"Born to Die" Album Recording/Writing Timeline and Creative Process Discussion

[Hunny]

I've noticed BTD doesn't have an album process thread so here we go

Let's start with og BTD, which wasn't even called BTD at the time cause the song did not exist until after she uploaded Video Games

but an album was in the making

Although keep it in mind that a full sorta finalized "og BTD" does not really exist cause the album was at very early stages BUT it was in the making according to Lana's words and we can definitely figure out some songs so let's begin

Back in 2010 when she was not signed to any label, Lana moved to London with her manager Ben and she met nearly 130 producers ("not a joke" according to Lana herself)

But once she met Justin Parker in February 2010 (she said) she finally figured what she wanted the album to sound like ("to sound classic" Lana said)

K now I'm gonna list some songs

These are the stuff made pre-Video Games (final version) and most likely meant for the og BTD album (which again was not called BTD at that time but I'm just gonna call it og BTD)

I'll explain the reason for each song being made/considered for the og BTD in parentheses in front of them

The Justin songs are the most obvious ones cause well... simply cause they're Justin songs

So for them I just write his name as the reason

Btw the SoundCloud and Youtube uploads I mention here belong to her og official accounts and they were uploaded AFTER she started making the album with Justin and knew what she wanted the album to sound like so they're important

And I'm not gonna name the producer(s) of the reworks in this list cause they're irrelevant in this list so I just refer to those producers as "others" but I'm gonna elaborate on them later so don't worry

And the  emojis I'm not gonna explain why I put this emoji next to some

It's for later, you'll get it by the end of the thread

Spoiler

 

On Our Way (prod. by Justin and uploaded on soundcloud and its mv on youtube)

Recorded in February 2010

 

/

 

Puppy Love (prod. by Justin)

Recorded in October 2010

 

/

 

 Video Games (prod. by Justin)

Recorded in July 2010

Later got released on the album as a rework by others and released as the lead single and also on youtube as a mv way before the official release

 

/

 

 Carmen (prod. by Justin and posted on soundcloud)

Recorded in 2010, either in May or before May

Later got released on the album as a rework by others

 An early version for it also exists called "Little Carmen"

Produced by Lana, unknown recording date

 

/

 

Last Girl on Earth (prod. by Justin)

Recorded in 2011, unknown month

Could be after Video Games (final version) too but I'm just gonna put it in here cause we don't know the month and it could be before Video Games (final version)

 

/

 

Dum Dum (prod. by Justin)

Recorded in 2010, unknown month

 

/

 

Velvet Crowbar (prod. by Justin and uploaded on soundcloud)

Recorded in 2010, either in March or before March

 

/

 

Put the Radio On (uploaded on soundcloud)

Recorded in 2010, either in May or before May

 

/

 

Hundred Dollar Bill, Jayson version (uploaded on soundcloud)

Recorded in 2009, unknown month

 

/

 

Us Against the World (uploaded on soundcloud)

Recorded in 2010, either in March or before March

 

/

 

You Can Be the Boss (uploaded on soundcloud and its mv on youtube)

Recorded in 2010, either in March or before March

 

/

 

Kinda Outta Luck (uploaded on soundcloud and its mv on youtube)

Recorded in March 2010

 

/

 

Blue Jeans (cause it was eventually released)

Recorded in March 2011

 

/

 

 This Is What Makes Us Girls, Tim version (cause it was eventually released, although not this version)

Recorded in 2010, unknown month

Later got released on the album as a rework by others

 

/

 

 Off to the Races, Tim & Shawn version (uploaded on soundcloud) it's unleaked

Recorded in 2010, either in May or before May

Later got released on the album as a rework by others

 

/

 

 Diet Mountain Dew, The Flight version (uploaded on soundcloud and its mv on Youtube)

Recorded in 2010, either in May or before May

Later got released on the album as a rework by others

Three early versions for it also exist

 one produced by Lana, recorded in 2008

 One produced by Crispin, recorded in 2009

 One produced by Mike, recorded in 2009 which was allegedly considered for her first album (AKA) but later scrapped

 

/

 

Million Dollar Man, Chris version (uploaded on youtube as a mv)

Recorded in August 2010

Later got released on the album as a rework by others

 

/

 

 National Anthem, Nexus version (uploaded on youtube as a mv)

Recorded in 2011, either in March or before March

Later got released on the album as a rework by others

Three early versions for it also exist called "I Want It All"

All produced by Nexus, recorded in 2010

 

/

 

 Lolita, produced by an unknown producer but refered to as demo 2 and Hey Lolita Hey (uploaded on youtube as a mv)

Recorded in 2010, either in September or before September

Later got released on the album as a rework by others

An early version for it also exists

Produced by Liam, unknown recording date

 

And then sometime in Feb/March/April 2011 she reworked Video Games with Robopop and made a homemade mv for it and uploaded it on Youtube in May which went viral

Then Lana got signed (July) and continued working on the album with Justin

Around that time Lana made "Born to Die" (song) with Justin and she said, once she made that song she realized she wanted to also name the album "Born to Die"

Lana later redid the track with Emile (Pre-December, the month is unknown)

She posted a part of the lyrics in July

And shortly after that (or maybe around the same time) Lana and Justin made "Radio"

She posted a part of the lyrics in August

(For those who don't know, this is the Justin version of Radio, not the album released version that I'll discuss later)

Let's continue

And then around the same time Lana and Rick started working together for the album and that's how these 2 songs were made:

Summertime Sadness

Dark Paradise

They were made in the span of 2/3 days

She posted a part of the Summertime Sadness lyrics in August

They also made "Lucky Ones" but the recording date is unknown

(Again for those who don't know, these were the Rick versions of these songs, not the album released versions that I'll discuss later)

 

And shortly after that, in September Lana and Emile did their second song together, "Without You"

their first song was Blue Jeans, made in March, before she uploaded Video Games and got signed

Which I already mentioned on that list

(Btw If the Emile version of the title track was recorded before "Without You", then title track was their second song. But the recording month of the title track is unknown)

 

By here

Lana eventually figured out the tracklist and finalized it (basically the tracklist we have)

And then during Sept/Oct/Nov

Emile did a last minute rework to all of the tracks except Video Games and his own songs (Blue Jeans, Without You, his version of the title track) but it's possible he even reworked his own songs

According to Lana, this rework drastically changed the album

And then the album got released

But let's talk about that final album we were so close to get right before the Emile rework

Some of the leaked versions we have of some songs are from that final album (I repeat, some, we don't have all of them)

I'm gonna list the ones we have

But keep in mind that the versions on that final album might've been some updated versions of the ones I'm about to list. But with LITTLE differences so these are basically them. And some are literally exactly them

Anyways here's the list, and they're leaked btw:

Spoiler

 

Dark Paradise (Rick version)

 

/

 

Radio (Justin version)

This one definitely has an updated unleaked version (by Justin ofc) cause the file we have is titled "rough" so it's obviously not the album version

 

/

 

Million Dollar Man (Chris version)

 

/

 

Summertime Sadness (Rick version)

 

/

 

Lolita (Liam version)

 

/

 

Lucky Ones (Rick version)

We have 2 Rick versions so it's unknown which one is it

Maybe the second one cause she wanted this version on the scrapped re-issue

 

Although

Before the rework by Emile

Another rework already happened to some of the songs (basically the album got double reworked)

Yeah so basically before the Emile rework, another rework already happened to some of the songs

That's why (besides all the producers I already mentioned) there are some additional producers on the credits of some of the released songs who are not the same producers on some of the versions I mentioned on the first list (the pre-Video Games list) (basically those are abandoned versions. The ones I put with  emoji)

Yeah so basically before the Emile rework another rework already happened to some of the songs

Btw that's also why there are some additional producers on the credits of some of the released songs who are also not the producers on the versions created post-Video Games

I'm gonna mention these post-Video Games versions (that were also abandoned) here in this list:

you can just merge this list with the abandoned versions I mentioned in the other list and that way you'll get a full list of the abandoned versions

Spoiler

Title track (Justin version 1)

Title track (Justin version 2)

Title track (Dan Carey version 1)

Title track (Dan Carey version 2)

Dark Paradise (Björn version)

Summertime Sadness (Patrik version)

This Is What Makes Us Girls (Peter version 1)

This Is What Makes Us Girls (Peter version 2)

Lolita (Dan Grech version 1)

Lolita (Dan Grech version 2)

 

Now let's get to album outtakes

Well pretty much any song recorded in 2010/2011 can be considered a possible BTD outtake at some point at least

But the most likely ones are the ones I'm gonna list here

(I mean besides the ones I mentioned on the Pre-Video Games stuff list so keep those in mind too cause those are VERY likely too)

Anyways here's the list, and I'll explain the reason for each song in parenthesis:

Spoiler

 

Put the Radio on

(featured on a draft tracklist)

 

/

 

Hundred Dollar Bill, Emile version

(featured on a draft tracklist)

It's unleaked

An unknown different version was also allegedly considered for her first album (AKA) but later scrapped

It was most likely the David version of the song

 

/

 

TV in Black & White

(recorded alongside Summertime Sadness & Dark Paradise with the same producer, Rick)

 

/

 

Damn You, version 1

(She posted a part of the lyrics in July 2011)

 

/

 

What's a Girl to Do

(recorded with the same producer who did the album versions of these 3 songs before Emile's last minute rework:

Diet Mountain Dew

National Anthem

Carmen)

 

/

 

The songs sent to Guardian magazine:

Ooh Baby

Driving in Cars with Boys

Live or Die

Take Me to Paris

Kinda Outta Luck

Puppy Love

You Can Be the Boss

Put the Radio On

Hundred Dollar Bill

 

/

 

The songs meant for the Reissue/B-Sides project: click here

 

And here's the titles considered as the album title before picking BTD:

G.B.A (God Bless America)

The World is Ours

Do U Luv Me Yet?

The Revenge of Lana Del Rey

Born 2 Die

The Best of Lana Del Rey

[Embach]

Nothing against this but is it like a 3rd one for this era? 😭 Or am I misremembering something?

[Hunny]

19 minutes ago, Embach said:

Nothing against this but is it like a 3rd one for this era? 😭 Or am I misremembering something?

Misremembering 

[Hunny]

K I finally posted the whole thing on the og post

GODDD It took SO LONG I'm so tired 

Hit that like button so I know it was worth it  Love you 

[Hunny]

(Nevermind. Edited now)

Edited August 16 by Hunny

[111]

yes edukate the younger lipsters and keep the histories alive! 

i feel like for us old hags all of this info was like a pre requisite to become a fan,

it's all just engrained in our psyches, this is the lore you would study for hours as the leaks would come 

[Spencuh]

Hunny was on a mission to spill truth
Now's a good time to say I fucken love The Revenge of Lana Del Rey and I kinda wish it's the title for stove's sister 

[Trash Magic]

Me: I think this is a dud let me take another

2 hours later:

On 8/15/2026 at 11:16 PM, Hunny said:

Before this final rework by Emile

Another rework already happened to some of the songs (basically the album got double reworked)

Yeah so basically before the Emile rework, another rework already happened to some of the songs

On 8/15/2026 at 11:16 PM, Hunny said:

Yeah so basically another rework already happened before the Emile rework

[Hunny]

4 minutes ago, Trash Magic said:

Me: I think this is a dud let me take another

2 hours later:

I hate you. The laugh I just let out

I did that cause I wanted to add another "that's why" and thought it'd make the whole thing less confusing if I repeated the same sentence about rework first 

[Trash Magic]

Jajaja this is definitely interesting thanks. Just inspired me to spend 25 mins trying to identify the location of this photo w google gemini... waste of time no luck.

 

I believe it was posted by Naomi Shon on Facebook so I assume it is in New York but I honestly could have totally made that up

 

I just think of this photo when I read this thread  

[American Whore]

7 minutes ago, Trash Magic said:

Jajaja this is definitely interesting thanks. Just inspired me to spend 25 mins trying to identify the location of this photo w google gemini... waste of time no luck.

 

I believe it was posted by Naomi Shon on Facebook so I assume it is in New York but I honestly could have totally made that up

 

I just think of this photo when I read this thread  

 

Wasn't she recording a lot in London during this era?

[Trash Magic]

OMGGG I JUST FOUND IT ON A WHIM. It's Emile Haynie's studio in New York  The photo just became even more legendary and important in lore. I swear I have been wondering about this for 14 years. Has anybody worked this out before? 

 

 

 

 

 

See here: https://www.malvicinodg.com/projects/recording-studios-and-postproduction/emile-haynie-music

Now I'm convinced it was in fact posted by Naomi and that is Chuck's arm in the photo

[Nightcall]

Very interested in how the album sounded before the “drastic” last minute rework. Are most of the BTD demos that we have from that version?

[Surf Noir]

19 minutes ago, Trash Magic said:

Jajaja this is definitely interesting thanks. Just inspired me to spend 25 mins trying to identify the location of this photo w google gemini... waste of time no luck.

 

I believe it was posted by Naomi Shon on Facebook so I assume it is in New York but I honestly could have totally made that up

 

I just think of this photo when I read this thread  

 

back in the day (2016) i saw people say she was recording OTTR here but ofc it's likely not true

[Burthdaykake]

28 minutes ago, Trash Magic said:

OMGGG I JUST FOUND IT ON A WHIM. It's Emile Haynie's studio in New York  The photo just became even more legendary and important in lore. I swear I have been wondering about this for 14 years. Has anybody worked this out before? 

 

 

 

 

 

See here: https://www.malvicinodg.com/projects/recording-studios-and-postproduction/emile-haynie-music

Now I'm convinced it was in fact posted by Naomi and that is Chuck's arm in the photo

I love you

[Hunny]

On 8/19/2026 at 12:32 AM, Nightcall said:

Very interested in how the album sounded before the “drastic” last minute rework. Are most of the BTD demos that we have from that version?

Not most but some of the demos we have are from that version

I'm gonna list them

But keep in mind that some of the ones on the album (the version you're asking) might've been some updated unleaked versions of the ones I'm about to list (by them same producers ofc). But with LITTLE differences so these are basically them. And some are literally exactly them

Anyways here's the list:

Spoiler

 

Dark Paradise (Rick version)

 

/

 

Radio (Justin version)

This one definitely has an updated unleaked version (by Justin ofc) cause the file we have is titled "rough" so it's obviously not the album version

 

/

 

Million Dollar Man (Chris version)

 

/

 

Summertime Sadness (Rick version)

 

/

 

Lolita (Liam version)

 

/

 

Lucky Ones (Rick version)

We have 2 Rick versions so it's unknown which one is it

Maybe the second one cause she wanted this version on the scrapped re-issue

[Lilacs In My Mind]

1 hour ago, Trash Magic said:

 

As far as this photo goes, it had to have been taken between January and May of 2011. She was in the UK during June and July. It could haven been taken between August and October (not November or December, because she was back in the UK/EU), but I think that's less likely. If someone could find the original post that would be helpful, maybe knowing when it was taken could narrow down what she may have been recording but it's so broad. However, I feel like it may have most likely been Blue Jeans because it was recorded in March with Emile Haynie and her look in this fits the other pictures from that month. OR an unreleased track but I don't know the dates for that.

 

For reference, March 2011:

 

Vs.

 

September 2011

[Hunny]

On 8/19/2026 at 12:59 AM, Hunny said:

Not most but some of the demos we have are from that version

I'm gonna list them

But keep in mind that some of the ones on the album (the version you're asking) might've been some updated unleaked versions of the ones I'm about to list (by them same producers ofc). But with LITTLE differences so these are basically them. And some are literally exactly them

Anyways here's the list, and they're all leaked:

  Reveal hidden contents

 

Dark Paradise (Rick version)

 

/

 

Radio (Justin version)

But it sounds too demo-ish so I assume an updated unleaked version exists (by Justin ofc)

 

/

 

Million Dollar Man (Chris version)

 

/

 

Summertime Sadness (Rick version)

 

/

 

Lolita (Liam version)

 

/

 

Lucky Ones (Rick version)

We have 2 Rick versions so it's unknown which one is it

Maybe the second one cause she wanted this version on the scrapped re-issue

Added this to the original post cause it's extremely important

@Nightcall thank you so much for asking this important question

btw the possible updated unleaked versions I talked about, happened by the same producers (if updated versions even happened...)

[Nightcall]

5 minutes ago, Hunny said:

Added this to the original post cause it's extremely important

@Nightcall thank you so much for asking this important question

btw the possible updated unleaked versions I talked about, happened by the same producers (if updated versions even happened...)

Ofc! Thanks for getting back to me and we appreciate your work 

[Hunny]

1 hour ago, Mirelune said:

back in the day (2016) i saw people say she was recording OTTR here but ofc it's likely not true

Agreed cause OTTR was recorded in September and that pic is definitely not giving September AT ALL