ilovetati 15,299 Posted August 30, 2015 Using just released songs, here are my favorites: Kill Kill: "Love you, I do; stay here, I won't The stars fade from your eyesI'm in love with a dying manI'm in love with a dying manI'm in love, lying in the sand" OSCYS: "The headlights from passing cars They illuminate my face then leave me the darkThe voice of Nirvana says, "Come as you are"And I willThe night time is almost ours" Raise Me Up: "It's the voodoo, Mississippi south Sixty-nine million starsBirds are flying out of my mouthSpirits creeping in my yardHold my head, it's tilting backSomething dancing me aroundPutting crystals on my neckLifting my feet off the ground, the ground" PSB: "In the name of higher consciousness I let the best man I knew go'Cause it's nice to love and be lovedBut it's better to know all you can knowI said it's nice to love and be lovedBut I'd rather know what God knows" The entirety of BTD (song) Much of OTTR from a film-noir perspective "Singing in the old bars Swinging with the old starsLiving for the fameKissing in the blue darkPlaying pool and wild dartsVideo gamesHe holds me in his big armsDrunk and I am seeing starsThis is all I think ofWatching all our friends fallIn and out of Old Paul'sThis is my idea of funPlaying video games" I personally think the Diet Mt Dew verses are really great. The chorus...not so much. National Anthem: "It's a love story for the new age For the sixth pageWe're on a quick, sick rampageWining and dining, drinking and drivingExcessive buying overdose and dyingOn our drugs and our love and our dreams and our rage" I love Carmen's lyrics. TIWMUG is really great lyrical story-telling Without You: "But burned into my brain are these stolen images Stolen images, baby stolen imagesCan you picture it? Babe, that life we could've lived?" Ride (much of it...but especially): "I hear the birds on the summer breeze, I drive fast, I am alone at midnight.Been tryin' hard not to get into trouble,But I, I've got a war in my mind." Bel Air: "Don't be afraid of me, don't be ashamed Walking away from my soft resurrectionIdol of roses, iconic soulI know your nameLead me to war with your brilliant directionRoses, Bel Air, take me thereI've been waiting to meet youPalm trees in the light, I can see late at nightDarling, I'm waiting to greet youCome to me baby" With UV, you have to consider the sarcastic/sardonic tone of most songs. "Jim raised me up He hurt me but it felt like true loveJim taught me thatLoving him was never enough" "We could go back to New York Loving you was really hardWe could go back to WoodstockWhere they don't know who we are" SOC: "But I can't fix him, can't make him better and I can't do nothing about his strange weather. But you are unfixable I can't break through your world" Brooklyn Baby: "They say I'm too young to love you They say I'm too dumb to seeThey judge me like a picture bookBy the colors, like they forgot to readI think we're like fire and waterI think we're like the wind and seaYou're burning up, I'm cooling downYou're up, I'm downYou're blind, I seeBut I'm free" All of West Coast...I love the allusion to her sobriety and California's obsession with celebrity. "Down on the West Coast, they got a sayin' If you're not drinking, then you're not playingBut you've got the music, you've got the music in you, don't you?Down on the West Coast, I get this feelingLike it all could happen, that's why I'm leavingYou for the moment, you for the moment, boy blue, yeah, youYou're falling hard, I push away, I'm feeling hot to the touchYou say you miss me and I wanna say, 'I miss you so much'But something keeps me really quiet, I'm alive, I'm a lushYour love, your love, your loveI can see my baby swinging, his Parliament's on fire and his hands are upOn the balcony and I'm singing, 'Ooh baby, ooh baby, I'm in love'I can see my sweet boy swaying, he's crazy y Cubano como yo, my loveOn the balcony and I'm saying, 'Move baby, move baby, I'm in love'"" MPG: "The sun also rises on those who fail the call My life, it comprises of losses and wins and fails and falls" Old Money: "The power of youth is on my mind Sunsets, small town, I'm out of timeWill you still love me when I shineFrom words but not from beauty?My father's love was always strongMy mother's glamour lives on and onYet still inside, I felt aloneFor reasons unknown to meBut if you send for me, you know I'll comeAnd if you call for me, you know I'll run" Much of Black Beauty Wait for Life: "But I can't let you in And I can't keep you outI wait for life to winBut it never comes aroundAnd I can't hear you callAnd I can't hear me shoutI wait for it to breakBut it never comes aroundDon't know meAnd I'm lonely" Parts of Honeymoon aren't great, but I love the bridge "There are violets in your eyes There are guns that blaze around youThere are roses in between my thighsAnd a fire that surrounds youIt's no wonder every man in townHad neither fought nor found youEverything you do is elusiveEven to your honey dew Our honeymoonDreaming away your life" HBTB: "We won't survive We're sinking into the sand" "Everyone can start again Not through love but through revengeThrough the fire we're born againPeace by vengeance brings the end" Terrence Loves You "I put the radio on hold you tight in my mind Isn't strange that you're not here with meBut I know the lights on in the televisionTrying to transmit can you hear meGround control to Major TomCan you hear me all night long But I lost my self when I lost you" 9 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PARADIXO 32,942 Posted August 30, 2015 why is burning desire anywhere near the bad lyrics................... "Every Saturday night I get dressed up to ride for you, baby Cruising down the street on Hollywood and Vine for you, baby I drive fast, wind in my hair, I push you to the limits 'cause I just don't care" We already heard that shit "You ask me where I been? I've been everywhere I don't wanna be no where but here (Come on, tell me boy)" This part is nice tho "Every Saturday night I seem to come alive for you, baby Santa Monica, I'm racing in the lights for you, baby" Oh my God Lana! Different places on the second verse? You clever huh? "have to touch myself to pretend you're there Your hands were on my hips, your name is on my lips Over over again, like my only prayer" This is good "I'm driving fast, flash, everyone knows it I'm trying to get to you, baby I'm feeling scared and you know it" *repeats 50 times* And then, again, she drives fast!!! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slang 1,532 Posted August 30, 2015 Surprise no love for Hollywood's Dead. Most people write just about one famous person dying before their time (Lennon, Joplin). She writes about a bunch people dying before their time as a general topic for a song. Has anybody else done that? And the saddest thing about that song is she probably left out more names than she included. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
analwinterofmylife 2,644 Posted August 30, 2015 "Every Saturday night I get dressed up to ride for you, baby Cruising down the street on Hollywood and Vine for you, baby I drive fast, wind in my hair, I push you to the limits 'cause I just don't care" We already heard that shit "You ask me where I been? I've been everywhere I don't wanna be no where but here (Come on, tell me boy)" This part is nice tho "Every Saturday night I seem to come alive for you, baby Santa Monica, I'm racing in the lights for you, baby" Oh my God Lana! Different places on the second verse? You clever huh? "have to touch myself to pretend you're there Your hands were on my hips, your name is on my lips Over over again, like my only prayer" This is good "I'm driving fast, flash, everyone knows it I'm trying to get to you, baby I'm feeling scared and you know it" *repeats 50 times* And then, again, she drives fast!!! this song is electric, desperation runs through the whole thing. Im someone who LOVES california! i love that she name drops hollywood and vine. and santa monica. They really create a great vibe for the song. HOW DARE U COME FOR THE BRIDGE OF THE SONG LIKE THAT! the bridge is so amped seriously! i just love this song because it really embodies desire and a bit of danger/fear and also just the desperation that comes with it.... honestly I'm really disappointed to see someone thinks this is a lyrically bad song... 6 Quote Instagram: pxpi_gringo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naachoboy 7,993 Posted August 30, 2015 This thread is a nope, from me. This is all personal opinions lol. I do think she's a good songwriter, but she's more a great artist in general, her melodies can fix a bad lyric for me and sometimes i don't really mind them being bad or cringeworthy because the melody is good or how she's singing them 13 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
newemotion 467 Posted August 30, 2015 Burning Desire is so good though I like the idea for this thread, jokes aside. Some of her lyrics/songs are..interesting (*cough cough* Delicious...) but she's one of my favorite writers easily. Although the "actually bad" list is half composed of my favorites Born to Die needs to be on the amazing list imo. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Intriguing Penguin 867 Posted August 30, 2015 "Flipside" though is seriously one of her bests lyrical wise. It's so raw and honest. Imo, "Ride" is one of her best written choruses of all time, before it gets to the, "I just riiiiiiiiddeeee, x4" 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PARADIXO 32,942 Posted August 30, 2015 It's not that serious guys, come on 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZeroZero 2,225 Posted August 30, 2015 What about Try Tonight, A Star For Nick, Wait, and the rest of her guitar may jailer songs (forget about Birds Of A Horrible Ugly Autotuned Feather)?????? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Constantine 4,074 Posted August 30, 2015 What about Try Tonight, A Star For Nick, Wait, and the rest of her guitar may jailer songs (forget about Birds Of A Horrible Ugly Autotuned Feather)??????"How Do You Know Me So Well?" is also well-written 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KillForLove 13,361 Posted August 30, 2015 In all honesty, I think Lana is a fantastic writer in her own niche. Overall she's not a great songwriter in the way someone like Sia is, but she's very talented at writing for her own "character". The lyrics are all very specific to the picture of herself that she paints further separating Lana Del Rey from Lizzy Grant. Whether or not some of her fans will admit it, Lana Del Rey is a character (drawing from and embellishing real life emotions and experiences). I think she's a talented songwriter in that aspect. Lyrically she's very hit or miss for me. Nothing yet from this era has really done anything for me but then theres stuff like Born to Die which lyrically is a fantastic (near perfect) introduction to the concept of Lana Del Rey. 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Limelight 4,708 Posted August 30, 2015 Omg yes how could I have forgotten about May Jailer. Sirens is so perfect Bad Disease, All You Need, Try Tonight, Find My Own Way, Pride, I'm Indebted to You and pretty much the rest of the album except for Birds of A Feather And You, Mister 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jazzmin 302 Posted August 30, 2015 I don't think people realize how hard it is to write lyrics until they try it themselves. Its very difficult. Somebody actually saying it isn't? And it isn't any argument against the right to criticize lyrics that are bad in your opinion. (Sorry if it sounds like mere nitpicking but I have a strong aversion to the "try-it-yourself" phrase in this kind of context since it's often intended to keep people from expressing their constructive opinions too just because they are not 100% laudatory to certain music, book etc. Doesn't mean I support plain, ungrounded hating on Lana, regardless of whether her lyrics are mind-blowingly awesome or totally cringe-worthy. ) @@naachoboy of course the thread is subjective, personal and doesn't convey any undeniable truth but aren't people entitled to discuss things they like and things they don't? Back to the subject I won't repeat the songs already mentioned (or at least I will try not to). Lyrics which I'd use to prove Lana is a great songwriter: A Star for Nick Pin-Up Galore Butterflies, part 1 & 2 I've always liked Now my life is sweet like cinnamon / Like a fucking dream I'm living in Aviation (simple but good!): Have a big degree in philosophy But I don’t know what I wanna be Velvet Crowbar: A flame-colored paradise for you, darling But death doesn't come with a warning She's Not Me: When you think you’re over me: And your bad baby's dead and gone (Remember) I’m the ghost in your machine I’m your real life suicide blonde And it's not an excellent lyric from a conventional point of view but in Ghetto Baby I like: We're a match made in heaven If they're gonna talk, let 'em If they don't think we're good together Baby, just forget 'em When he's bad, he's bad But when he's good no one's better 'Cause we're match made in heaven And this kind of love's forever Match made in heaven is such an obvious cliché in this context, getting quite along with the worn out I-don't-care-what-they-say-about-us motiv and when he's bad, he's bad so downright tautological like some good ol' yogiism that I can't help loving this part, to be honest (However, I have less liking for When I'm hot, I'm hot in Making Out, I dunno why, maybe because it isn't followed by some, mhm, conclusion? Like, correspondingly, But when he's good no one's better.) And IMHO Lolita doesn't deserve to be written off as a badly written song. And some bad ones: Breaking My Heart HDB I'm in my party dress, he says "you're such a mess" Boarding School: Yale's not a problem, let's solve it (only Lana can solve non-existing problems) Daddy Issues is a mess, I think Betty Boop Boop Criminals Run The World IMHO the chorus of FMWUTTT isn't that bad, I mean, sure it ain't no masterpiece but I personally don't find tragic, just mediocre. The rest absolutely does belong to the worst-Lana-lyrics-ever chart, though. 0 Quote And the wind I know it’s cold Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naachoboy 7,993 Posted August 30, 2015 Somebody actually saying it isn't? And it isn't any argument against the right to criticize lyrics that are bad in your opinion. (Sorry if it sounds like mere nitpicking but I have a strong aversion to the "try-it-yourself" phrase in this kind of context since it's often intended to keep people from expressing their constructive opinions too just because they are not 100% laudatory to certain music, book etc. Doesn't mean I support plain, ungrounded hating on Lana, regardless of whether her lyrics are mind-blowingly awesome or totally cringe-worthy. ) @@naachoboy of course the thread is subjective, personal and doesn't convey any undeniable truth but aren't people entitled to discuss things they like and things they don't? Back to the subject I won't repeat the songs already mentioned (or at least I will try not to). Lyrics which I'd use to prove Lana is a great songwriter: A Star for Nick Pin-Up Galore Butterflies, part 1 & 2 I've always liked Now my life is sweet like cinnamon / Like a fucking dream I'm living in Aviation (simple but good!): Have a big degree in philosophy But I don’t know what I wanna be Velvet Crowbar: A flame-colored paradise for you, darling But death doesn't come with a warning She's Not Me: When you think you’re over me: And your bad baby's dead and gone (Remember) I’m the ghost in your machine I’m your real life suicide blonde And it's not an excellent lyric from a conventional point of view but in Ghetto Baby I like: We're a match made in heaven If they're gonna talk, let 'em If they don't think we're good together Baby, just forget 'em When he's bad, he's bad But when he's good no one's better 'Cause we're match made in heaven And this kind of love's forever Match made in heaven is such an obvious cliché in this context, getting quite along with the worn out I-don't-care-what-they-say-about-us motiv and when he's bad, he's bad so downright tautological like some good ol' yogiism that I can't help loving this part, to be honest (However, I have less liking for When I'm hot, I'm hot in Making Out, I dunno why, maybe because it isn't followed by some, mhm, conclusion? Like, correspondingly, But when he's good no one's better.) And IMHO Lolita doesn't deserve to be written off as a badly written song. And some bad ones: Breaking My Heart HDB I'm in my party dress, he says "you're such a mess" Boarding School: Yale's not a problem, let's solve it (only Lana can solve non-existing problems) Daddy Issues is a mess, I think Betty Boop Boop Criminals Run The World IMHO the chorus of FMWUTTT isn't that bad, I mean, sure it ain't no masterpiece but I personally don't find tragic, just mediocre. The rest absolutely does belong to the worst-Lana-lyrics-ever chart, though. Yeah i get it, but it was like PROOF, so i entered thinking it was going to have receipts of critics or people who know about songwriting 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
graham4anything 2,859 Posted August 30, 2015 among all of them-songs that are story songs and one can pain a picture listening to, songs that have meaning and attempting to figure out what meaning, etc. Taking a common phrase and inserting or inverting it so that it changes a word in a different verse or song and one has to catch the change as if it were a Highlights magazine Hidden Picture puzzle How something can mean something one day, then the next one thinks of a different meaning (much like say Paul Simon) Lucky ones Born to Die Pawn shop blues is incredible (and having recently to clear the house of a person close to us who died, and having to go through all the stuff, tossing some things out, frantically figuring out where to put something one doesn't want to throw out, and driving back and forth listening to this song brought tears to my eyes each time, even though specifically that is not the meaning of the song, that is the mark of a great songwriter) Brooklyn Baby Ride The Ride monologue and end American (I actually picture that song being about Barack Obama even though it isn't) I fucked my way to the top Yayo (and it doesn't matter which version of it, the songwriting stands alone) High by the beach (how it seemingly was about one thing then it obviously was not about that, but was about something else entirely) and the way she inserts a grunt, a groan, a moan 0 Quote Lana is our modern day Edith Piaf. Totally unique. a mixture of Brian WIlson Roy Orbison, Leonard Cohen, Gram Parsons, Elton & Bernie. Born to Die/Paradise is comparable to Elton's Captain Fantastic. All the records need to be listened whole. Waiting for a box set vinyl of all 400 songs not on any lp Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PARADIXO 32,942 Posted August 31, 2015 Yeah i get it, but it was like PROOF, so i entered thinking it was going to have receipts of critics or people who know about songwriting lmfaooooooooooo sorry, this thread isn't serious 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naachoboy 7,993 Posted August 31, 2015 lmfaooooooooooo sorry, this thread isn't serious it's ok haha 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anthem 1,558 Posted August 31, 2015 Somebody actually saying it isn't? And it isn't any argument against the right to criticize lyrics that are bad in your opinion. (Sorry if it sounds like mere nitpicking but I have a strong aversion to the "try-it-yourself" phrase in this kind of context since it's often intended to keep people from expressing their constructive opinions too just because they are not 100% laudatory to certain music, book etc. Doesn't mean I support plain, ungrounded hating on Lana, regardless of whether her lyrics are mind-blowingly awesome or totally cringe-worthy. ) I was more or less making a general statement that its hard. But if you had seen the Honeymoon Pre-release thread a few days ago you'd understand, people were basically saying Lana's songwriting was subpar and always has been which I really didn't agree with seeing as she writes some really beautiful things and can really evoke feelings and imagery with her work. I completely agree that some of it is bad and should be called out, but to completely discredit her songwriting just isn't fair. 2 Quote Goddesses don't speak in whispers. They scream. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HighLikeABitch 138 Posted August 31, 2015 That list is kind of bogus 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
demiannn 83 Posted August 31, 2015 Why Crooked Cop and Hurricane aren´t in Amazing lyrics? 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites