That first line broke me. Followed by the line about her mother…when I was a kid around that age, my mother would yell at me for playing in a dress when men/boys were around. The tone was accusatory. Like it was trashy. I felt ashamed of myself for even existing. Then when I was assaulted at 9, I really believed I caused it somehow just by being a girl. There’s the fear as I got older that I was unintentionally being provocative. Dad’s friends making comments. Best friend hates you because her boyfriend made a pass. I makes you feel like…how did I cause this? You feel divisive. Try to take your power back. If everyone says you’re a whore, then own it. But it’s empty. They’re not holding the real you. You’re a ghost. Invisible. If you were raped? No one would care. You’re a whore, unable to be sullied any further. I truly feel that this is Lana’s best work to date. Thank you for taking the time to understand. Beautiful work
I agree, it's so good-and I notice she's bringing up her mother more in her most recent albums which is really interesting because we know she's all about her daddy and well, finding a daddy in other men maybe. I'm really intrigued by this disconnect with her mother because I, too, don't have a relationship with my mother.
What Lana has accomplished on this song is honestly mind-boggling. It's simultaneously a sharp critique on rape culture and a searing confessional about loss of innocence. I haven't been able to stop listening to it since it dropped (side note, she was insane for releasing this on Valentine's Day), and each time I discover another detail that heightens the experience of hearing it. If this song is anything to go by we are in for a ride with this new album.
dude fucking close reads of pop music is awesome. I really appreciate how serious you treat pop music, while not being at all pretentious and still maintaining a lightness
wow thank u so much for this analysis! im not american and english is not my first language, so i feel like now i will listen to the song with whole different perspective
Same for me, that's why i like to watch reviews about Lana's work, so i can catch some points made by people that understand right away some meanings on her songs than me, love this side of youtube 😁
for me this was body electric plus the best parts of ultraviolence; it’s flawless. DYING for a video that is hopefully equally as good. and yeah; she does allow herself to be a cartoon and the thing haters hate about her is that they think she doesn’t know that, that she’s not chosen it, and they hate that she’s in control. i just love the whole thing. let lana tease us! ❤
This song also gave me PJ Harvey Is this Desire? album production vibes. Very cool, Gothicky and the (un)subtle vocal pitching on "Jimmy only love me when he wanna get high" was super PJH circa late 90s.
very insightful analysis. I throughly enjoyed. to answer your question, i think by "them" she means the critics that have scrutinized her throughout her career.
I hope you review Caroline Polachek’s “Desire, I want to Turn into you” it’s honestly one of the most eclectic yet cohesive albums I’ve heard in a long time. Caroline’s siren-esque vocals over early 2000’s folktronica, psychedelic folk, Spanish flamenco, bagpipes, drum n bass, and maximalist artpop is absolutely mesmerizing! I think you would really admire it
Great review! Lana's most likely referencing "Shimmy, Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop" (1959) by Little Anthony and The Imperials. ua-cam.com/video/4DOFw3SJrd0/v-deo.html
I’m not certain but I think the orchestral part you mentioned around 15:10 is a distorted sample from the opening violin from the song Norman Fucking Rockwell
Your analysis really makes me wonder how close you are to the actual meaning that Lana have put into this song. But I think you just hit the spot when you started analysing the significance of the A&W metaphor in this song. As we all know, it’s a very Lana thing - referencing all these ‚Americana’ brands like Pepsi Cola, Diet Mountain Dew, cool shiny cars like Mustang, Chateau Marmont, Hollywood, etc. Thank you for the very insightful analysis!
What a great analysis!! Your insight really elucidated these lyrics for me. If I can share some of my own observations and opinions... There's an extra layer to it, and that's her music career. When I first heard it, I thought it sounded like a culmination of all her previous albums. And I think there are clues in the music alluding to this. The string break in "Part II" sounds a lot like Dark But Just a Game, and the lyrics of that song echo these lyrics and could certainly provide additional context. Then the whole "Jimmy Jimmy" part hearkens back to the Born to Die era, especially Lolita, which also samples childhood songs, and adds depth to your observation about childhood vs. sexuality. Even her catalogue of her "the length of my hair, my face, the shape of my body" reminds me of "I know I'm a mess with my long hair, and my sun tan, short dress, bare feet". She's gone back to her hip hop roots for the first time in a while, and Born to Die is very much an album about her youth. And of course there's the character of Jimmy, who is featured in Ultraviolence and onward. In light of all that, I would say that the consumerism and the brand of A&W is also the fact that she's a consumable brand, especially one that's centered around American imagery. Yeah, so I don't think I have a real thesis for any of this per se. Hope these ramblings make sense and can contribute to the fascinating discussion and analysis of this mind-blowing song.
I’ve been watching your videos since ‘Lover’ came out. I just want say, thank you for filling in the void I’ve felt ever since I finished taking English Lit classes in college as a STEM student. Your videos are awesome!!
Please review Rebecca Black's album "Let Her Burn". There is definitely something to say about her transformation and how she mixed many subgenres and still kept the clear narrative on the album
I know this song has been out for a while, and I'm sure it's been pointed out already, but "maybe I just kinda like this" could also be her parroting back what men tell women when they're being assaulted. In that whole verse, that seems to be what she's doing: I'm a princess (men call women princess in a derogatory way whenever we push against them, and how dare we do that? We're just normal women, but if we want to act like a princess, then fine.) I'm divisive (we change our minds and 'send wrong signals', how can men ever hope to figure us out when even we are unsure?) If you look at it through that lense, it really does make sense and seem like she's repeating the excuses and insults that men give. I also believe that when she talks about being a side-piece at 33, she's talking about her breakup with Sean Larkin. He got engaged to another woman when he and Lana were in couples therapy and used to call her. In the Jimmy Jimmy Cocoa Puffs part, it's directly mirroring the clap games little girls play, just distorted and almost demonic sounding in some parts. It speaks on how early the corruption starts, and how at the core, every distorted, drugged up, broken whore started off as just an innocent girl doing cartwheels and playing patty cake.
i LOVE a&w! you should review (if you like it, obviously), kelela's new LP "raven"! one of my favorite albums in a long time. very excited for lana's new album too!
Black Country New Road just announced that they're releasing a live concert video of all new songs on Monday morning. How great would it be if Professor Skye did a live reaction/analysis video of him watching the concert and reacting in real-time? Or maybe a new interview with the band about the new songs/new album?
I live in Kansas. Not Russell, but 30 min from there. I know the A&W you stopped at. Im sorry KS was bittersweet for you. I enjoyed your thoughts on Lana. It’s beautiful that you and your daughter can enjoy her together. I love that for you. My daughter is in her 20s. She still can’t stand her. Hopefully I get lucky like you and my daughter can at least tolerate one song we can share.
When I heard the 'them' line I thought it was in reference to her fame, and the negative impact that her portrayal by the media has had on her self image
Jack Antonoff's nickname for Lana is "Jimmy." He mentions this in his video explaining the song "Stop Making This Hurt." And "Jimmy" is sung about in that song "Jimmy's on the road tonight, she doesn't recognize her country...." And he produced this song. So Lana may be singing about herself, or at least part of her personality, here when she sings about Jimmy.
But in a way, it is IS about root beer and restaurants It feels like she’s referencing old Americana and modernizing it. That’s like the main thing I took from the song, it evokes pictures in my head of root beer and small towns somewhere in Kansas or Kentucky… It’s a really multilayered song, I love it
Your analysis is perfect. I love this song! It has Normal F* Rockwell vibe with better lyrics. And yes, her best lyrics ever! My ex girlfriend (from California) was a huge fan of Lana Del Rey, and at the beginning this fact was totally red flag, but as it turned out.. I started liking her music quite a lot, as well. And also maybe from that point I began being less sexist.. Even if there are still many things related to my inconcious sexism that I have to figure out, yet.. (other interesting insights from you about patriarchy and bias by the way, thanks again for that).. P.s. at one point I think Radiohead sued Lana Del Rey for one of her songs. Plagiarism is kind of a slippery territory in my opinion and I usually don't care that much, but it is clear that they are one of her major inspiration throughout her career..
What if there are nine parts? I haven't checked to see if this works yet, but given your comment about the deliberate nine rhyme at the end, I wouldn't put it past Lana to have carried this 'nine' theme into the actual structure of the song. Such a Lana thing to do. I'm going to have to check now!
bro you didnt even mention the most central piece of back info: it’s all about being a wh0r3 to the critics and the way THEY throwed her around, tore her down for years. gosh she even released a conversation on that with billie eilish for Interview magazine literally 15 minutes previous the release of the song on Valentine’s Day. But I liked your vid, definitely didn’t know about the children’s game you talked about in the end. I’ll go check out your channel
Who is “them talking.” Critics talking about the influence of her early work? New producers that want her to move in different direction. Every good joke is a double take. You can break language and stuff more takes into a punch line. A&W has at least three. She’s singing someone else’s music right now, or making these albums for someone else. She’s being used as a vehicle for someone else’s ideas right now.
That first line broke me. Followed by the line about her mother…when I was a kid around that age, my mother would yell at me for playing in a dress when men/boys were around. The tone was accusatory. Like it was trashy. I felt ashamed of myself for even existing. Then when I was assaulted at 9, I really believed I caused it somehow just by being a girl. There’s the fear as I got older that I was unintentionally being provocative. Dad’s friends making comments. Best friend hates you because her boyfriend made a pass. I makes you feel like…how did I cause this?
You feel divisive. Try to take your power back. If everyone says you’re a whore, then own it. But it’s empty. They’re not holding the real you. You’re a ghost. Invisible. If you were raped? No one would care. You’re a whore, unable to be sullied any further.
I truly feel that this is Lana’s best work to date. Thank you for taking the time to understand. Beautiful work
I agree, it's so good-and I notice she's bringing up her mother more in her most recent albums which is really interesting because we know she's all about her daddy and well, finding a daddy in other men maybe. I'm really intrigued by this disconnect with her mother because I, too, don't have a relationship with my mother.
Also, I'm so sorry that happened to you
I fee sorry for you. Nonetheless, thank you for this insight.
THIS.
What Lana has accomplished on this song is honestly mind-boggling. It's simultaneously a sharp critique on rape culture and a searing confessional about loss of innocence. I haven't been able to stop listening to it since it dropped (side note, she was insane for releasing this on Valentine's Day), and each time I discover another detail that heightens the experience of hearing it. If this song is anything to go by we are in for a ride with this new album.
@adam When it was mistakenly announced somewhere that it would drop on Feb 16, I thought she was insane for NOT dropping it On V-Day😊
dude fucking close reads of pop music is awesome. I really appreciate how serious you treat pop music, while not being at all pretentious and still maintaining a lightness
your album & bottle of A&W in the back💘😭
wow thank u so much for this analysis! im not american and english is not my first language, so i feel like now i will listen to the song with whole different perspective
As a language teacher, I really appreciate this comment. I do try to enunciate clearly and avoid inscrutable slang
Same here!!
Same for me, that's why i like to watch reviews about Lana's work, so i can catch some points made by people that understand right away some meanings on her songs than me, love this side of youtube 😁
for me this was body electric plus the best parts of ultraviolence; it’s flawless. DYING for a video that is hopefully equally as good. and yeah; she does allow herself to be a cartoon and the thing haters hate about her is that they think she doesn’t know that, that she’s not chosen it, and they hate that she’s in control. i just love the whole thing. let lana tease us! ❤
Yes! So happy you’re excited for Lana’s new album and that you loved “A&W”. Great video as always!!! I always love hearing your insights and analysis
This song also gave me PJ Harvey Is this Desire? album production vibes. Very cool, Gothicky and the (un)subtle vocal pitching on "Jimmy only love me when he wanna get high" was super PJH circa late 90s.
the soda trilogy! diet Mountain Dew, cola and now A&W! looking forward to more hopefully an orange Fanta next lol
very insightful analysis. I throughly enjoyed.
to answer your question, i think by "them" she means the critics that have scrutinized her throughout her career.
I hope you review Caroline Polachek’s “Desire, I want to Turn into you” it’s honestly one of the most eclectic yet cohesive albums I’ve heard in a long time. Caroline’s siren-esque vocals over early 2000’s folktronica, psychedelic folk, Spanish flamenco, bagpipes, drum n bass, and maximalist artpop is absolutely mesmerizing! I think you would really admire it
Second this!!
YES
Caroline 100% has AOTY so far! Lana and Rebecca Black being close 2nd
Great review! Lana's most likely referencing "Shimmy, Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop" (1959) by Little Anthony and The Imperials. ua-cam.com/video/4DOFw3SJrd0/v-deo.html
Came to say that too
@@shadesofcool6510 I like your Lana playlist😊
I’m not certain but I think the orchestral part you mentioned around 15:10 is a distorted sample from the opening violin from the song Norman Fucking Rockwell
Your analysis really makes me wonder how close you are to the actual meaning that Lana have put into this song. But I think you just hit the spot when you started analysing the significance of the A&W metaphor in this song. As we all know, it’s a very Lana thing - referencing all these ‚Americana’ brands like Pepsi Cola, Diet Mountain Dew, cool shiny cars like Mustang, Chateau Marmont, Hollywood, etc. Thank you for the very insightful analysis!
What a great analysis!! Your insight really elucidated these lyrics for me.
If I can share some of my own observations and opinions... There's an extra layer to it, and that's her music career. When I first heard it, I thought it sounded like a culmination of all her previous albums. And I think there are clues in the music alluding to this. The string break in "Part II" sounds a lot like Dark But Just a Game, and the lyrics of that song echo these lyrics and could certainly provide additional context. Then the whole "Jimmy Jimmy" part hearkens back to the Born to Die era, especially Lolita, which also samples childhood songs, and adds depth to your observation about childhood vs. sexuality. Even her catalogue of her "the length of my hair, my face, the shape of my body" reminds me of "I know I'm a mess with my long hair, and my sun tan, short dress, bare feet". She's gone back to her hip hop roots for the first time in a while, and Born to Die is very much an album about her youth. And of course there's the character of Jimmy, who is featured in Ultraviolence and onward. In light of all that, I would say that the consumerism and the brand of A&W is also the fact that she's a consumable brand, especially one that's centered around American imagery.
Yeah, so I don't think I have a real thesis for any of this per se. Hope these ramblings make sense and can contribute to the fascinating discussion and analysis of this mind-blowing song.
Great to see someone go in depth into such a great song. Cant wait to see your review of the record
I’ve been watching your videos since ‘Lover’ came out. I just want say, thank you for filling in the void I’ve felt ever since I finished taking English Lit classes in college as a STEM student. Your videos are awesome!!
I think 'Jimmy' is also what Jack Antonoff calls Lana (I believe on 'Stop Making This Hurt' on the latest Bleachers record)
Please review Rebecca Black's album "Let Her Burn". There is definitely something to say about her transformation and how she mixed many subgenres and still kept the clear narrative on the album
Love the new track. It kind remember me Something in the way of Nirvana. It’s so post grunge this track and Lana in general. I love her.
I know this song has been out for a while, and I'm sure it's been pointed out already, but "maybe I just kinda like this" could also be her parroting back what men tell women when they're being assaulted. In that whole verse, that seems to be what she's doing:
I'm a princess (men call women princess in a derogatory way whenever we push against them, and how dare we do that? We're just normal women, but if we want to act like a princess, then fine.)
I'm divisive (we change our minds and 'send wrong signals', how can men ever hope to figure us out when even we are unsure?)
If you look at it through that lense, it really does make sense and seem like she's repeating the excuses and insults that men give.
I also believe that when she talks about being a side-piece at 33, she's talking about her breakup with Sean Larkin. He got engaged to another woman when he and Lana were in couples therapy and used to call her.
In the Jimmy Jimmy Cocoa Puffs part, it's directly mirroring the clap games little girls play, just distorted and almost demonic sounding in some parts. It speaks on how early the corruption starts, and how at the core, every distorted, drugged up, broken whore started off as just an innocent girl doing cartwheels and playing patty cake.
Your self-awareness is quite admirable. Great video… as always 💙
Wow I'm really pleasantly surprised you got to this. The runtime is definitely warranted can't wait to see what you have to say about the track.
You should really listen to caroline polachek's new album desire i wanna turn into, is the most acclaimed album of the year so far and its amazing
also pang her debut album is amazing
Thanks for this video. Please do more of Lana’s records.
i LOVE a&w! you should review (if you like it, obviously), kelela's new LP "raven"! one of my favorite albums in a long time. very excited for lana's new album too!
Black Country New Road just announced that they're releasing a live concert video of all new songs on Monday morning. How great would it be if Professor Skye did a live reaction/analysis video of him watching the concert and reacting in real-time? Or maybe a new interview with the band about the new songs/new album?
Can't wait for the record!!!
That line "it doesn't really really matter" is stuck in my head and this album might be her best.
Have you listened to "Desire, I want to turn into you" by Caroline Polachek? It's great
This new 100 gecs song is punk as hell!!! I hope you review their album that’s coming soon !!!
'Them' are the critics and the people talking shit about her since the beginning
my heart hurt after watching this video. this song is so dark and sad, yet very catchy for my ears. thank you for sharing.
I live in Kansas. Not Russell, but 30 min from there. I know the A&W you stopped at. Im sorry KS was bittersweet for you. I enjoyed your thoughts on Lana. It’s beautiful that you and your daughter can enjoy her together. I love that for you. My daughter is in her 20s. She still can’t stand her. Hopefully I get lucky like you and my daughter can at least tolerate one song we can share.
Love these review !! Keep them coming
When I heard the 'them' line I thought it was in reference to her fame, and the negative impact that her portrayal by the media has had on her self image
Both of the two new Lana songs are extraordinary.
You gave a new angle about American, A&W, and commercialism. Thank you!
Jack Antonoff's nickname for Lana is "Jimmy." He mentions this in his video explaining the song "Stop Making This Hurt." And "Jimmy" is sung about in that song "Jimmy's on the road tonight, she doesn't recognize her country...." And he produced this song. So Lana may be singing about herself, or at least part of her personality, here when she sings about Jimmy.
But in a way, it is IS about root beer and restaurants
It feels like she’s referencing old Americana and modernizing it.
That’s like the main thing I took from the song, it evokes pictures in my head of root beer and small towns somewhere in Kansas or Kentucky…
It’s a really multilayered song, I love it
Listen to Caroline Polachek’s “Desire, I Want To Turn Into You”. It’s easily the best album of the year so far!
Bravo to you. So impressed with all of this. ❤
Lana Del Rey on Lean 😳‼
Your analysis is perfect. I love this song! It has Normal F* Rockwell vibe with better lyrics. And yes, her best lyrics ever!
My ex girlfriend (from California) was a huge fan of Lana Del Rey, and at the beginning this fact was totally red flag, but as it turned out.. I started liking her music quite a lot, as well. And also maybe from that point I began being less sexist.. Even if there are still many things related to my inconcious sexism that I have to figure out, yet.. (other interesting insights from you about patriarchy and bias by the way, thanks again for that)..
P.s. at one point I think Radiohead sued Lana Del Rey for one of her songs. Plagiarism is kind of a slippery territory in my opinion and I usually don't care that much, but it is clear that they are one of her major inspiration throughout her career..
from the moment I heard the guitar with the piano I felt the radiohead sound strongly
Really interesting analysis.
thanks again for the great video prof!
I think the Lana del Radiohead is not a good name considering their history (Radiohead sued her once but Lana did win the case)
Creep by Radiohead was actually accused of plagiarizing the song “The Air That I Breathe” in the first place LOL
They didn’t sue her, the case was dropped outside of court
Interestingly Radiohead have been my favourite act for years. Lana I have listened to more than anyone else in the last year.
American always for the “American dream”, I think, she always is referencing that, she is so post grunge. So Kurt.
What if there are nine parts? I haven't checked to see if this works yet, but given your comment about the deliberate nine rhyme at the end, I wouldn't put it past Lana to have carried this 'nine' theme into the actual structure of the song. Such a Lana thing to do. I'm going to have to check now!
MASTERPIECE
I really was hoping someone will mention how this song have Radiohead atmosphere
This song fucking rules and cream soda ....yes
Best reaction video
The only real source of joy is human connection AND, AND - Nature.
Very interesting interpretation.
The production sounds more like Trent Reznor than Radiohead
I said the exact thing.
Review Avey Tare's new album, which is called 7s
I think "hearing them talking" is about the industry
bro you didnt even mention the most central piece of back info: it’s all about being a wh0r3 to the critics and the way THEY throwed her around, tore her down for years. gosh she even released a conversation on that with billie eilish for Interview magazine literally 15 minutes previous the release of the song on Valentine’s Day. But I liked your vid, definitely didn’t know about the children’s game you talked about in the end. I’ll go check out your channel
Please review Raye’s “My 21st Century Blues”
12:10 giggled so hard
Def 3 parts
I heard a more Nine inch nails influence than Radiohead.
Same!!
Best love letter to Jim Morrison
12:01
Please review the masterpiece of an album called “Desire, I Want To Turn Into You” by Caroline Polachek 🙏
Have you listened to Lana's earlier albums? I would like to know what your opinion is.
It's better than Radiohead. Its reminiscent of Lows last two albums reinvention.
Who is “them talking.” Critics talking about the influence of her early work? New producers that want her to move in different direction.
Every good joke is a double take. You can break language and stuff more takes into a punch line. A&W has at least three. She’s singing someone else’s music right now, or making these albums for someone else. She’s being used as a vehicle for someone else’s ideas right now.
virgils root beer
Watched it again and came to think, oh the irony of almost calling it Lana Del Radiohead
11:30 wtf...
Exactly, disgusting
I think Lana del ray may have more overlap with Joan didion them andrew bird
Dang, good point.
Betcha she doesn't get a corporation tie-in with A&W for this. It's really great, but what a bleak song.
I don't really like Lana but still excited to watch this
Really recommend giving this song a listen
Day 77 of Asking for you to Review the song Achilles Come Down by Gang of Youth
"Lyricism" does *not* mean "lyrics."