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|written = [[Lana Del Rey]]<br>[[Rick Nowels]]
  
|written = [[Lana Del Rey]]<br>[[Rick Nowels]]
 
|producer = [[Paul Epworth]]
  
|producer = [[Paul Epworth]]
−
|altproducer = Rick Nowels <small>(vocals)</small><br>[[Barrie James O'Neill]] <small>(?)</small>
 +
|altproducer = Rick Nowels <small>(vocals)</small><br>[[Barrie-James O'Neill]] <small>(?)</small>
 
|recorded = 2013
  
|recorded = 2013
 
|time = 5:14<br><small>(See [[#Official versions|official versions]])</small>
  
|time = 5:14<br><small>(See [[#Official versions|official versions]])</small>
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|previous ="[[The Other Woman (song)|The Other Woman]]"
  
|previous ="[[The Other Woman (song)|The Other Woman]]"
 
|next ="[[Guns and Roses (song)|Guns and Roses]]"
  
|next ="[[Guns and Roses (song)|Guns and Roses]]"
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|Last single image = BB cover.jpg
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|Last single link = Brooklyn Baby (song)
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|Last single title = Brooklyn Baby
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|This single image = BB-TREP.jpg
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|This single link = Black Beauty (song)
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|This single title = Black Beauty
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|Next single image = Hbtb.jpg
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|Next single link = High by the Beach (song)
  +
|Next single title = High by the Beach
 
}}
  
}}
 
{{Wikipedia|Black Beauty (Lana Del Rey song)}}
  
{{Wikipedia|Black Beauty (Lana Del Rey song)}}
−
"'''Black Beauty'''" is a song by [[Lana Del Rey]] from her second major-label album ''[[Ultraviolence (album)|Ultraviolence]]''. It was written with [[Rick Nowels]] and produced by [[Paul Epworth]] while Nowels produced the vocals. A separate registration exists listing her ex-boyfriend [[Barrie James O'Neill]] as a co-creator, however his contributions are unknown. The demo was finished sometime in June 2013 and leaked on July 20, 2013. It serves as the first bonus track from the album.
 +
"'''Black Beauty'''" is a song by [[Lana Del Rey]] from her second major-label studio album, ''[[Ultraviolence (album)|Ultraviolence]]''. It was written with [[Rick Nowels]] and produced by [[Paul Epworth]] while Nowels produced the vocals. A separate registration exists listing her ex-boyfriend [[Barrie-James O'Neill]] as a co-creator, however his contributions are unknown. The demo was finished sometime in June 2013 and leaked on July 20, 2013. It serves as the first bonus track from the album.
   
 
It was released as the album's 3rd single on November 21, 2014 exclusively in Germany.<ref>[http://www.universal-music.de/lanadelrey/news/detail/article:231114/lana-del-rey-veroeffentlicht-die-remix-ep-black-beauty ''Lana Del Rey veröffentlicht die Remix EP "Black Beauty"'' (Press release) [Accessed: November 27, 2014<nowiki>]</nowiki>]</ref> A remix EP was released on the same day through Universal Music Deutschland's main site.<ref>[http://www.universal-music.de/main?url=L2xhbmFkZWxyZXkvZGlza29ncmFmaWUvZGV0YWlsL3Byb2R1Y3Q6MjI3NzM4L2JsYWNrLWJlYXV0eQ==&album=227738 Black Beauty: The Remix EP]</ref>
  
It was released as the album's 3rd single on November 21, 2014 exclusively in Germany.<ref>[http://www.universal-music.de/lanadelrey/news/detail/article:231114/lana-del-rey-veroeffentlicht-die-remix-ep-black-beauty ''Lana Del Rey veröffentlicht die Remix EP "Black Beauty"'' (Press release) [Accessed: November 27, 2014<nowiki>]</nowiki>]</ref> A remix EP was released on the same day through Universal Music Deutschland's main site.<ref>[http://www.universal-music.de/main?url=L2xhbmFkZWxyZXkvZGlza29ncmFmaWUvZGV0YWlsL3Byb2R1Y3Q6MjI3NzM4L2JsYWNrLWJlYXV0eQ==&album=227738 Black Beauty: The Remix EP]</ref>
   
 
==Background and writing==
  
==Background and writing==
−
Del Rey stated that the song was for her second major label album, which would be more spiritual, but after it leaked the status of the song on the album became unknown. The song is about Del Rey loving a man who doesn't appreciate the beauty of life, and lamenting the sadness of this. This theme connects the song to others such as "[[Next to Me (song)|Next to Me]]" and "[[Peace (song)|Peace]]". It was confirmed on May 8, 2014 that it would feature as a bonus track on ''Ultraviolence''. A radio mix version of the song with a length of 4 minutes and 5 seconds is registered on PPL Repertoire, but remains unreleased.<ref>ISRC: GBUM71404671</ref>
 +
Del Rey stated that the song was for her second major label album, which would be more spiritual, but after it leaked the status of the song on the album became unknown. The song is about Del Rey loving a man who doesn't appreciate the beauty of life, and lamenting the sadness of this. This theme connects the song to others such as "[[Next to Me (song)|Next to Me]]" and "[[Peace (song)|Peace]]". It was confirmed on May 8, 2014 that it would feature as a bonus track on ''Ultraviolence''. A radio mix version of the song without the bridge was leaked on September 20, 2019.<ref>ISRC: GBUM71404671</ref>
  +
The original file of the demo is called "LDR-Black-Beauty-Blaises-version-".
   
 
==Composition==
  
==Composition==
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==Critical reception==
  
==Critical reception==
−
MuuMuse's Bradley Stern compared the song to Del Rey's 2012 single "[[Ride (song)|Ride]]", calling it "an unbelievably gorgeous track" and "one of Lana's greatest epics". <ref>http://www.muumuse.com/2014/06/lana-del-rey-ultraviolence-black-blue-beauty-album-review.html/</ref>
 +
''MuuMuse'''s Bradley Stern compared the song to Del Rey's 2012 single "[[Ride (song)|Ride]]", calling it "an unbelievably gorgeous track" and "one of Lana's greatest epics".<ref>http://www.muumuse.com/2014/06/lana-del-rey-ultraviolence-black-blue-beauty-album-review.html/</ref>
  +
  +
== Live performances ==
  +
Del Rey performed the song live for the first time as part of a medley with "[[Change (song)|Change]]" and "[[Young and Beautiful (song)|Young and Beautiful]]" on the first show of the [[LA to the Moon Tour]] on [[2018/January#January 5|January 5, 2018]] in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
   
 
==Cross-references==
  
==Cross-references==
−
*The chorus contains a direct reference to "[[Life Is Beautiful (song)|Life Is Beautiful]]".
 +
*The chorus contains a direct reference to "[[Life Is Beautiful (song)|Life Is Beautiful]]", also found in "[[Without You (song)|Without You]]".
−
*"Black leather" is referenced in "[[I Don't Wanna Go (song)|I Don't Wanna Go]]".
 +
*Black leather is referenced in "[[I Don't Wanna Go (song)|I Don't Wanna Go]]" and "[[Freak (song)|Freak]]".
−
*"Black skies" are mentioned in "[[Damn You (song)|Damn You]]".
 +
*Black skies are mentioned in "[[Damn You (song)|Damn You]]".
  +
*"Black Beauty" is the title of an 1877 novel by Anna Sewell that advocates for treating people with kindness, sympathy and respect. This is one of many literary references throughout Del Rey's work.
  +
*Reference to "[[Cherry (song)|Cherry]]".
   
 
== Official versions ==
  
== Official versions ==
−
* Album version – 5:14
 +
* Album version — 5:14
−
* Demo version – 5:19
 +
* Demo version — 5:08 <small>(produced by Rick Nowels)</small>
−
* Instrumental version – 5:11
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* Instrumental version — 5:11
−
* Radio mix - 4:05
 +
* Radio mix — 4:05
  +
  +
== [[List of remixes|Official remixes]] ==
  +
*Dinnerdate Remix — 3:07
  +
*LEEX Tropical Mix — 5:58
  +
*Lakechild Remix — 4:00
   
 
==Lyrics==
  
==Lyrics==
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|gphotog = None
  
|gphotog = None
 
|gdesign = Uncredited}}
  
|gdesign = Uncredited}}
  +
 
{{Tracklist
  
{{Tracklist
−
|title1 = Black Beauty (LEEX Tropical Remix)
 +
|title1 = Black Beauty
  +
|note1 = LEEX Tropical Remix
 
|length1 = 5:57
  
|length1 = 5:57
−
|title2 = Black Beauty (Dinnerdate Remix)
 +
|title2 = Black Beauty
  +
|note2 = Dinnerdate Remix
 
|length2 = 3:08
  
|length2 = 3:08
−
|title3 = Black Beauty (Lakechild Remix)
 +
|title3 = Black Beauty
  +
|note3 = Lakechild Remix
 
|length3 = 3:59}}
  
|length3 = 3:59}}
  +
  +
==Promotional release==
  +
{{BBPromo}}
   
 
== Credits ==
  
== Credits ==
 
'''Personnel'''
  
'''Personnel'''
−
* Lana Del Rey <span>– vocals, songwriting</span>
 +
* Lana Del Rey — vocals, songwriting
−
* Rick Nowels <span>– songwriting, vocal production, piano</span>
 +
* Rick Nowels — songwriting, vocal production, piano
−
* Paul Epworth <span>– production</span>
 +
* Paul Epworth — production
−
* Matt Wiggins <span>– engineering</span>
 +
* Matt Wiggins — engineering
−
* Kieron Menzies <span>– vocal engineering</span>
 +
* Kieron Menzies — vocal engineering
−
* Robert Orton <span>– mixing</span>
 +
* Robert Orton — mixing
−
* Ed Harcourt <span>– piano</span>
 +
* Ed Harcourt — piano
−
* Pablo Tato <span>– piano</span>
 +
* Pablo Tato — piano
−
* Tom Herbert <span>– guitar</span>
 +
* Tom Herbert — guitar
−
* Leo Taylor <span>– drums</span>
 +
* Leo Taylor — drums
−
* Nikolaj Torp Larsen <span>– Philicorda, mellotron</span>
 +
* Nikolaj Torp Larsen — Philicorda, mellotron
−
* John Davis <span>– mastering</span>
 +
* John Davis — mastering
   
 
== Charts ==
  
== Charts ==
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! Peak<br />position
  
! Peak<br />position
 
|-
  
|-
−
!scope="row"|UK ([Official Charts Company)<ref>http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/140628cluk.txt</ref>
 +
! scope="row" |UK (Official Charts Company)<ref>http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/140628cluk.txt</ref>
−
| style="text-align:center;"|179
 +
| style="text-align:center;" |179
  +
|}
  +
  +
== Release history ==
  +
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
  +
|-
  +
! Country
  +
! Date
  +
! Format
  +
! Label
  +
|-
  +
| scope="row" | Austria
  +
| rowspan="3" | December 15, 2014
  +
| rowspan="3" | Digital download (The Remix EP)
  +
| rowspan="3" | Vertigo Berlin
  +
|-
  +
| scope="row" | Germany
 
|-
  
|-
  +
| scope="row" | Switzerland
 
|}
  
|}
   
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[[Category:Ultraviolence bonus tracks]]
  
[[Category:Ultraviolence bonus tracks]]
 
[[Category:Released songs]]
  
[[Category:Released songs]]
  +
[[Category:LA to the Moon Tour songs]]
  +
[[Category:Bonus tracks]]
  +
[[Category:Norman Fucking Rockwell Tour songs]]

Revision as of 22:04, 23 September 2019

This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).

"Black Beauty" is a song by Lana Del Rey from her second major-label studio album, Ultraviolence. It was written with Rick Nowels and produced by Paul Epworth while Nowels produced the vocals. A separate registration exists listing her ex-boyfriend Barrie-James O'Neill as a co-creator, however his contributions are unknown. The demo was finished sometime in June 2013 and leaked on July 20, 2013. It serves as the first bonus track from the album.

It was released as the album's 3rd single on November 21, 2014 exclusively in Germany.[1] A remix EP was released on the same day through Universal Music Deutschland's main site.[2]

Background and writing

Del Rey stated that the song was for her second major label album, which would be more spiritual, but after it leaked the status of the song on the album became unknown. The song is about Del Rey loving a man who doesn't appreciate the beauty of life, and lamenting the sadness of this. This theme connects the song to others such as "Next to Me" and "Peace". It was confirmed on May 8, 2014 that it would feature as a bonus track on Ultraviolence. A radio mix version of the song without the bridge was leaked on September 20, 2019.[3] The original file of the demo is called "LDR-Black-Beauty-Blaises-version-".

Composition

"Black Beauty" is a pop ballad with a running time of 5 minutes and 14 seconds. It is in 4/4, written in the key of F major and has a BPM of approximately 120. The original demo of the track featured Del Rey singing over a synthesized organ, bass and strings with minimalistic drum beats and guitar usage. The album version's opening is largely the same as the demo, using the same vocal take and instruments. It starts to differ with the inclusion of a choir and electric guitar, with the chorus having more intense, rock influenced, drums and bass as well as a choir. The rest of the song continues to use heavier drums and electric guitar.

Critical reception

MuuMuse's Bradley Stern compared the song to Del Rey's 2012 single "Ride", calling it "an unbelievably gorgeous track" and "one of Lana's greatest epics".[4]

Live performances

Del Rey performed the song live for the first time as part of a medley with "Change" and "Young and Beautiful" on the first show of the LA to the Moon Tour on January 5, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Cross-references

  • The chorus contains a direct reference to "Life Is Beautiful", also found in "Without You".
  • Black leather is referenced in "I Don't Wanna Go" and "Freak".
  • Black skies are mentioned in "Damn You".
  • "Black Beauty" is the title of an 1877 novel by Anna Sewell that advocates for treating people with kindness, sympathy and respect. This is one of many literary references throughout Del Rey's work.
  • Reference to "Cherry".

Official versions

  • Album version — 5:14
  • Demo version — 5:08 (produced by Rick Nowels)
  • Instrumental version — 5:11
  • Radio mix — 4:05

Official remixes

  • Dinnerdate Remix — 3:07
  • LEEX Tropical Mix — 5:58
  • Lakechild Remix — 4:00

Lyrics

I paint my nails black
I dye my hair a darker shade of brown
'Cause you like your women
Spanish, dark, strong and proud

I paint the sky black
You said if you could have your way
You'd make it nighttime all today
So it'd suit the mood of your soul

Oh, what can I do?
Nothing, my sparrow blue
Oh, what can I do?
Life is beautiful but you don't have a clue
Sun and ocean blue
Their magnificence, it don't make sense to you

Black beauty, oh-oh-oh-oh
Black beauty, oh-oh-oh-oh

I paint the house black
My wedding dress black leather too
You have no room for light
Love is lost on you

I keep my lips red
To seem like cherries in the spring
Darling, you can't let everything
Seem so dark blue

Oh, what can I do
To turn you on or get through you?
Oh, what can I do?
Life is beautiful but you don't have a clue
Sun and ocean blue
Their magnificence, it don't make sense to you

Black beauty, oh-oh-oh-oh
Black beauty, oh-oh-oh-oh
Black beauty, oh-oh-oh-oh
Black beauty, oh-oh-oh
Black beauty, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Black beauty, baby, black beauty, baby

Oh, what can I do?
Life is beautiful but you don't have a clue
Sun and ocean blue
That magnificence, it don't make sense to you

Black beauty, oh-oh-oh-oh
Black beauty, oh-oh-oh-oh
Black beauty, oh-oh-oh-oh
Black beauty, oh-oh-oh-oh

Commercial release

Black Beauty (The Remix EP) was released on November 21, 2014 through Universal Music Deutschland's main site, and the extended play consists of three remixes. The EP was released under the Vertigo/Capital label. On December 15, 2014 the EP was released on iTunes Germany [5].

Digital release

Black Beauty (The Remix EP)
BB-TREP Label: Vertigo/Capital
Format: Digital
Released: December 15, 2014
Barcode: None
Photography: None
Design: Uncredited


# Name Time
1. "Black Beauty" (LEEX Tropical Remix) 5:57
2. "Black Beauty" (Dinnerdate Remix) 3:08
3. "Black Beauty" (Lakechild Remix) 3:59

Promotional release

Black Beauty (Remix EP) CD by Vertigo and Universal Music in UK, US & Germany

Credits

Personnel

  • Lana Del Rey — vocals, songwriting
  • Rick Nowels — songwriting, vocal production, piano
  • Paul Epworth — production
  • Matt Wiggins — engineering
  • Kieron Menzies — vocal engineering
  • Robert Orton — mixing
  • Ed Harcourt — piano
  • Pablo Tato — piano
  • Tom Herbert — guitar
  • Leo Taylor — drums
  • Nikolaj Torp Larsen — Philicorda, mellotron
  • John Davis — mastering

Charts

Chart (2014) Peak
position
UK (Official Charts Company)[6] 179

Release history

Country Date Format Label
Austria December 15, 2014 Digital download (The Remix EP) Vertigo Berlin
Germany
Switzerland

References

  1. ↑ Lana Del Rey veröffentlicht die Remix EP "Black Beauty" (Press release) [Accessed: November 27, 2014]
  2. ↑ Black Beauty: The Remix EP
  3. ↑ ISRC: GBUM71404671
  4. ↑ http://www.muumuse.com/2014/06/lana-del-rey-ultraviolence-black-blue-beauty-album-review.html/
  5. ↑ Black Beauty (The Remix EP)
  6. ↑ http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/140628cluk.txt
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