Top 5: Lana Del Rey - Norman Fucking Rockwell

Lana Del Rey released her masterpiece Norman Fucking Rockwell! on Friday, August 30. It is pretty much the only album I’ve listened to since that day. I’ve been a huge fan of Lana Del Rey ever since my friend sent me a Facebook message in 2012 with the music video for Video Games. Even though I’m biased because she has always been one of my favorite artists, her latest album is critically acclaimed and has received amazing reviews. I’m no music critic, but Pitchfork gave the album a 9.4 and calls her “one of America’s greatest living songwriters,” so yeah, you should probably check it out. She also co-wrote and co-produced the entire album (most songs with Jack Antonoff).

The album is much better when you’re listening from start to finish, BUT if you’re looking for a quick overview, here are my top 5 songs.

#5 - Love song

Favorite lyrics: “Lying on your chest / In my party dress / I’m a fucking mess”

#4 - Norman fucking Rockwell

Favorite lyrics: “God damn, man-child. You fucked me so good that I almost said, ‘I love you.”

And also “Your poetry’s bad and you blame the news”

#3 - The greatest

Favorite lyrics: I couldn’t pick just one so…

“The culture is lit and I’ve had a ball”

“Nobody warns you before the fall”

“Life on Mars ain’t just a song”

#2 - Venice Bitch

It’s 9 minutes and 37 seconds of perfection. One of my favorite parts of this song is just the idea that Lana Del Rey stands out from any other pop or indie artist who typically writes a 2-3 minute song for radio. This is one of my favorite Lana songs of all time.

Favorite lyrics: “If you weren’t mine, I’d be jealous of your love.”

#1 - Cinnamon Girl

Favorite lyrics: “If you hold me without hurting me, you’ll be the first who ever did.”

Honorable mentions: California (literally cried at just the chords in the beginning), The Next Best American Record, Happiness is a butterfly