"Bel Air" is a song by Lana Del Rey, co-written with and produced by Dan Heath. It serves as the closing track on the standard edition of her second major-label EP, Paradise, which was released worldwide on November 13, 2012.
Background[]
The instrumental of the song leaked on November 22, 2012, and later leaked in .aif format on November 22, 2013. A demo has also been rumored to exist.[S 1]
Composition[]
The airy ballad begins with a sound sample of children playing overlapped by a light piano accompaniment. Del Rey's vocals begin and softly and melodically build throughout the song. Light percussion is heard during the choruses, which feature multiple layers of Del Rey's vocals, performed in a higher pitch than commonly heard in Del Rey's previous work. The song fades out with the sample of the children playing.
Critical reception[]
Canada.com reviewer Leah Collins described the song as an "eery [sic] waltz", and noted the layered vocals in the chorus were reminiscent of an Enya song.[1] Conversely, The Huffington Post writer Sian Watson dismissed both "Bel Air" and "Yayo" as "filler tracks" on the EP.[2] Robert Copsey of Digital Spy wrote that Del Rey "[got] it right" with the "snowy, Tim Burton-inspired ballad", and that the song was proof that "there's plenty more to be excited for on album two".[3]
Music videos[]
Original music video[]
| Music video | Information | |
|---|---|---|
|
Released | November 8, 2012 |
| Length | 4:07 | |
| Director | Kyle Newman Spencer Susser | |
| Producer | Tova Dann | |
| Filmed | April–May 2012 | |
| Location | Los Angeles, California | |
| Vevo views | N/A | |
Background[]
During the filming for "Summertime Sadness", Del Rey recorded extra B-roll footage that would later be compiled for use for the Paradise trailer; this excess footage also constructed a music video for "Bel Air".
The video was released as a promotional supplement on November 8, 2012, a few days before the release of Paradise. The original description of the video upload stated - "i lost my reputation, i forgot my truth. But i have my beauty and i have my youth. Tropico the film, coming next year".
Description[]
The video shows Del Rey in a white gown, twirling slowly in a blanket of fog. The desaturated shots are colored purple, blue, green, red, sepia, and classic black and white throughout the video.
Tropico short film[]
- Main article: Tropico (film)
| Music video | Information | |
|---|---|---|
|
Released | December 5, 2013 |
| Length | 27:08 | |
| Director | Anthony Mandler | |
| Producer | Heather Heller | |
| Filmed | June 2013 | |
| Location | Los Angeles, California | |
| Vevo views | 11 million+ views | |
Description[]
The song is one of three from Paradise that were featured in Del Rey's 2013 short film, Tropico, acting as the soundtrack to the eponymous third chapter of the triptych. The final sequence begins with narration from the actor portraying John Wayne as God, over scenes of actor Shaun Ross driving Del Rey through a dreamlike, golden field in a vintage car. The two are dressed in modern street clothes, but Del Rey is shown throwing her jewelry from the moving car. The car stops upon a scenic view of a majestic tree and blinding sun, and the two disrobe while scenes of the embracing couple donned in white fade in and out, mirroring an angelic ascension. The song beings, and the two wistfully dance together in the meadow in their new white clothing. The dancing pair begin to levitate and slowly ascend, the film ending with a pulsating negative image of the two suspended in the air.
Tropico EP[]
- Main article: Tropico (EP)
To accompany the release of the short film, an EP featuring the tracks "Body Electric", "Gods & Monsters", and "Bel Air" was released exclusively to iTunes on December 6, 2013. This EP also includes a digital copy of the short film itself.
Cross-references[]
- Roses are mentioned in many of Del Rey's songs, including "Honeymoon", "Roses Bloom for You", "Violets for Roses", "Guns And Roses", "JFK", "Stoplight De-Lite", "If I Die Young", and the song of the same name.
- The phrase "palm trees in the light" is reminiscent of themes in "Jump" and "Fishtail". Palm trees are also mentioned in "Neon Palm".
- The phrase "like a child/baby" is also used in "Young and Beautiful", "Let Me Love You like a Woman", and "American".
- Heaven is also mentioned in "Say Yes to Heaven", "Television Heaven", "You & Me", and "Match Made in Heaven", among many other song and poems.
- Grenadine is also mentioned in "Black Bathing Suit".
Official versions[]
- Album version – 3:57
- Instrumental version – 3:51
Lyrics[]
Gargoyles standing at the front of your gate
Tryin' to tell me to wait, but I can't wait to see you
So, I run like I'm mad to Heaven's door
I don't wanna be bad, I won't cheat you no more
Roses, Bel Air, take me there
I've been waiting to meet you
Palm trees in the light, I can see late at night
Darling, I'm waiting to greet you
Come to me, baby
Spotlight, bad baby, you've got a flair
For the violentest kind of love anywhere out there
Mon amour, sweet child of mine, you're divine
Didn't anyone ever tell you it's okay to shine?
Roses, Bel Air, take me there
I've been waiting to meet you
Palm trees in the light, I can see late at night
Darling, I'm waiting to greet you
Come to me, baby
Don't be afraid of me
Don't be ashamed
Walk in the way of my soft resurrection
Idol of roses, iconic soul, I know your name
Lead me to war with your brilliant direction
Roses, Bel Air, take me there
I've been waiting to meet you
Palm trees in the light, I can see late at night
Darling, I'm waiting to greet you
Come to me, baby
Roses, Bel Air, take me there
I've been waiting to meet you
Grenadine, sunshine, can you break this heart of mine?
Darling, I'm waiting to greet you
Come to me, baby
Credits[]
- Personnel[a]
- Lana Del Rey – songwriting, vocals
- Dan Heath – songwriting, production, engineering, strings, piano
- Tucker Robinson – engineering
- Nikki Calvert – engineering
- Kathleen Sloan – violins
- Songa Lee – violins
- Jeff Rothschild – mixing
- Peter Stanislaus – mix engineer
- John Davis – mastering
- Technical
- Published by EMI / Songs Music Publishing LLC o/b/o Songs of SMP (ASCAP), Yorkshire Moors (ASCAP)
- Mastered at Metropolis Mastering, London, United Kingdom
- Recorded at Electric Lemon Studios and Westlake Studios, Los Angeles, United States
- Mixed at House of Blues Studios, Encino, United States
