Born to Die

It wouldn’t be unreasonable to describe Lana Del Rey as a product. New name, new image and new sound, all skilfully constructed and carefully combined to reinvent another primp and perfect, Hollywood clone. Straight away, she sounds like our worst nightmare- yet it was a simple, stand-alone single that made the rich, blank-stared and filthy pouted singer, one of the leading new acts of 2012. The pop-star’s internet viral, Video Games immediately had us gripped. Her hypnotic, seductive vocals became an addiction as we found ourselves hitting the replay button, over and over, until every little detail and note was exceptionally appreciated.

Then the question of whether or not this botoxed beauty is the real deal. How long will she stick around for? Surely there must be further reasoning behind boastfully, self-proclaiming herself as the ‘gangsta Nancy Sinatra’. Her debut album as Lana Del Rey, Born to Die, is where all her talent is unleashed.

Born to Die is lovesick and sad, yet completely sensual and gripping. It should have been a recipe for disaster, considering the endless, clichéd lyrics and repetitive storytelling of her incapability of living without her other half. Instead, the catchy hip-hop beats, mixed with vintage vocals make it utterly irresistible- as her whole persona. Summertime Sadness and Dark Paradise are lingering soundscapes that complement singles, Born to Die and Video Games. Then we have the quirky, head-bopping tune, Off to the Races before the smart and shallow, National Anthem, as she becomes America itself rather than the American, bad-girl-in-love she portrays throughout the album.

Del Rey has produced a rich and wonderfully groomed masterpiece, overflowed with raw emotion, making accusations of false advertising, gossip about surgery and Daddy’s money totally irrelevant. She contains an incredible ability to slip from lazy, deep-toned smugness to high-note heartbreak, all in the same, stunning melody. Oozing with femme fatale and a notable vocal to match, she’s gracefully proved herself to anyone who ever doubted her. Lana Del Rey, is in fact, here to stay.