Blue Velvet (song)

Lana Del Rey
Writer(s)	Bernie Wayne Lee Morris
Producer(s)	Emile Haynie
Recorded	April 2012
Released	September 20, 2012
Length	2:38
From
Single(s)	"Ride"
Promotional single(s)	"Blue Velvet" "Burning Desire"
Singles chronology
"National Anthem"
"Blue Velvet"
"Ride"
Paradise track listing
"Body Electric"
"Gods & Monsters"

"Blue Velvet" is a song written by Bernie Wayne and Lee Morris that was covered by Lana Del Rey. It is the fifth track on Del Rey's second major-label release Paradise, and 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 called Del Rey's cover "doleful". Carl Williot 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). Jenna Hally Rubenstein, writing for MTV, called the commercial and vocals, "moody, totally broody", playfully adding, "what would a Lana Del Rey campaign be if it didn't make you feel a tad depressed?" In the video, Rubenstein said Del Rey was a "ridiculous beauty" sporting a Brigitte Bardot–inspired look, which she added, not every singer can pull off. People said the video was dramatic, intriguing, unique, and played off the moody, vintage Hollywood image of the retro-inspired starlet. Appropriately, they wrote, the video had film noir elements. Specifically, it was compared to the neo-noir film, Mulholland Drive as well as the film Blue Velvet itself. In an interview with Artinfo, David Lynch spoke out about Del Rey's cover:

"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!"

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

On September 19, 2012, the music video, which serves as a commercial for the H&M 2012 Fall Collection as well, for "Blue Velvet" was released through H&M. In the video, directed by Johan Renck, Del Rey is singing the song in a low-lit room before an audience of pallid people, playing an Americana lounge singer dressed in a pink mohair sweater, she is then hypnotized. Three women dressed identically to Del Rey sit on a couch and watch her coldly. At the end of the video, a little man walks into the room, pulls out the plug for Del Rey's microphone, silencing her. A behind the scenes video was filmed and posted to H&M's official YouTube channel.

Behind the scenes

On set with Lana Del Rey - H&M

Cross-references

• It could be argued that Del Rey chose to sing "Blue Velvet" because of the film of the same name by David Lynch; the film features a desire for violence in relationships - something that appears throughout Del Rey's songs, such as "Heavy Hitter" and "Ultraviolence". Frank often refers to himself as "Daddy" and Dorothy as "Mommy" while he beats her, and Dorothy asks Jeffrey if he is a "bad boy" and promises she will do 'anything' he wants. References to Lynch's work are also found in "JFK" and "Carmen".
• Velvet is also referenced in "This Is What Makes Us Girls", "Fake Diamond" and "Velvet Crowbar".

Lyrics

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 Released: September 20, 2012 Barcode: None Photography: None Design: Unknown

#	Name	Time
1.	"Blue Velvet"	2:38

Physical release

Blue Velvet picture disc

"Blue Velvet" was released in picture disc 7-inch vinyl format, which was exclusively included in the Born to Die - Paradise Edition box set.

	Label: Interscope Records Format: 7 inch Picture Disc vinyl in plastic sleeve Released: November 12, 2012 Barcode: 00602537189342 Photography: Inez and Vinoodh Design: Unknown

#	Name	Time
1.	"Blue Velvet"	2:38
2.	"Blue Velvet" (Penguin Prison Remix)	5:02

Side A with tag

Side B

Blue Velvet 7" inch vinyl (France)

"Blue Velvet" was released in 7-inch vinyl format, which was exclusively included in The Singles box set.

	Label: Polydor Records Format: 7-inch vinyl Released: December 4, 2012 Barcode: 602537229307 Photography: Inez and Vinoodh Design: Unknown

#	Name	Time
1.	"Blue Velvet"	2:38
2.	"Blue Velvet" (Penguin Prison Remix)	5:02

Front cover

Back cover

Side A

Side B

Official remixes

• Clasixx Remix — 5:03
• Lindstrøm Remix — 9:27
• Penguin Prison Remix — 5:02

Promotional releases

Blue Velvet CD by Polydor Ltd. (UK) and Interscope Records in UK & US

Front cover

Back cover

CD

Credits

Personnel

• Lee Morris — songwriting
• Bernie Wayne — songwriting
• Lana Del Rey — vocals
• Emile Haynie — production
• Larry Gold — strings arrangement
• The Larry Gold Orchestra — strings
• John Davis — mastering
• Tom Elmhirst — mixing
• Ben Baptie — assistant mixing
• Spencer Bugess Junior — assistant engineering

Technical

• Mastered at Metropolis Mastering, London

Charts

Chart (2012)	Peak position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)	40
France (SNEP)	40
Germany (Official German Charts)	49
Spain (PROMUSICAE)	44
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)	42
UK Singles (OCC)	60