MILB: "Summertime Sadness" by Lana Del Rey

Never really bought into the Lana Del Rey hype when she first came out.  She was supposedly found on a YouTube video, but that's not exactly true.  She really had a recording contract back in 2008 with a small company.  However, she bought herself out of the contract, re-branded herself, Lana Del Rey (she was born Lizzie Grant) and hit it big.

 Let's be honest here, though.  This song should owe royalties to Hope Sandoval from Mazzy Star, since Lana sounds JUST LIKE HER in this song.  Listen to "Fade Into You" and tell me Lana isn't biting her style.

That being said, it's still a good song.  Described as a Trip-hop romance song, it certainly hits that.  Right now in Johannesburg, "Summertime Sadness" is a huge hit, so I've been listening to it on the radio a lot.  The lyrics are repetitive, but also some very evocative ones as well.  The discussion about putting her "hair up real big beauty queen style" really paints a picture.  The bridge offers: "Oh, my god, I feel it in the air, telephone lines, above, and sizzling like a snare."  Hey, I've heard the power lines here buzzing, and it definitely sounds like a snare drum.  That's not too bad.

Then it hits the trip-hop portion of the song.  Lots of beats, synths and laser sounds.  Basically it tries to be a dance floor mover.  The staccato repeated lyrics, the changed voice, the echos.  It's a bit much.  You see, without it I think this song would end up like "Wicked Games" or "Boy of Summer".  One of those songs you keep hearing and really never sound dated.  But with the trip-hop, it'll sound just as bad in a few years as a 2 Unlimited song.

(Which reminds me of one of my favorite scenes from Never mind the Buzzcocks.  Sean Hughes had to act like he was playing a song without singing it.  His song was "There's no limit" from 2 Unlimited.  He hums the first part of the song and then busts out with, "There's no talent!"  guess you had to be there.  See if it's on YouTube.)

Anyways, it's a very good song, but I hope Ms. Del Rey stops with the trip-hop portions of her song.  If she tries, she might be able to pull off a Dusty Springfield type vibe.  (Editor's note: I am in no way comparing Lana Del Rey to the sublime talent of Dusty Springfield.  I am just saying she could have a career with songs that last longer than 2 years without sounding dated.  Heck, "Fade into you" by Mazzy Star sounds just as good today as it did back in 1997.)

So the moral is, go listen to "Summertime Sadness", and then go listen to "Fade into you" by Mazzy Star.  Afterwards, just put on Dusty in Memphis.  Might as well finish on a VERY high note.