| "Born to Die" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Lana Del Rey | ||||
| from the album Born to Die | ||||
| Released | January 2, 2012 | |||
| Format | CD single, digital download | |||
| Genre | Indie pop | |||
| Length | 4:46 | |||
| Label | Interscope, Stranger | |||
| Writer(s) | Elizabeth Grant, Justin Parker | |||
| Producer | Justin Parker, Robopop | |||
| Lana Del Rey singles chronology | ||||
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"Born to Die" is a song by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey, taken from her debut studio album of the same name (2012). The song was released as the singer's second single on January 2, 2012, through Interscope Records. "Born to Die" features apocalyptic lyrics and strings similar to John Barry compositions and the music scores of Gone with the Wind (1939) and Western (1997). It received mixed reviews from contemporary critics, who considered it as hauting, yet similar to Del Rey's previous single "Video Games" (2011).
The song was promoted with an accompanying music video, directed by Yoann Lemoine, that portrays Del Rey on an unstable relationship with her boyfriend, as they go on a car trip that results in her death. It received generally favorable reviews from contemporary critics, who noted it as a departure from the singer's previous music videos. Del Rey also performed the song in a number of live appearances.
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"Born to Die" was written and composed by Del Rey and Justin Parker, with song production done by Parker and RoboPop.[1] The song features "gently apocalyptic" lyrics,[2] and open with Del Rey singing "Feet don't fail me now/ Take me to the finish line/ All my heart, it breaks every step that I take/ But I'm hoping that the gates, they'll tell me that you're mine."[3] According to the singer, the song is "homage to true love and a tribute to living life on the wild side,"[4] theme that is perceived in lines such as "Let me kiss you hard in the pouring rain, you like your girls insane."[5] The original unreleased version of the song featured Del Rey singing "Let me fuck you hard in the pouring rain" instead of "Let me kiss you hard in the pouring rain".[5] Laura Snapes of NME compared the background to "melted chocolate waterslide, buffeted by impeccable production",[2] with the John Barry-esque "whipping strings" being noted as similar to the music scores of Gone with the Wind (1939) and Western (1997).[2][4]. For this song there is four remixes by PDP/13, Woodkid & the Shoes, Clams Casino & Gemini.
Following the release of the single, Robert Copsey of Digital Spy commented, "we thought it would be near-impossible for Lana to top the chilling 'Video Games', but her new cut - the title track from her forthcoming album - may just have out-haunted its predecessor."[6] Laura Snapes of NME considered the song "quite as flooring as 'Video Games', but then that song is fairly extraordinary",[7] while Entertainment Weekly contributor Grady Smith considered it a "beautifully dour tune".[8] Pryia Elan also of NME said the song "is a grower and whilst not as pitch perfect as 'Video Games', it's pretty damn fine."[1] Aaron-Spencer Charles of Metro noted "Lana Del Rey's Born to Die is a slow yet strong song, with Lana signing about her relationship experience over an orchestra. The calm tone of Del Rey's voice sets sad-love mood really well."[3] Tim Lee of musicOMH said the song is "essentially 'Video Games' with percussion", and noted that "her (alleged) agents clearly having stumbled upon a formula with which they can (allegedly) print money and (allegedly) further consign Lana's secretive, (allegedly) real debut LP to the annals of history. You didn't hear it from us, right?"[9]
The music video for "Born to Die" was based on a concept created by Del Rey, and it was directed by Yoann Lemoine,[11] who previously worked with Katy Perry on "Teenage Dream" (2010) and Taylor Swift on "Back to December" (2010).[12] Unlike the singer's previous music videos, "Born to Die" had a significantly higher budget and production,[13] with film location taking place at the Palace of Fontainebleau in France.[10] In an interview with British newspaper The Sun, Del Rey revealed they were going to use tigers in a scene of the music video, saying, "tigers don't come cheap. It's a controversial video. You'll have to wait to see it but I got a generous budget."[14] She also stated that "I wasn't allowed to be alone with the tiger at any time, for obvious reasons. It was a special experience."[14] On December 14, 2011, the music video leaked online before the official release; this was followed by a statement released through the singer's Facebook page:[15]
"Generally, I'm a man of few words, but I will say that this video is the most beautiful thing I've ever done. I hope you like it - this isn't the time or way I wanted to show you the video but I'm in Beijing with no access to social media, and the videos been leaked from Russia so someone is posting this for me."[15]
The video begins with Del Rey seen standing topless in the arms of a tattooed model, played by Bradley Soileau,[10] with the American flag as a backdrop.[13] The scene is followed by the singer leaving her home and joining her boyfriend for a long car trip. As they enter the car, they start to smoke together and make out before leaving. While on the road, the relationship of couple is revealed to be unstable,[16] as Del Rey is forced to kiss her boyfriend while expressing sadness. The trip intercuts with scenes of the couple staying at a luxurious hotel, where they are seen lying on a bed together with the boyfriend ominously holding Del Rey's throat at one point.[17] As Del Rey makes her way out the hotel, the scene cuts back to an apparent car accident, with the singer's bloodied corpse being carried by her lover as a huge fire burns behind them.[13] The video ends with the opening scene.[15]
The music video received generally favorable reviews from contemporary critics. Jason Lipshutz of Billboard compared the car scenes to the ones of Rihanna's "We Found Love" music video,[13]. Ann Lee of Metro considered the music video as "sexy",[17] with Rolling Stone journalist Matthew Perpetura noting that, "just like the song itself, it's bleakly romantic and majestic in its scope."[18] Becky Bain of Idolator commented that "Interscope apparently has much faith in Del Rey, as the video for her second single, 'Born To Die', looks like it has the budget of about 15 of her 'Video Games' clips."[19] Bain also noted that "besides jungle cats, Lana’s vid features a gorgeous church, a tattooed amour, and a fiery crash" and questioned,[19] "did you really think a song called “Born To Die” would end with Lana and her sweetie walking off into the sunset together?"[19]
"Born to Die" was performed by Del Rey in a number of live appearances, including at the Bowery Ballroom, where, according to Eliot Glazer of New York, "the polarizing indie hipstress brought her 'gangsta Nancy Sinatra' swagu."[20] Matthew Perpetua of Rolling Stone commented that, despite Del Rey being nervous and anxious while performing the song live, the singer managed to "sang with considerable confidence, though her transitions from husky, come-hither sexuality to bratty, girlish petulance could be rather jarring."[21] Del Rey also performed the song on an intimate show at Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, California.[22]
| Country | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil[25] | December 30, 2011 | Digital Download | Interscope Records |
| Luxembourg[26] | January 2, 2012 | ||
| Finland[27] | |||
| France[28] | |||
| Norway[29] | |||
| Portugal[30] |
|title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". iTunes Store. December 30, 2011. http://itunes.apple.com/br/album/born-to-die-single/id488596862. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
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