism, and I'm seeking a happy medium, though I don't quite know what to call it yet. (I'm toying with "Shalom Feminism." Might be too obscure.) I believe it is the responsibility of each one of us to see, support, and promote the dignity in every human being, whether or not they make it easy for us.

 

The GQ cover and the boob-groping pic are SO NOT egalitarian, it's ridiculous. Yet it is a human perspective. :shrug: I don't like it.

 

 

THIS too. I love her so much. Love you guys too. <img src='http://lanaboards.co...default/wub.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

 

love u too, PrettyBaby! i SO agree with everything you said!!!! i am a total egalitarian as well! i hold doors for guys, too, for example...like, why can't everyone be kind to each other, in the littlest details and in the more important issues? how is gender still so defining in the twentyfirst century? how has technology evolved so, and socially we are retograding, in some ways? but this is off topic, so i'll stop here.

you know, i remember -because i am existentially nostalgic- that my last post on LDRFM i actually defended her lyrics, because i DO think that we human beings are multidimensional, complex, sometimes contradictory, possessing both yin and yang, anima and animus, and i think lana expresses that dual nature: while being deep and aware, she expresses that at times consciously but others unconsciously, or in spite of ourselves, we are imbued by cultural values that are not always the highest, and maybe we find ourselves acting according to them, although in our heart we know they (appearance, the material things, the aspirational consumerism, etc. )are not essential. i think my two morning espressos have made me ramble on a bit and i don't know if this makes sense to anyone, but i think that lana's lyrics manifest her philosophical nature and her keen observation of the world around her in its most elevated, such as love and spirituality and, at the same time, the possibility of also wanting, being swept away by and enjoying the more mundane pleasures (the good and the dangerous)...that voracity of wanting to fully experience LIFE, which i think she made clear(er) in the GQ interview. regardng the photos that accompany the article, i don't know, maybe - in her retro-glamourous incarnation of "lana del rey" and admiration of icons like marilyn monroe - maybe she thought to also experience the nude posing and "sexy" shots - like to do it once, to have that experience, too? or maybe it's an ego thing, the satisfaction (?) of being the object of male desire taking over? was it like fiona apple, in the early stages of her career, thinking, with the "spin" photoshoot and the "criminal" video, i'll be in control of the "exploiting"myself? (though the boob grab is hard to justify)...who knows? was it responsible, or the right move? what's certain is that lana is a mysterious and, with all her flaws as well as her more endearing traits of sweetness and sincerity, an endlessly fascinating girl

[evilentity 13,303]

 

I'm not sure what Lana's writing-process is like -- she's spoken about it a few times, but has never gone into great detail -- but her lyrics make me think that she thinks of "pretty" lines/phrases/couplets first and foremost, and then strings them together. Something along the lines of, "Oh, I like the lines "soul as sweet as blood-red jam" and "every inch of my tar-black soul", how can I incorporate these into a song?" I think many songwriters use a similar technique, but it just seems like the entirety of most of her songs were written like this. (Again, I admit that I don't know her writing-process and this very well may not be the case). When I listen to a song like Video Games, I don't have the same thought. It strikes me as a very organic song to write, very natural and just... sincere.

 

Sure, the lyrics are simple, but I like the simplicity. You don't need to be trying to cram in every pretty phrase/60s reference/hip-hop slang into every damn line you write! I'd like to state that I don't inherently hate 60s references/Americana... but I do think that Lana has approached this theme before with much more positive/beautiful results. LDRakaLG is a great example of how the Americana themes and "pretty lyrics" can marry a much simpler songwriting style and have the outcome be something incredibly beautiful, more beautiful than Born to Die. This is the Lana I fell in love with, and will probably always be in love with.

 

Yeah, stringing together snapshots of Americana has always been her schtick, but there's something far more original and less cliched about the images she evokes in, say, "Queen of the Gas Station" compared to almost anything more recent.

 

To be honest, I think Lana looks old, much older than her age.

That's because she IS older than her age.

[Guest Chloe]

 

 

 

Yeah, stringing together snapshots of Americana has always been her schtick, but there's something far more original and less cliched about the images she evokes in, say, "Queen of the Gas Station" compared to almost anything more recent.

 

 

That's because she IS older than her age.

 

I don't even know anymore how old she is..

 

When I met her she could have passed for 35, not going to lie. She still looked beautiful, but in a kind of mumsy way, not sexy at all.

[ednafrau 831]

I don't even know anymore how old she is..

 

When I met her she could have passed for 35, not going to lie. She still looked beautiful, but in a kind of mumsy way, not sexy at all.

 

evilentity, you reminded me of this interview: http://www.complex.c...h-and-new-album

i'd read it back in october and never again went back to it, but today i did and read this comment, which backs up the born in 1985 argument:

 

 

emma December 29th, 2011 at 11:48 PM

 

I was at the same Boarding School with her in Ct (she was two grade ahead of me). She was a really sweet and beautiful girl. She had nice lips, but they wee not this large. Her father is a millionare and she is about 27yrs old not 25

[ednafrau 831]

i want the return of smiling lana, with that sparkle in her eyes!

[Mileena 2,691]

No matter how old she is, I still think she's incredibly sexy. My mum's 37 and no way does Lana look a couple years younger than her. No way at all. I'd just say she looks her age, but that's my opinion.

[PrettyBaby 2,213]

i want the return of smiling lana, with that sparkle in her eyes!

 

I think that'll happen when she can finally take a break!

[ednafrau 831]

No matter how old she is, I still think she's incredibly sexy. My mum's 37 and no way does Lana look a couple years younger than her. No way at all. I'd just say she looks her age, but that's my opinion.

 

of course! older can definitely be sexy - even sexier, perhaps! discussing her age is dissociated, at least for me, of any > or < assessment. and anyhow, if she is older, it's just a year, so it's not an important difference

[ednafrau 831]

I think that'll happen when she can finally take a break!

 

i agree! and maybe if she's able to hole up in a studio somewhere, writing the score for that film, going out undercover and undetected (difficult but not impossible - though she would have to move out of the chateau marmont, the least low-profile place in, like, the planet)...that would definitely restore her energy and give her back her natural glow

[Mileena 2,691]

of course! older can definitely be sexy - even sexier, perhaps! discussing her age is dissociated, at least for me, of any > or < assessment. and anyhow, if she is older, it's just a year, so it's not an important difference

 

For sure! I love men that look a little older (not like 70 though lol) and women can certainly look better older too. And yeah exactly, but I'm still sticking with 26 lol.

[ednafrau 831]

For sure! I love men that look a little older (not like 70 though lol) and women can certainly look better older too. And yeah exactly, but I'm still sticking with 26 lol.

 

age is so relative, really - it all depends on the person. alice glass, for example, is 24 but looks younger imho (i've seen her live, up close, and i have to add, she is gorgeous!). so, for moi, though i adhere to the 27 theory (lol), it doesn't matter to me at all!

[Guest MissDaytona]

She's so gorgeous but I think it's funny that she has ugly fingers and feet. Like they are both HUGE lmao

 

also that she draws that little beauty mark on. I guess everyone has something

[Mileena 2,691]

age is so relative, really - it all depends on the person. alice glass, for example, is 24 but looks younger imho (i've seen her live, up close, and i have to add, she is gorgeous!). so, for moi, though i adhere to the 27 theory (lol), it doesn't matter to me at all!

 

Lucky bitch, but then again I shall be seeing Crystal Castles on the 24th November! I've always thought Alice looks younger too. And tbh, I don't care about a musician's age or looks - as long as I enjoy their music.

[ednafrau 831]

Lucky bitch, but then again I shall be seeing Crystal Castles on the 24th November! I've always thought Alice looks younger too. And tbh, I don't care about a musician's age or looks - as long as I enjoy their music.

 

AMEN to that! looks should be completely secondary when it comes to enjoying music.

 

speaking of enjoying, enjoy CC live - lucky you, you'll be amongst the first to listen to their new album performed live

[Mileena 2,691]

AMEN to that! looks should be completely secondary when it comes to enjoying music.

 

speaking of enjoying, enjoy CC live - lucky you, you'll be amongst the first to listen to their new album performed live

 

Thanks! It's kind of a fluke though, we're gonna buy the tickets on Friday - I don't think they'll sell out. But if they do, my mum will take me to Leeds lol! SO EXCITED OMG.

 

But yes, a musician's looks shouldn't matter in the long run, hence why I don't give a flying fajita about Lana's lips.

[Guest Chloe]

No matter how old she is, I still think she's incredibly sexy. My mum's 37 and no way does Lana look a couple years younger than her. No way at all. I'd just say she looks her age, but that's my opinion.

 

Close up in real she looks different to how I'd imagined her

[ednafrau 831]

Thanks! It's kind of a fluke though, we're gonna buy the tickets on Friday - I don't think they'll sell out. But if they do, my mum will take me to Leeds lol! SO EXCITED OMG.

 

But yes, a musician's looks shouldn't matter in the long run, hence why I don't give a flying fajita about Lana's lips.

 

LMAO at the flying fajita!

now, precisely because i agree with you that a musician's looks shouldn't really matter - especially when you've got the beautiful voice and the songwriting talent lizzy grant has - is that it kind of irks me that she felt the need to alter her looks to be successful - which, since it worked, tells you a lot about how music is consumed in this era. btw, i am fully aware that she created lana del rey as an artistic persona/project, i mean that i think it's unfair that she didn't recieve recognition just being her wonderful, unique, non-gimmicky self - although maybe it's just because the world wasn't ready for her. timing is everything in life :/