By Kyler Johnson/Gator Galaxy Junior Editor
Lana Del Rey was just a little over 18 years old when she started singing, however since then, she has grown into a top-selling artist and has blessed fans with her cinematic-vintage voice.
In January 2012, her first album, “Born to Die,” was released, it received a lot of mixed reviews. However, it was the 5th top selling album in 2012 with songs like “National Anthem,” “Off to The Races,” and “Video Games.”
In November 2012, Del Rey released the Paradise Edition of “Born to Die” which added songs such as “Cola,” “Ride,” and “American.” This definitely built on to the masterpiece that is “Born to Die.” The Paradise Edition was even nominated for a Grammy under the Best Pop Vocal Album.
Then, in December 2013, Del Rey released a short-film titled “Tropico,” which covered three songs off the Paradise Edition, “Bel Air,” “Gods and Monsters,” and “Body Electric.” The film received many great reviews because of the cinematography and choreography.
In June 2014, Del Rey released her album “Ultraviolence” to mixed reviews. While, I did enjoy many of the songs of the album like, “Florida Kilos,” “Brooklyn Baby,” “West Coast,” and “Old Money” if I had to put her albums in order, “Ultraviolence” is my least favorite.
Del Rey released her newest album “Honeymoon” in September 2105. Looking at it holistically, it is obvious Del Rey put a lot of work in towards the album. Each song feels unique and has a message. Some of the songs featured are “The Blackest Day,” “24,” “Freak,” and “Art Deco.” Each song features Del Rey’s beautiful vocals going from highs and lows.
Earlier this year, Del Rey toured North America on her “Endless Summer Tour” featuring Courtney Love and Grimes. I got to see Del Rey live at Red Rocks Amphitheater near Denver, Colorado on May 12. I waited in line to see Del Rey starting at 10 a.m. the day of the show and waited up until the start of the event at 7 p.m. I met many fans who shared their stories about Del Rey and their favorite songs. When the show began, Courtney Love opened performing some of her popular songs, like “Doll Parts.”
When Del Rey stepped out on stage, she opened with “Born to Die,” and even went on to sing “Cola,” “Video Games,” and for the first time live, “Serial Killer.” In the end, the show didn’t seem like it lasted three hours. The concert was amazing, and it was truly a night I’ll never forget.
If you are interested in Del Rey’s music, you should definitely check her out on Spotify or iTunes.
