I went to see the amazingly talented Lana Del Rey at her Jones Beach concert... and to say it was legendary is an understatement.
In honor of the concert, I have been inspired to write an album review of "Norman F*****g Rockwell!" This album includes some amazing songs including her singles, "Mariners Apartment Complex," "Venice Bitch," and "Hope Is A Dangerous Thing For A Woman Like Me To Have."
"Norman F*****g Rockwell"
This song was the opener for the concert and truly the opener for the new album. This is the song that ties the album together. The first line of this song is "Goddamn man child… You f*cked me so good that I almost said I love you." The most iconic way to open up this album. In this song, she describes this man she loves but has put her through a lot of pain and suffering. She finds yourself getting feelings for this man, "Norman f*****g Rockwell." Lana uses the piano to compliment her sultry voice. This song is a mood setter for the whole album, each other song branches from this one.
"Mariners Apartment Complex"
The next song, Mariners Apartment Complex has an angelic feel. She mentions, "Jesus" several times, but in different contexts. She first says, "So kiss the sky and whisper to Jesus," a way of enlightenment, and allowing herself to open up to the possibilities and love from a higher power. The second time she refers to Jesus, she says, "I f*cked up, I know that but Jesus." She refers to Jesus' name in vain, this juxtaposition highlights her own personal conflicts with love and spirituality.
"Doin' Time"
Lana killed it on her cover of "Doin' Time" by Sublime. This song perfectly fits in with her other summertime songs. At her concert, she sung it after "Summertime Sadness." Lana gave this song a new edge, it sounds similar to the original but with her own style.
"Cinnamon Girl"
This song is underrated, probably the most underrated song in the whole album. The title of this song alludes to a line in her song "Radio," where she sings, "Now my life is sweet like cinnamon." She uses cinnamon to describe sweetness, but cinnamon is more of a bittersweet/tangy taste. Cinnamon is a more accurate description of her life compared to more sweeter goods like candy or sugar. In this song, as Lana says, "Cinnamon in my teeth," she describes the man she is with. It tells the story of a man who loves drugs more than he loves her. She is desperately trying to get him to be close to her, but he keeps pushing her away. Definitely check out this song if you haven't yet!
"California"
This song makes me go back to the man who inspired this album. I imagine this man she has been seeing is tough on the outside, but she wants him to open up. To illustrate this she says, "You don't ever have to be stronger than you really are when you're lying in my arms, baby" and "You don't ever have to act cooler than you think you should, you're brighter than the brightest stars." I imagine this man being a foreigner on a temporary trip to America. Lana and this man have a summer romance, but he must go back to his own country now. Lana is infatuated with the man, as she tells him she will always be around the California area, and he should see her if he were ever to come back to the Americas. She will be willing to show him a good time if he comes back and throws a party for him.
"Bartender"
The last song I will review is the only song from the new album that wasn't formerly released as a single. In this song, Lana has a conversation with her bartender. She announces her sobriety, "I'm not drinking wine, but that Cherry Coke you serve is fine" in a way that proves Lana isn't her usual crazy fun self. She also sticks to her personal theme with Cherry and Coca Cola, two themes that Lana fans have seen her uphold in the past in her songs, "Cherry" and "Cola."
In "Bartender," she contrasts the ladies of the canyon, as they wear black to the house parties and white to their tea parties, symbolizing a double life.
This is an amazing song on the track, and it was even more amazing live!