There’s a sense of foreboding looming as “Chemtrails…” progresses, it begins as a dreamlike and gauzy piano waltz before noise and distortion take hold and darkness creeps in. Here the New York native compares her body to LA and confirms the city’s importance to her, “In Arcadia, Arcadia/All roads that lead to you as integral to me as arteries/That get the blood flowing straight to the heart of me.” The sting in the tale is that Lana feels she must move on, suggesting criticism has forced a new start, “They built me up 300 feet tall just to tear me down/So I’m leavin’ with nothing but laughter, and this town/Arcadia.” – Jamie Atkins 16: Chemtrails Over The Country Club ( Chemtrails Over The Country Club, 2020) Arcadia describes a mythical place of refuge and simple pleasures, but it’s also a city in Los Angeles. It’s another collaboration with Dan Heath, who also co-wrote “Blue Jeans.” – Sorrell ForbesĬlick to load video 17: Arcadia ( Blue Banisters, 2021)Īn elegant highlight of Blue Banisters, “Arcadia” is a beautiful ballad of defiant self-love. Ironic in the same way that Ultraviolence’s “Money Power Glory” is, “F_ked My Way Up To The Top” finds Lana Del Rey addressing her critics, essentially saying she knows what they think of her – and she doesn’t care.
And I do yell.” – Jamie Atkins 18: F_ked My Way Up To The Top ( Ultraviolence, 2014) People don’t know what it sounds like when I yell. Lana described the song before its release to Jack Antonoff for Interview magazine, “I’m just screaming my head off. She sounds near-hysterical and emotionally exhausted – it’s utterly spellbinding. Click to load video 19: Dealer ( Blue Banisters, 2021)Ī song from the 2017 sessions with Alex Turner and Miles Kane’s The Last Shadow Puppets, “Dealer” begins with Kane pleading for his whereabouts to be kept secret over a sultry groove, Lana enters the picture for a near-rapped pre-chorus before totally stealing the show with a startling vocal performance in the chorus.