"Blue Velvet" is a song written by Bernie Wayne and Lee Morris that was covered by Lana Del Rey, serving as the fifth track on Del Rey's second major-label EP, Paradise. The cover, produced by Emile Haynie, served as the first promotional single off the album, released on September 20, 2012. It was used in an advertising campaign for the clothing retailer H&M.
Critical reception[]
Rolling Stone shared a tongue-in-cheek review of the music video, called Del Rey's "Lynchian" cover "doleful".[1] Carl Williott of Idolator dubbed Del Rey's cover "beautifully languorous and dreary (though [it] is replete with her go-to swell of strings and grainy programmed beats).[2][dead link] Writing for MTV, Jenna Hally Rubenstein called the commercial "moody, totally broody", and playfully added, "what would a Lana Del Rey campaign be if it didn't make you feel a tad depressed?". Rubenstein noted Del Rey's ability to "pull off" looking depressed while "all dressed up in her retro best", also mentioning Del Rey's stylistic likeness to Brigitte Bardot.[3] Jennifer Cress of People wrote that the cover "has a definite L.A. film noir quality about it, which immediately drew us in and perfectly plays off the singer's moody, vintage Hollywood image."[4] Like many other publications, Cress likened the promotional video to a David Lynch's filmography, especially his 1986 neo-noir thriller Blue Velvet. In an interview with Artinfo, David Lynch spoke out about the influence he had on Del Rey's work:[5]
- "Lana Del Rey, she's got some fantastic charisma and – this is a very interesting thing – it's like she's born out of another time. She's got something that's very appealing to people. And I didn't know she was influenced by me!"
Live performances[]
Del Rey performed the song live for the first time on November 18, 2012, during a private concert at an H&M in Berlin, Germany. A clip of the performance is available online, but it is the only available recording of the entire show.[6] The song was included on the set list for the first leg of the Paradise Tour, and hasn't been performed since 2013.
The song was a part of a session recorded by Del Rey's live touring band in preparation for her Paradise Tour performances. The full rehearsal session, which featured Del Rey's pre-recorded vocals and were created with the intent of aiding the tour's videographer, leaked on October 15, 2020.
Music video[]
| Music video | Information | |
|---|---|---|
|
Released | September 19, 2012 |
| Length | 2:01 | |
| Director | Johan Renck | |
| Producer | ||
| Filmed | 2012 | |
| Location | ||
| Vevo views | N/A | |
Background and description[]
In September 2012, a commercial advertising the H&M 2012 Fall Collection began being aired internationally. The commercial also acts as a music video for "Blue Velvet", featuring Del Rey dressed in a pink mohair sweater performing as a lounge singer in a low-lit room before an audience of pallid people. Other scenes of Del Rey beautifying herself in the mirror intercut the performance while her sailor lover watches, picking flower petals. Del Rey is then hypnotized by a man with a pocket watch, coldly looked on by three women dressed identically to Del Rey. The video ends as a well-dressed short man walks into the room and pulls the plug on the record player playing the song. The song abruptly stops; a member of the audience laughs, but Del Rey shrugs it off and subtly smiles. A behind the scenes video was filmed and posted to H&M's official YouTube channel.
Behind the scenes[]
Official versions[]
- Album version – 2:38
- Paradise Tour rehearsal session – 2:40
Official remixes[]
- Classixx Remix – 5:03
- Lindstrøm Remix – 9:27
- Penguin Prison Remix – 5:02
Lyrics[]
Mmm
She wore blue velvet
Bluer than velvet was the night
Softer than satin was the light
From the stars
She wore blue velvet
Bluer than velvet were her eyes
Warmer than May her tender sighs
Love was ours
Ours a love I held tightly
Feeling the rapture grow
Like a flame burning brightly
But when she left, gone was the glow
Of blue velvet
But in my heart, there'll always be
Precious and warm, a memory
Through the years
And I still can see blue velvet through my tears
Commercial release[]
Digital release[]
- Blue Velvet - Single
|
Label: Interscope Records Format: Digital download Released: September 20, 2012 Barcode: N/A Photography: N/A Design: Unknown |
|---|
| # | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Blue Velvet" | 2:38 |
Physical release[]
- United Kingdom
|
Label: Polydor Format: 7" picture disc vinyl in plastic sleeve Released: November 12, 2012 Barcode: 00602537189342 Photography: Inez and Vinoodh Design: Unknown |
|---|
- Side A
| # | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Blue Velvet" | 2:38 |
- Side B
| # | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 2. | "Blue Velvet" (Penguin Prison Remix) | 5:02 |
Promotional release[]
Blue Velvet CD by Polydor and Interscope; United Kingdom & United States[]
Credits[]
- Personnel[a]
- Lee Morris – songwriting
- Bernie Wayne – songwriting
- Lana Del Rey – vocals
- Emile Haynie – production
- Spencer Burgess Jr. – recording assistance
- Tom Elmhirst – mixing
- Ben Baptie – mixing assistance
- Larry Gold – strings arrangement
- The Larry Gold Orchestra – strings
- John Davis – mastering
- Technical
- Published by Chappell Morris Ltd. / TQ Music Ltd.
- Mastered at Metropolis Mastering, London
