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Lana Del Rey (EP)

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Not to be confused with Lana Del Ray (album).

Lana Del Rey
EP by
Lana Del Rey
ReleasedJanuary 10, 2012 (2012-01-10)
Length17:57
Label
Producer
Lana Del Rey chronology
Lana Del Ray
(2010) 		Lana Del Rey
(2012) 		Born to Die
(2012)

Lana Del Rey is the second extended play by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey. It was released on January 10, 2012, in the United States and Canada through Interscope Records. After the release of the EP Kill Kill (2008) and her debut studio album Lana Del Ray (2010) via 5 Points Records, an independent label, the EP was released in anticipation of Del Rey's major-label debut album Born to Die (2012). The tracks are influenced by several genres, including indie pop, hip hop, and alternative music. The lyrics and melody were written primarily by Del Rey, Justin Parker and Emile Haynie. Production of the album was led by Emile Haynie, who also co-wrote "Blue Jeans". The EP is Del Rey's second eponymous record after Lana Del Ray (2010).

Music videos accompanied each single, which were produced by Del Rey herself and uploaded to YouTube. Although the video for "Video Games" that Del Rey filmed with her webcam was not intended as a single at the time, it garnered enough online buzz to be noticed by Stranger Records, leading to Del Rey signing a joint record deal with Interscope and Polydor Records.[1]

Selling over 24,000 copies in the United States, the EP peaked at number 20 on the US Billboard 200, reaching number six on both the Billboard Rock Albums and Alternative Albums charts. All four songs on the EP were released as singles on Born to Die, with three charting internationally.

Music and lyrics

[edit]
"Blue Jeans"
A 21-second sample of the song, features Del Rey using lower vocals over a minimalist hip-hop influenced beat.[2][3]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Del Rey used lower vocals on the EP, claiming "people weren't taking me very seriously, so I lowered my voice, believing that it would help me stand out. Now I sing quite low... well, for a female anyway."[2] The singer's first singles, "Video Games" and "Born to Die" were described variously as "quasi-cabaret balladry",[4] "woozy and sometimes soporific soundtrack soul",[5] "pop",[6] and "indie pop".[7]

The third track, "Blue Jeans", was influenced by hip hop and has a minimalist beat that recalls songs by Timbaland.[3] "Off to the Races" has been lyrically described as "a freak show of inappropriate co-dependency",[8] with a chorus that recalls Sheryl Crow's "down and out drunken loner persona" in her 1994 single "Leaving Las Vegas".[8] Pryia Elan of NME noted the track "almost falls under the weight of this persona. There's none of 'Video Games'' measured, piano-led reflection. Instead the psychosexual rumblings of the lyrics and the dual voices she uses off set the comparatively simple musical shades on display."[8]

Critical reception

[edit]

John Bush of AllMusic considered the singer a femme fatale "with a smoky voice, a languorous image, and a modeling contract".[9] However, Bush rated the EP 2.5 stars out of five, considering it only "as a teaser from the album".[9]

Commercial performance

[edit]

The EP entered the Billboard 200 on the chart issue of January 21, 2012, at number 20, after selling 14,000 digital copies.[10] As of February 1, 2012, it has sold 24,000 digital copies in the United States.[10]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Video Games"
Robopop4:03
2."Born to Die"
  • Del Rey
  • Parker
Emile Haynie4:45
3."Blue Jeans"
  • Del Rey
  • Haynie
  • Dan Heath
Haynie3:30
4."Off to the Races"
  • Del Rey
  • Tim Larcombe
  • Patrik Berger
  • Haynie
5:01
Total length:17:19

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Lana Del Rey
Chart (2012–2014) Peak
position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[11] 18
US Billboard 200[12] 20
US Digital Albums (Billboard)[13] 7
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[14] 6
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[15] 6

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Canada January 10, 2012 Digital download Universal Music [16]
United States
[17]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Eight Reasons Why Lana Del Rey Blew Up". November 4, 2011. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Copsey, Robert (November 23, 2011). "Lana Del Rey: 'People didn't take me seriously with a high voice'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Retrieved December 20, 2011.
  3. ^ a b Ryan, Damien (September 14, 2011). "Track Review: Lana Del Rey – Blue Jeans". So So Gay. Archived from the original on January 3, 2012. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
  4. ^ Perpetua, Matthew (December 19, 2011). "Lana Del Rey to Appear on 'Saturday Night Live'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
  5. ^ Caramanica, Jon (December 11, 2011). "Finally Taking the Stage, Direct From the Internet". The New York Times. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
  6. ^ Ritchie, Kevin. "Charisma, sensuous sounds and a viral video make the New York singer songwriter 2011's hottest rising star". Now. NOW Communications. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
  7. ^ "Lana Del Rey enters Last.fm singles chart with "Video Games"". Yahoo!. December 27, 2011. Archived from the original on May 29, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  8. ^ a b c Elan, Pryia (December 21, 2011). "Lana Del Rey, 'Off to the Races'". NME. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
  9. ^ a b Bush, John (January 10, 2012). "Lana Del Rey EP". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved February 11, 2012.
  10. ^ a b Caulfield, Keith (February 1, 2012). "Lana Del Rey Aiming for No. 2 Debut on Billboard 200 Album Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2012.
  11. ^ "Lana Del Rey Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  12. ^ "Lana Del Rey Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  13. ^ "Lana Del Rey Chart History (Digital Albums)".[dead link‍] Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  14. ^ "Lana Del Rey Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  15. ^ "Lana Del Rey Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  16. ^ "Lana Del Rey EP : Awards". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
  17. ^ "Lana Del Rey Releases - Lana Del Rey EP". Interscope Records.com. Interscope Records. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
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