Paradise - Pre-Release Thread

[Sitar 22,177]

I know, but she doesn't actually say "Morrison," she says it like "Morrisey."

 

Nice cover-up

[Hundred Dollar Bill 21,471]

Nice cover-up

 

What are you talking about. I'm serious. :imbeingsarcasticbitch2:

 

would you pleASE KILL URSELF

[Sitar 22,177]

What are you talking about. I'm serious. :imbeingsarcasticbitch2:

 

would you pleASE KILL URSELF

 

Boo there's a clear 'N', I thought you were an audiophile.

[Hundred Dollar Bill 21,471]

Boo there's a clear 'N', I thought you were an audiophile.

 

I might've listened to the snippet 10 times at the most.

I don't waste time on low-quality snippets, hun.

[Sitar 22,177]

I might've listened to the snippet 10 times at the most.

I don't waste time on low-quality snippets, hun.

 

Then don't make definite statements about something you're unsure of, doll.

[Hundred Dollar Bill 21,471]

Then don't make definite statements about something you're unsure of, doll.

 

Too much sass.

[Coney Island King 25,280]

[National Anthem 9,896]

I'm super pumped for it. End of story tbh.

[Hundred Dollar Bill 21,471]

Listening back to the Gods & Monsters snippet, I still hear "Morrisey". Maybe it's the quality of the snippet or something, I'm not hearing an "n" sound anywhere on that word.

[Pocket Gay 749]

I'm super stoked for this album, she just continues to deliver quality music and I just really appreciate that.

[Matt 976]

Listening back to the Gods & Monsters snippet, I still hear "Morrisey". Maybe it's the quality of the snippet or something, I'm not hearing an "n" sound anywhere on that word.

 

I've listened to the snippet at least 20 times these past few days and If it was a life or death question whether or not she said Jim Morrison, I would say yes she did say his name with confidence I would not die.

[Monicker 3,030]

Aw, i’ve returned to this thread only to see that the feminism discussion has ended . Anyway, as always, i am so glad to see this being discussed, and i loved reading everyone’s thoughts. It’s these sort of turns in the conversation that make me really like coming here. Time to add my rambling to the now past discussion and i warn you: i feel very scatterbrained right now and unable to organize my thoughts well. Anyway...

 

 

The thing about feminism and feminist discourse--something that i think too often gets overlooked or forgotten--is that, more than just looking at women--what they do and say, what they stand for, whether or not they’re "feminist" or "anti-feminist"--we need to hold the magnifying glass up to men, the male perspective, and even attitudes toward men and male roles, as they’ve existed socially and historically. The coin cannot exist without both sides. The battle against feminism is not only represented by those ideas, thoughts, practices, customs, etc. that are in opposition to the movement's tenets, but also the negative attitudes toward the existence of the movement itself--the threat to change things. There are so many powerful, insidious things that work toward reinforcing patriarchy--it’s a weird self-preserving system--and the bad rap that feminism gets on a broad scale is a perfect example (feminism is “annoying” or “extreme” or “crazy” etc.) The status quo always has many things that are fighting for and helping it to be preserved. I think sexism is the first column that needs to be smashed in order for the whole multi-faceted, complex power structure that globally governs and oppresses to come crumbling down.

 

Anyway, that's all just a preface to what i really wanted to say...

 

Regardless of one’s views on Lana’s lyrics from a feminist perspective, i think it would be hard to deny how unsafe her lyrics and ethos are, and that, in a sense, is very subversive when you consider the sort of things that women (and men!) are “supposed to” sing about/represent, and how a female artist is expected to carry herself. Lana Del Rey’s lyrics give a voice to a complex perspective that is often belittled, shunned, and shamed. Here we have the seizing of a platform for a marginalized view (people tend to hate when things don’t fall neatly into binaries), and, sadly, as is to be expected, there are attempts to silence it. Patriarchy and sexism rear its ugly head again.

 

I love the “looking to get fucked hard” line in G&M. That’s anti-feminist? Why? How? What strikes me as anti-feminist is thinking that that line is anti-feminist. This line of thinking is doing nothing but defining sexual views for women and how they should express thoughts on sex. Mother/Whore oppressive dichotomy 2 the max. It’s bullshit. And by the way, "Femme Fatale" is just a problematic trope that does no favors to feminism. More binaries.

 

The prevailing cultural perspective on sex is SO weird--how sex is ubiquitous, oversaturating almost every aspect of society, yet it’s often met with such resistance if it doesn’t neatly fit into our accepted, monogamous, normative framework. I don’t get all the knee-jerk reactions to the cursing/sexuality on Paradise, and the suspicion that it is intended to shock. What is shocking about cursing or talking about sex in pop music in the year 2012? We’re talking about someone who already has a substantial back catalogue of songs that touch upon plenty of “controversial” topics, from drugs to pedophilia. Homegurl could’ve busted out plenty of more “shocking” stuff than what we’ve heard so far of this new release. My pussy tastes like Pepsi Cola is so playful. Cum on guis, didn't u all want playful Lizzy back in the fold? Yes, obnoxiously and predictably, that line is the one thing that outsiders have really latched on to more than anything else about this release (who didn’t see that coming?) but that doesn’t qualify it as shock value in its intent.

 

 

ANYWAY, regarding the snippets...i heard them only once, so i can't really give much of an opinion. I’m not going to get hung up on 1:30 low quality samples. I will say this though: i hear many production decisions that blow BTD’s production away. Maybe the songwriting is a notch or two below what she produced for BTD, but a lot of the arranging and production, i feel, really "corrected" a lot of BTD's flaws. This is just a preliminary assessment though, so i need to sit with the EP for some time before really deciding anything. Burning Desire, though...oy, that is one bad song.

 

I have to say, i am surprised that the consensus is unfavorable so far, i really didn’t see that coming. I don't see how this is that much of a departure. I’m also surprised by the reaction to the new Yayo vocals. So many times in the past people have lamented about the restrained vocals on BTD while praising her live vocals, yet when we get pretty much what so many of you have wanted out of a studio vocal from Lana, there is all this talk about how shitty the vocals are! I also don’t understand this one-definitive-version-of-a-song mentality. I suspect that anything that could have been done to Yayo, no mater what, would be viewed as an abomination simply because it’s not the AKA version. Why do we have to look at it as a better/worse situation though? It’s a different tone and mood that is captured in the new recording. Do you find it worse because of reasons having to do with the arrangement, production, and performance, or is worse simply because it’s not the version you have always loved? I don’t know, i guess this is an uncommon view, but there is little more that i love in music than having variations of a piece. That's something i adore about Lana's catalogue.

 

 

So wait, have we determined what this emoticon is expressing? ----->

[Hundred Dollar Bill 21,471]

So wait, have we determined what this emoticon is expressing? ----->

 

i have my ideas

[Sitar 22,177]

I suspect that anything that could have been done to Yayo, no mater what, would be viewed as an abomination simply because it’s not the AKA version. Why do we have to look at it as a better/worse situation though? It’s a different tone and mood that is captured in the new recording. Do you find it worse because of reasons having to do with the arrangement, production, and performance, or is worse simply because it’s not the version you have always loved?

 

It just seems too mumbly and echo-y to me. I guess the difference is that I don't prefer her live vocals. I'm hoping something about the full version will redeem it. I suppose part of me is judging it compared to the original, because she's being more varied and experimental with the melody and I can't sing along to it The "dark trailer park" part in particular just rubs me wrong.

[Madrigal 2,612]

I'm super stoked for this album, she just continues to deliver quality music and I just really appreciate that.

 

No she doesn't.

[Smarty 1]

The prevailing cultural perspective on sex is SO weird--how sex is ubiquitous, oversaturating almost every aspect of society, yet it’s often met with such resistance if it doesn’t neatly fit into our accepted, monogamous, normative framework. I don’t get all the knee-jerk reactions to the cursing/sexuality on Paradise, and the suspicion that it is intended to shock. What is shocking about cursing or talking about sex in pop music in the year 2012? We’re talking about someone who already has a substantial back catalogue of songs that touch upon plenty of “controversial” topics, from drugs to pedophilia. Homegurl could’ve busted out plenty of more “shocking” stuff than what we’ve heard so far of this new release. My pussy tastes like Pepsi Cola is so playful. Cum on guis, didn't u all want playful Lizzy back in the fold? Yes, obnoxiously and predictably, that line is the one thing that outsiders have really latched on to more than anything else about this release (who didn’t see that coming?) but that doesn’t qualify it as shock value in its intent.

 

it's not that the lyrics are anti-feminist, or shocking, but I always loved that Lana was a female pop star singing about sexual desire in cute/romantic way, instead of a "I just want to fuck" sort of way. it feels like its missing that truly-in-love sexiness that I love about lana's songs. lots of her previously written lyrics are blatantly sexy & playful where "my pussy.." & other lines sound impersonal and gloomy. maybe her melancholy vocals in this album don't help tho ^_^

[YUNGATA 14,945]

it's not that the lyrics are anti-feminist, or shocking, but I always loved that Lana was a female pop star singing about sexual desire in cute/romantic way, instead of a "I just want to fuck" sort of way. it feels like its missing that truly-in-love sexiness that I love about lana's songs. lots of her previously written lyrics are blatantly sexy & playful where "my pussy.." & other lines sound impersonal and gloomy. maybe her melancholy vocals in this album don't help tho ^_^

 

I think we need to draw a distinction between in love and in lust though. A lot of Lana's relationships seem fueled by lust, sex and desire but of course love can spawn from this. However, in this circumstance I feel as if she's talking from a more "fling" perspective. I kind of see where your going with "my pussy etc" sounding impersonal but I also think that could be intentional. A lot of people (including myself at some point) use sex as a way to dissociate or depersonalise themselves from what's going on. Sex just becomes an action you derive raw pleasure from. Sometimes it's nice for sex to just be sex rather than actual romance. Love is very tiring. Sometimes casual is better.

[Coney Island King 25,280]

If this was ever gonna be a 12 track full album, adding Burning Desire on it as well as Velvet Crowbar, Boarding School and Never Let Me Go would have fit really nicely!!!

 

And um srsly this album is out in 11 fucking days here

[NamiraWilhelm 5,032]

I would have thought she'd just release the album again including all the outtakes rather than new songs... ho hum. I guess we should be grateful we have access to these great songs full stop... still

[liam 559]

Since this isn't actually an 'album', will the Paradise Edition be included on album charts? I know nothing about how the charts work...