Features M(<".+%8#"%(#"7#!'(#.",!#<"%!*"/(*,+)0# :++8#F"@+%80K#.(%!+"%(&#M">#AK0)%;#>5!#H# )*!+,!,#"/(*%+8'!#+,%I!#)#7()!#!')!#.",!# look at Lana del Rey and see a connection. ),6+*+%8#.5,+<+)%,#<)%#)<'+(/(;#>5!#7"*# She got her start singing folk songs in ,+%8(*S,"%8-*+!(*#X)%)#A(0#G(K#+!#-),#!""# clubs in Brooklyn under Lizzy Grant, and easy. She plays on predisposed images now she’s pursuing an image, an idea, a that the public subconsciously holds with statement, Lana del Rey. She realized that her words, style, sound, and persona. the only way to get the life she wanted was ?.(*+<)#!'+%@,#"7#'(*#),#>(+%8#.)%+650)!(&# !"#$%&#6("60(#-'"#')&#!'(#0+7(#,'(#-)%!(&# by an industry, but Ms. del Rey is the one and study them in order to become the in power here, she is the master behind her 6(*,"%#,'(#-)%!(&#!"#>(;#%"!#5%0+@(#AK0)%# own manipulation. channeling Woody Guthrie. It’s crazy for me to think that she sold out, because H#)&.+!#!'(#$*,!#!+.(#H#,)-#X)%)#&(0#G(K# !')!I,#!'(#(45+/)0(%!#"7#,)K+%8#!')!#-(I*(# was the night of her now legendary SNL not allowed to change and grow as artists. performance. I was, mesmerized by what :')!#+7#AK0)%#')&#%(/(*#8"%(#(0(<!*+<Z# I thought was bizarrely beautiful girl in a ?*!+,!,#<)%#!*)%,7"*.#)%&#.)%+650)!(# striking white dress with an auburn quaf !'(.,(0/(,;#)%&#+%#!5*%;#>(<".(# sitting perfectly, with sad eyes and poutexpressions of their art. to-the-death lips. She began with the ')5%!+%8#Ea+&("#W).(,;#i#!'(#)66)*(%!# ?%&#!')!I,#-'"#X)%)#A(0#G(K#+,;#)# darling of the blogosphere last summer 6(*7"*.)%<(#)*!+,!9#?0!'"58'#H#0+@(#M"*%# c-'(*(#!'(#'(00#-),#HZd#?%&#!'(#-'"0(# !"#A+(#),#)#.5,+<)0#)0>5.;#H#0+@(#+!#."*(# time, I sat there in semi-awe, completely for the concept, for the phenomenon. Her (%!*)%<(&9#?!#!'(#(%&#H#')&#&(<+&(&# lyrics are stitched together commentaries that I had either witnessed the worst "%#(/(*K!'+%8#7*".#E='(#?.(*+<)%#A*().i# performance of all time, or a stroke of to Lolita references to party girl stories complete genius. from her past. More than anything, she is exploring the same issues we always Watching the blitzkreig that unfolded 7)<(;#7*".#-')!#X+]#D')+*#-*+!(,#+%#'(*#:JB# 6",!SJTX;#H#-),#75*!'(*#,(&5<(&3#-'"#-),# editorial, with a “radical-feminist” point this girl with her supposed lip-implants, "7#/+(-9#J'(I,#",!*)<+](&#>(<)5,(#E,'(I,# >+00+"%)+*(#A)&&K;#)%&#7"0@#,+%8+%8#6),!Z# wanting and taking like a man” and we all J'(#,((.(&#)%#(),K#!)*8(!#7"*#!'(#(/(*S know that scares the world. She uses sex <K%+<)0#?.(*+<)%#.(&+);#)%&#'(*#+%7).K# in the way that no one wants her to, she’s grew and grew, further blurring the line not just another slutty Britney Spears, >(!-((%#$<!+"%#)%&#*()0+!K9#^*+,!(%#:++8I,# ,'(I,#-')!#+,#T1_=9 “Weekend Update” skit addressed some of the ludicrousy of the backlash, C".+%8#7*".#/+*!5)00K#%"-'(*(;#6("60(# &(0+/(*+%8#)#&()&6)%#)6"0"8K#&*+66+%8# ')/(#<*+!+<+](&#'(*#E=*"F)%S'"*,(i#)!!)<@# with sarcasm for changing her name as that is unwarranted with her talent or )#.)*@(!+%8#8+.+<#%"!#5%0+@(#M">#AK0)%# (N6(*+(%<(9#?,#D')+*#,)+&;#EJ'(I,#-*+!+%8# and for failing to reach the high bar set for '(*,(07#+%!"#(N+,!(%<(9#J'(I,#8+/+%8#'(*,(07# past performances by Baha Men. Last I a part to play because God knows no checked, mediocore SNL performances one else will.” Clearly these critics are didn’t merit a reaction on par with hate talking about the wrong industry, because speech. all musicians come from nowhere and become something. She’s a manipulator There are two different issues at hand )%&#H#8+/(#'(*#<*(&+!;#,'(#+,#5,+%8# '(*(#-+!'#L,9#A(0#G)K9#b%(#+,#'(*#)<!5)0# (/(*K!'+%8#!"#'(*#)&/)%!)8(9# music and sound, and if her melancholy, half-tragic crooning paired with ghetto 6*(!!K#8+*0#45),+S*)6;#+,#+%#7)<!;#(/(%#8""&9# But although her music is what has got us talking, were more interested in her and her image, her self-described “Ghetto T)%<K#J+%)!*);i#!'(#/).6K#,(&5<!*(,,# persona.
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LOVE vs. lana del Rey Is her career in itself is a commentary on '"-#(),K#+!#+,#!"#%)/+8)!(#)%&#.)%+650)!(# the music industry? How under the guise of being “a product” of the industry, she )<!5)00K#(N(.60+$(,#)%&#>(<".(,#!'(# commentary on the industry itself? I don’t >(0+(/(#7"*#)#.+%5!(#!')!#X)%)#&(0#G(K#+,# some dumb girl, manipulated by producers into becoming a sex-kitten popstar drone. She is smart as hell, and fascinating, and all the more desirable because she doesn’t :?T=#5,9#H%#M*+!+,'#a"85(;#,'(#&(<0)*(&# )#,(<"%&#)0>5.;#,)K+%8#!')!#EHI/(#,)+&# )00#HI/(#')&#!"#,)K;i#)%&#!')!#E.5,+<#+,# secondary.” She could become another B)KSY#6",!SM0)<@#?0>5.#)%%"5%<(.(%!;# )#6*+<(0(,,#D+<),,";#)#<)%<(0(&#?**(,!(&# A(/(0"6.(%!9#R(*#<)*((*#+,#!'(#>(,!# performance art, and an impending disappearing act would create insatiety. =)0@#.)K#>(#<'()6;#>5!#+!#6)K,9#?%&#-(I*(# all buying into it. 0+/+#MAGNANINI