Leyana Nabi
Grammy-nominated, queen of sad-girl music, Lana Del Rey released her album Norman F****** Rockwell! on August 30th. The singer last dropped an album in 2017, leaving fans anxious for her next release. With only three weeks of the album being dropped, fans have been very receptive and praised the album as one of her greatest works.
I am among the majority when it comes to Del Rey’s album, the songs are relaxing and my favorite to play during long car rides. Her rich vocals are instantly comforting after a long day, but also conflict with the personal and tragic lyrics. “Happiness is a butterfly” is the second-to-last track, which includes the lines, “If he’s a serial killer, then what’s the worst that could happen to a girl who’s already hurt?”. Gut-wrenching lyrics like this depict the pain Del Rey went through and is relatable to broken hearted individuals around the world.
A favorite of mine is “Bartender”, with it’s soothing melody and the contrast of “t-t-t-t” sound Del Rey makes when singing the song’s title. It adds a welcomed change to the soft vocals that Del Rey trademarks.
Before her newest release, I’ve always thought Ultraviolence as one of my favourites with it’s slow tunes, but NFR is making me rethink who deserves the #1 spot.
Del Rey’s latest album is well-structured and one of her best works yet. It displays her fervent self-Renaissance as an artist while still maintaining an identitive Del Rey flare. Lana Del Rey’s album title Norman F****** Rockwell! adds to Americana-theme the album carries and helps listeners envision her version of the famed American dream.
“So this is the American dream, right now. This is where we’re at—Norman f—ing Rockwell. We’re going to go to Mars, and [Donald] Trump is president,” Del Rey said on her newest album title to Vanity Fair.
As a fan of Lana Del Rey and as someone who loves her latest album, I’ll be listening to these 14 songs until the sun rises from the west. This decade-defining album is the perfect way to conclude Del Rey’s last of the 2010’s.
