Video Games (song)

"Video Games"
Single by Lana Del Rey
from the album Born to Die
B-side "Blue Jeans"
Released October 10, 2011
Format CD single, digital download, 7"
Genre Pop
Length 4:46
Label Interscope, Stranger
Writer(s) Elizabeth Grant, Justin Parker
Producer RoboPop
Lana Del Rey singles chronology
"Video Games"
(2011)		 "Born to Die"
(2012)

"Video Games" is a song by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey, taken from her debut studio album, Born to Die (2012). The song was written and composed by Del Rey and Justin Parker, and produced by RoboPop. It was released as a single on October 10, 2011, through Interscope Records. It received mostly positive reviews from critics.

"Video Games" attained worldwide success, reaching number one in Germany and top-ten positions in Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Ireland, Scotland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The song was promoted with an accompanying music video that was directed and edited by the singer herself, who shot scenes with her personal webcam, also including a number of live appearances.

Contents

Background

"Video Games" was released on October 10, 2011 as the first single from Del Rey's second album Born to Die, set for release in 2012.[1][2][3] In an interview with Britsh online magazine The Quietus, Del Rey has stated that the inspiration for the song was an old boyfriend and commented, "I think we came together because we were both outsiders. It was perfect. But I think with that contentment also comes sadness. There was something heavenly about that life – we'd go to work and he'd play his video games – but also it was maybe too regular."[4] The singer also stated that she used lower vocals for "Video Games" due to the fact that the public was not seeing her as a serious artist, "so I lowered my voice, believing that it would help me stand out. Now I sing quite low... well, for a female anyway."[5] While being interviewed by Rosie Swash of The Observer, Del Rey revealed that initially "Video Games" would not be released as a single.[6] However, after receiving positive reactions from music critics and general public, Del Rey's label decided to release it.[6]

Composition

"Video Games" lasts for four minutes and forty-six seconds.[3][7] The song was written and composed by Elizabeth Grant and Justin Parker in the key of F♯ minor and is set in time signature of common time with a tempo of 61 beats per minute. Del Rey's vocal range spans from E3 to A4.[8] Lindsay Johnstone of The Scotsman described it as an "ode to being ignored and the exquisite pain of clutching at an illusion of happiness".[9] "I heard that you like the bad girls/ Honey, is that true?" the singer asks over swathing strings as she desperately hold on to her lover.[10] Alexis Petridis of The Guardian noted Del Rey's vocals "fits the song perfectly, chafing against the orchestral bombast, the harps and pizzicato strings in the background: this is a song about big emotions brought on by everyday events, an indolent boyfriend opening a beer, a visit to a bar, putting on perfume."[11] Del Rey described her music and day-to-day style as "gangsta Nancy Sinatra",[10] with contemporary critics noting the song as "an old-glamour doom-pop ballad that unashamedly lays its feelings on the line — and we all know what happened the last time a singer did that, don't we?"[10]

Reception

Following the release of the single, Ian Cohen of Pitchfork Media commented, "on her stirring debut single, New York singer-songwriter Lizzy Grant transforms into the more bombastically-named Lana Del Rey and absolutely wallows in it. While the song is husky and sensual in a way that hits the sweet spot Cat Power has abdicated since The Greatest, lyrically, "Video Games" reads more like a prelude to 'Lived in Bars'."[12] Digital Spy writer Robert Copsey noted Del Rey "combines a near-identical [Nancy Sinatra] vocal with her own fascination for the tragically glamorous — or "Hollywood sadcore" as she succinctly labels it."[10] Lewis Corner also of Digital Spy said, "New York-born, London-based Lana Del Rey is currently working on her debut album, but if this newly released preview track/video is anything to go by, it's going to be avant-garde pop at its very best."[13] Alexis Petridis of The Guardian considered "Video Games" the best song of 2011, while writing, "it's tempting to say with a song that good it doesn't matter who sings it, but that's not strictly true. As pop divas who collaborate with Eg White go, Lana Del Rey sounds hugely understated."[11] NME held a poll where readers ranked it as the tenth best song of the year.[14] Maura Johnston of The Village Voice, however, criticized the overproduction of the song and the accompanying music video,[7] while New York magazine contributor Amanda Dobbis realized that "it's hard to totally separate Del Rey's looks from the criticism that's been bubbling around her."[15] Paste's Luke Larson said, "when 'Video Games' first hit the web, people weren’t freaking out about Lana Del Rey or fake lips or Lizzy Grant. People were freaking out because they had stumbled upon a fresh voice and a beautifully written song and ultimately, does the rest really matter?"[16] "Video Games" attained worldwide success, reaching number one in Germany and top-ten positions in Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Ireland, Scotland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.[17][18][19]

Music video

The music video for "Video Games" was directed and edited by Del Rey, assembled from video clips of skateboarders, cartoons, shots from old movies, and paparazzi footage of Paz de la Huerta falling down while intoxicated.[15] These are interspersed with self-filmed shots of Del Rey singing the song.[15] When asked if she would change anything about the video's production, Del Rey stated, "Had I known so many people were going to watch the video, I'd have put some more eff­ort into it. I would have got my hair and make-up done and tried not to be so pouty, seeing as everyone talks about my face all the time. And I'd have put more of a storyline into it."[5] The singer also revealed that she was "trying to look smart and well turned-out, rather than 'sexy' [in the music video]. Of course I wanted to look good, but 'smart' was the primary focus."[4]

New York magazine contributor Amanda Dobbins noted the music video "predictably [...] garnered some attention" from the public.[15] Rya Backer of MTV questioned Del Rey's originality, saying, "it's hard to know what to make of Lana Del Rey at first glance. Is she as Jools Holland once dubbed her an "Internet phenomenon" worth no more than a few salacious blog posts? Or is she a legitimate chanteuse wrapped in the hyper feminine, yet innately American (and admittedly well-curated) image she's projected in videos for such tracks as 'Video Games' and 'Blue Jeans'?"[20] Pitchfork Media's Ian Cohen commented that the music video "flits between surrendering to romance and depression, moving with the elegant wastefulness of the kind of day drunk that's a true privilege of the beautiful, idle class."[12]

Live performances and covers

"Video Games" was performed by Del Rey in a number of live appearances, including for MTV Push,[21] and at the Bowery Ballroom, where, according to Eliot Glazer of New York, "the polarizing indie hipstress brought her 'gangsta Nancy Sinatra' swagu".[22] 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".[23] Del Rey also performed the song on Dutch television program De Wereld Draait Door,[24] on British music television show Later... with Jools Holland,[25] and on an intimate show at Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, California.[26] "Video Games" has been covered by several artists, including English rock bands Bombay Bicycle Club and Kasabian.[27][28]

Track listings

  1. "Video Games (Radio edit)" – 4:01
  2. "Blue Jeans" – 3:31
  • Digital EP[3]
  1. "Video Games" – 4:46
  2. "Blue Jeans" – 3:34
  3. "Video Games" [Mr Fingers Remix] – 9:00
  4. "Video Games" [Omid 16B Remix] – 5:14
  1. "Video Games" – 4:03
  2. "Blue Jeans" – 3:33
  3. "Video Games" [Club Clique For The Bad Girls Remix] – 4:59
  4. "Video Games" [White Lies C-mix] – 7:33
  5. "Video Games" [Larry "Mr. Finger" Heard Remix] – 10:30
  6. "Video Games" [Helium Robots Remix] – 4:51

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2011) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[31] 75
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 75)[32] 2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[33] 2
Belgium (Ultratop 40 Wallonia)[34] 8
Czech Republic (IFPI)[35] 54
Denmark (Tracklisten)[36] 19
France (SNEP)[37] 21
Germany (Media Control AG)[17] 1
Ireland (IRMA)[38] 7
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[39] 11
Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[40] 3
Scotland (The Official Charts Company)[41] 10
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[42] 8
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[43] 9
UK Indie (The Official Charts Company)[44] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (2011) Peak
position
Belgian Singles Chart (Flanders)[45] 40
Dutch Singles Chart[46] 32
US Hot Singles Sales (Billboard)[47] 16

References

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  3. ^ a b c "iTunes — Music — Video Games — EP by Lana Del Rey". iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/video-games-ep/id464296578. Retrieved December 15, 2011. 
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  18. ^ "Ultratop.be – Lana Del Rey – Video Games" (in French). Ultratop 40. Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=Video+Games&cat=s. Retrieved December 20, 2011. 
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  20. ^ Backer, Ria (December 6, 2011). "Lana Del Rey Brings Her Sultry, Tortured Love Songs To New York's Bowery Ballroom". MTV. MTV Networks. http://newsroom.mtv.com/2011/12/06/lana-del-rey-bowery-ballroom-show-report/. Retrieved December 20, 2011. 
  21. ^ "Video Games — MTV Push". VH1 Brasil. MTV Networks. http://vh1brasil.uol.com.br/musica/artistas/lana-del-rey/videos/lana-del-rey-video-games-mtv-push-714662/. Retrieved December 20, 2011. 
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  24. ^ Idolator Staff (November 12, 2011). "Lana Del Rey Sings “Video Games” On Amsterdam’s ‘DWDD’". Idolator. http://idolator.com/6075912/lana-del-rey-sings-video-games-on-amsterdams-dwdd. Retrieved December 20, 2011. 
  25. ^ Phillips, Amy (October 11, 2011). "Watch Lana Del Rey Perform "Video Games" on "Later With Jools Holland"". Pitchfork Media. http://pitchfork.com/news/44276-watch-lana-del-rey-perform-video-games-on-later-with-jools-holland/. Retrieved December 20, 2011. 
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  27. ^ "Bombay Bicycle Club cover Lana Del Rey's 'Video Games' – audio". NME. October 17, 2011. http://www.nme.com/news/bombay-bicycle-club/59855. Retrieved December 20, 2011. 
  28. ^ "Hear Kasabian cover Lana Del Rey's 'Video Games' – audio". NME. October 27, 2011. http://www.nme.com/news/kasabian/60044. Retrieved December 20, 2011. 
  29. ^ (2011) Release notes for "Video Games" by Lana Del Rey (CD single liner notes). Universal Music Group (06025 2789129 3).
  30. ^ (2011) Release notes for "Video Games" by Lana Del Rey (The Remix EP liner notes). Universal Music Group (06025 291912 6).
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External links

Lana Del Rey
Studio albums
Singles
"Video Games"  · "Born to Die"
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