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Changes: Bel Air (song)

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{{Infobox song
  
{{Infobox song
−
|image = Image:Paradise_EP.jpg
 +
|image = File:Paradise EP.jpg
 
|artist = Lana Del Rey
  
|artist = Lana Del Rey
 
|written = [[Lana Del Rey]]<br>[[Dan Heath]]
  
|written = [[Lana Del Rey]]<br>[[Dan Heath]]
 
|producer = Dan Heath
  
|producer = Dan Heath
 
|time = 3:57
  
|time = 3:57
  +
|recorded = 2012
 
|Source = [[File:Plogo.png|125px|link=Paradise (album)]]
  
|Source = [[File:Plogo.png|125px|link=Paradise (album)]]
 
|Singles = {{PS}}
  
|Singles = {{PS}}
Line 12: Line 13:
 
|next = "[[Burning Desire (song)|Burning Desire]]"
  
|next = "[[Burning Desire (song)|Burning Desire]]"
 
}}
  
}}
−
'''"Bel Air"''' is a song written By [[Lana Del Rey]], and co-written and produced by [[Dan Heath]]. It is the closing track on her third EP, ''[[Paradise (EP)|Paradise]]''.
 +
"'''Bel Air'''" is a song written by [[Lana Del Rey]] and co-written and produced by [[Dan Heath]]. It is the closing track of her third EP, and second major-label release, ''[[Paradise (EP)|Paradise]]''.
   
 
==Writing and inspiration==
  
==Writing and inspiration==
  ⚫
"Bel Air" was recorded during the sessions for ''[[Paradise (EP)|Paradise]]''. Lyrically, it references many topics that previously appeared in Del Rey's music, such as roses, palm trees, and heaven. It also references the Los Angeles neighbourhood Bel-Air.
   
  ⚫
==Composition and recording==
⚫
''Bel Air'' was recorded during the sessions for ''Paradise''. Lyrically, it references many topics that previously appeared in Lana's music, such as roses, palm trees, and heaven.
  
  ⚫
The song is an airy ballad, the prototypical sound used throughout Del Rey's career. It begins with sounds of children playing overlapped with a light piano accompaniment. Del Rey's vocals begin softly, and melodically build throughout the composition of the song. Light percussion is heard during the choruses, featuring multiple layers of Del Rey's vocals, performed in a higher pitch than previously heard on her work on ''[[Born to Die (album)|Born to Die]]''. The song ends with a fade out of the sound of the children. The song was recorded at Electric Lemon Studios and Westlake Studios in Los Angeles, California, and it was mixed at House of Blues Studios in Los Angeles, California.
   
  +
==Critical reception==
−
The song may be about [[Barrie James O'Neill]], but this is unconfirmed.
  
  +
Canada.com reviewer Leah Collins called "Bel Air" an Enya-channeled, eerie waltz.<ref>http://o.canada.com/2012/11/08/lana-del-rey-debuts-bel-air-video-teases-short-film/</ref> Conversely, ''The Huffington Post'' dismissed both "Bel Air" and "[[Yayo (song)|Yayo]]" as ''[[Paradise (EP)|Paradise]]''<nowiki/>'s "filler tracks".<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/12/review-lana-del-rey-paradise-review_n_2118735.html</ref> Dissatisfied with other songs on ''Paradise'', ''Digital Spy'' said, on "Bel Air", Del Rey finally gets it right, calling the song "a snowy, Tim Burton-inspired ballad".<ref>http://www.digitalspy.com/music/albumreviews/a437881/lana-del-rey-paradise-ep-review.html</ref>
−  
⚫
==Composition==
  
−  
⚫
The song is an airy ballad, the prototypical sound used throughout Lana's career. It begins with sounds of children playing overlapped with a light piano accompaniment. Lana's vocals begin softly, and melodically build throughout the composition of the song. Light percussion is heard during the choruses, featuring multiple layers of Lana's vocals, performed in a higher pitch than previously heard on her work on ''[[Born to Die (album)|Born to Die]]''. The song ends with a fade out of the sound of the children.
  
   
 
==Cross-references==
  
==Cross-references==
  ⚫
*Lyrical mention of "[[Roses (song)|Roses]]", an unreleased song and common theme in Del Rey's work.
  ⚫
*The phrase "palm trees in the light" is reminiscent of themes in "[[Jump (song)|Jump]]".
  +
*"Gargoyles, standing, at the front of your gate; trying to tell me to wait" is a similar lyric to "I'm hoping at the gates they'll tell me that you're mine" from "[[Born to Die (song)|Born to Die]]"
   
  +
== Official versions ==
⚫
*Lyrical mention of "[[Roses (song)|Roses]]", an unreleased song and common theme in Lana's work.
  
  +
* Album version — 3:57
⚫
*The phrase "palm trees in the light" is reminiscent of themes in "[[Jump (song)|Jump]]".
  
  +
* Instrumental version — 3:51
   
 
==Music video==
  
==Music video==
  +
−
<div class="thumb tright" style= "position: relative; top: 0px; left: -2px; width:260px; background-color:#eeeeee;">
  
  +
=== Original music video ===
−
<div class="thumbinner">
  
  +
{{infobox mvideo
−
[[File:Bel Air|full|238 px]]
  
  +
|video = Lana del Rey - Bel Air
−
</div>
  
  +
|released = November 8, 2012
−
</div>
  
  +
|length= 4:07
−
{{Music video
  
  ⚫
|director = Kyle Newman<br>Spencer Susser
−
|Date = [[2012/April|April 23]], 2012
  
  ⚫
|producer = Tova Dann
⚫
|Director = Kyle Newman <br> Spencer Susser
  
  +
|choreographer = N/A
⚫
|Producer = Tova Dann
  
  +
|filmed= April/May 2012
−
|Time = 4:07
  
−
|Location = Los Angeles, CA
 +
|location= Los Angeles, CA
  +
|vevo views= N/A
−
|Source = <small>[[Paradise (EP)|Paradise]]</small>
  
 
}}
  
}}
 
====Background====
  
====Background====
−
During the filming for "[[Summertime Sadness (song)|Summertime Sadness]]", Lana recorded extra footage that would later be used for the ''Paradise'' trailer. The excess footage was also used to construct the video for "Bel Air".
 +
During the filming for "[[Summertime Sadness (song)|Summertime Sadness]]", Del Rey recorded extra footage that would later be used for the ''[[Paradise (EP)|Paradise]]'' trailer. The excess footage was also used to construct the video for "Bel Air". <span>The video was privatized in </span>[[2013/February|February, 2013]]<span>, for unexplained reasons although unofficial uploads still exist around the web.</span>
   
 
====Description====
  
====Description====
  ⚫
The video shows Del Rey, enrobed in a white gown, spinning and 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. The video was released as a promotional supplement on [[2012/November|November 8, 2012]], a day before the release of ''[[Paradise (EP)|Paradise]]''. The description section of the video states - "i lost my reputation, i forgot my truth. But i have my beauty and i have my youth. ''[[Tropico (film)|Tropico]]'' the film, coming next year".
   
  +
=== ''Tropico'' music video ===
⚫
The video shows Lana, enrobed in a white gown, spinning and twirling slowly in a blanket of fog. The desaturated shots are colored purple, blue, green, and red throughout the video. She does not lipsync the song, unlike all of her previous videos. The video was released as a promotional supplement on [[2012/November|November 8]], 2012, a day before the release of ''Paradise''. The description section of the video states - ''"i lost my reputation, i forgot my truth. But i have my beauty and i have my youth. '[[Tropico]]' the film, coming next year"''.
  
  +
{{Main|Tropico (film)}}
−  
  +
Del Rey's short film, ''[[Tropico (film)|Tropico]]'' (released December 6, 2013), contains a second music video for "Bel Air", as part of the third and final chapter of ''[[Tropico (film)|Tropico]] ''titled ''Bel Air''. It shows Del Rey and actor [[Shaun Ross]] dancing in a field as the sun sets.
−
The video was privatized in February, 2013, for unexplained reasons. Many copies still exist around the web.
  
−  
−
==Look #1==
  
−  
−
<gallery widths="80" orientation="landscape" spacing="small">
  
−
Vlcsnap-2013-05-21-03h14m41s94.png
  
−
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Vlcsnap-2013-05-21-03h15m10s131.png
  
−
Vlcsnap-2013-05-21-03h15m40s178.png
  
−
Vlcsnap-2013-05-21-03h15m44s211.png
  
−
Vlcsnap-2013-05-21-03h16m21s69.png
  
−
Vlcsnap-2013-05-21-03h15m53s50.png
  
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Vlcsnap-2013-05-21-03h16m54s149.png
  
−
Vlcsnap-2013-05-21-03h18m19s230.png
  
−
Vlcsnap-2013-05-21-03h18m22s4.png
  
−
</gallery>
  
   
 
==Lyrics==
  
==Lyrics==
Line 73: Line 63:
 
Trying to tell me to wait but I can’t wait to see you
  
Trying to tell me to wait but I can’t wait to see you
 
So I run like a child to heaven’s door
  
So I run like a child to heaven’s door
−
I don’t wanna be bad I won’t cheat you no more
 +
I don’t wanna be bad, I won’t cheat you no more
   
 
Roses, Bel Air, take me there
  
Roses, Bel Air, take me there
Line 79: Line 69:
 
Palm trees in the light, I can see late at night
  
Palm trees in the light, I can see late at night
 
Darling, I’m waiting to greet you
  
Darling, I’m waiting to greet you
−
Come to me baby
 +
Come to me, baby
   
−
Spotlight, Bad Baby
 +
Spotlight, bad baby, you’ve got a flair
−
You’ve got a flair
  
 
For the violentest kind of love anywhere out there
  
For the violentest kind of love anywhere out there
 
Mon amour, sweet child of mine, you’re divine
  
Mon amour, sweet child of mine, you’re divine
Line 91: Line 80:
 
Palm trees in the light, I can see late at night
  
Palm trees in the light, I can see late at night
 
Darling, I’m waiting to greet you
  
Darling, I’m waiting to greet you
−
Come to me baby
 +
Come to me, baby
   
 
Don’t be afraid of me, don’t be ashamed
  
Don’t be afraid of me, don’t be ashamed
−
Walking away from my soft resurrection
 +
Walk in the way of my soft resurrection
−
Idol of roses, iconic soul
 +
Idol of roses, iconic soul, I know your name
−
I know your name
  
 
Lead me to war with your brilliant direction
  
Lead me to war with your brilliant direction
   
Line 103: Line 91:
 
Palm trees in the light, I can see late at night
  
Palm trees in the light, I can see late at night
 
Darling, I’m waiting to greet you
  
Darling, I’m waiting to greet you
−
Come to me baby
 +
Come to me, baby
  +
 
Roses, Bel Air, take me there
  
Roses, Bel Air, take me there
 
I’ve been waiting to meet you
  
I’ve been waiting to meet you
  ⚫
Grenadine, sunshine, anything, son of mine
−  
  ⚫
Darling, I’m waiting to greet you
⚫
Grenadine, sunshine, can you break this heart of mine
  
  +
Come to me, baby
⚫
Darling I’m waiting to greet you, come to me baby
  
 
</poem>
  
</poem>
 
}}
  
}}
  +
 
==Credits==
  
==Credits==
 
'''Personnel'''
  
'''Personnel'''
  +
* Lana Del Rey <span>— vocals, backing vocals, songwriting</span>
−
*Strings & Piano — Dan Heath
  
  +
* Dan Heath <span>— songwriting, production, engineering, strings, piano</span>
−
*Violins — Kathleen Sloan & Songa Lee
 +
* Kathleen Sloan & Songa Lee <span>— violins</span>
−
*Engineering — Dan Heath, Tucker Robinson & Nikki Calvert
  
  +
* Tucker Robinson & Nikki Calvert <span>— engineering</span>
−
*Mastering  — John Davis at Metropolis Mastering (London)
  
  +
* Jeff Rothschild <span>— mixing</span>
−
*Recording — at Electric Lemon Studios & Westlake Studios (Los Angeles)
  
  +
* Peter Stanislaus <span>— mix engineer</span>
−
*Mixing — Jeff Rothschild at House of Blues Studios, Encino (California)
  
  +
* John Davis <span>— mastering</span>
−
*Mixing engineering — Peter Stanislaus
  
  +
  +
==Charts==
  +
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
  +
|-
  +
! scope="col" | Chart (2012)
  +
! scope="col" | Peak<br />position
  +
|-
  +
!France (SNEP)<ref>http://www.lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=Bel+Air&cat=s</ref>
  +
|109
  +
|-
  +
!UK (Official Charts Company)<ref>http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/121124cluk.txt</ref>
  +
|184
  +
|-
  +
!US Hot Rock Songs (''Billboard'')<ref>http://www.billboard.com/artist/306420/lana%2Bdel%2Brey/chart?f=902</ref>
  +
|50
  +
|}
  +
  +
== References ==
  +
<references />
  +
  +
{{Navbox album Paradise}}
  +
[[Category:Music videos]]
  +
[[Category:Paradise music videos]]
 
[[Category:Paradise songs]]
  
[[Category:Paradise songs]]
 
[[Category:Songs]]
  
[[Category:Songs]]
−
[[Category:Music videos]]
 +
[[Category:Released songs]]
−
[[Category:Videos]]
 +
[[Category:Tropico songs]]

Revision as of 14:35, 13 May 2020

"Bel Air" is a song written by Lana Del Rey and co-written and produced by Dan Heath. It is the closing track of her third EP, and second major-label release, Paradise.

Writing and inspiration

"Bel Air" was recorded during the sessions for Paradise. Lyrically, it references many topics that previously appeared in Del Rey's music, such as roses, palm trees, and heaven. It also references the Los Angeles neighbourhood Bel-Air.

Composition and recording

The song is an airy ballad, the prototypical sound used throughout Del Rey's career. It begins with sounds of children playing overlapped with a light piano accompaniment. Del Rey's vocals begin softly, and melodically build throughout the composition of the song. Light percussion is heard during the choruses, featuring multiple layers of Del Rey's vocals, performed in a higher pitch than previously heard on her work on Born to Die. The song ends with a fade out of the sound of the children. The song was recorded at Electric Lemon Studios and Westlake Studios in Los Angeles, California, and it was mixed at House of Blues Studios in Los Angeles, California.

Critical reception

Canada.com reviewer Leah Collins called "Bel Air" an Enya-channeled, eerie waltz.[1] Conversely, The Huffington Post dismissed both "Bel Air" and "Yayo" as Paradise's "filler tracks".[2] Dissatisfied with other songs on Paradise, Digital Spy said, on "Bel Air", Del Rey finally gets it right, calling the song "a snowy, Tim Burton-inspired ballad".[3]

Cross-references

  • Lyrical mention of "Roses", an unreleased song and common theme in Del Rey's work.
  • The phrase "palm trees in the light" is reminiscent of themes in "Jump".
  • "Gargoyles, standing, at the front of your gate; trying to tell me to wait" is a similar lyric to "I'm hoping at the gates they'll tell me that you're mine" from "Born to Die"

Official versions

  • Album version — 3:57
  • Instrumental version — 3:51

Music video

Original music video

Music video Information
Lana_del_Rey_-_Bel_Air Released November 8, 2012
Length 4:07
Director Kyle Newman
Spencer Susser
Producer Tova Dann
Filmed April/May 2012
Location Los Angeles, CA
Vevo views N/A

Background

During the filming for "Summertime Sadness", Del Rey recorded extra footage that would later be used for the Paradise trailer. The excess footage was also used to construct the video for "Bel Air". The video was privatized in February, 2013, for unexplained reasons although unofficial uploads still exist around the web.

Description

The video shows Del Rey, enrobed in a white gown, spinning and 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. The video was released as a promotional supplement on November 8, 2012, a day before the release of Paradise. The description section of the video states - "i lost my reputation, i forgot my truth. But i have my beauty and i have my youth. Tropico the film, coming next year".

Tropico music video

Main article: Tropico (film)

Del Rey's short film, Tropico (released December 6, 2013), contains a second music video for "Bel Air", as part of the third and final chapter of Tropico titled Bel Air. It shows Del Rey and actor Shaun Ross dancing in a field as the sun sets.

Lyrics

Gargoyles standing at the front of your gate
Trying to tell me to wait but I can’t wait to see you
So I run like a child 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, anything, son of mine
Darling, I’m waiting to greet you
Come to me, baby

Credits

Personnel

  • Lana Del Rey — vocals, backing vocals, songwriting
  • Dan Heath — songwriting, production, engineering, strings, piano
  • Kathleen Sloan & Songa Lee — violins
  • Tucker Robinson & Nikki Calvert — engineering
  • Jeff Rothschild — mixing
  • Peter Stanislaus — mix engineer
  • John Davis — mastering

Charts

Chart (2012) Peak
position
France (SNEP)[4] 109
UK (Official Charts Company)[5] 184
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[6] 50

References

  1. ↑ http://o.canada.com/2012/11/08/lana-del-rey-debuts-bel-air-video-teases-short-film/
  2. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/12/review-lana-del-rey-paradise-review_n_2118735.html
  3. ↑ http://www.digitalspy.com/music/albumreviews/a437881/lana-del-rey-paradise-ep-review.html
  4. ↑ http://www.lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=Bel+Air&cat=s
  5. ↑ http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/121124cluk.txt
  6. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/306420/lana%2Bdel%2Brey/chart?f=902


Plogo 2

"Ride"
"American"
"Cola"
"Body Electric"

"Blue Velvet"
"Gods & Monsters"
"Yayo"
"Bel Air"

Bonus tracks:
"Burning Desire"

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