"Brite Lites" is a song written by Lana Del Rey and produced by David Kahne. It was released in January 2010 on Del Rey's debut studio album, Lana Del Ray.
Background[]
An acoustic demo of the song leaked with No Kung Fu on February 11, 2012. On June 13, 2016, a snippet of Del Rey performing the song live with the band The Rich Whores in 2007 leaked through Instagram and the full rehearsal audio leaked on March 5, 2020. Two snippets of a demo produced by Steven Mertens in 2008 leaked on July 25, 2016. A new snippet of this demo was played on August 31, 2017, during an Instagram livestream, and the full demo leaked on December 25, 2017.
Composition[]
"Brite Lites" serves as the tenth track on Del Rey's debut album Lana Del Ray. It is in the key of G minor with an approximate tempo of 120 beats per minute. The song has a Bollywood-influence with its use of vocal samples. Its instrumentation features repetitive bass drum hits, guitar string sound effects, synth sax bass line, a plucky guitar accent and various synth pads and keys.
Live performances[]
There are two known performances of "Brite Lites". The first known performance of the song was on June 14, 2007, at Union Pool in New York. The second known performance was at The Cutting Room on July 9, 2007.
On May 12, 2024, a video cassette tape was uploaded for sale on eBay, described as being the full footage from Del Rey's July 9, 2007 performance at The Cutting Room in New York City. The listing was taken down before being sold. On July 24, the seller uploaded a clip of Del Rey performing "Me & My Boyfriend" to YouTube, while simultaneously announcing a digital streaming event of Del Rey's full set. The performance of "Yayo" has previously leaked, albeit in low quality. Clips of Del Rey performing "Trees" and "For K, Pt. 2" were shared by the seller on July 31, and on August 6, the seller shared clips of this song and "Disco".
Music video[]
| Music video | Information | |
|---|---|---|
|
Released | |
| Length | 3:08 | |
| Director | Lana Del Rey | |
| Producer | ||
| Filmed | ||
| Location | ||
| Vevo views | N/A | |
Background and description[]
Del Rey created her own homemade music video for the song. Like most of her early videos, it features clips of Del Rey herself as well as clips she gathered from miscellaneous films and videos. It shows Del Rey in front of a window, most likely in her own or a friend's house, dancing and singing along to the lyrics of the song.
Cross-references[]
- "Beauty queen" is a phrase also mentioned in "Queen of Disaster", "Summertime Sadness" and "You're Gonna Love Me", among others.
- The song "Dum Dum" references "silver screen" as well.
Official versions[]
- Album version — 2:57
- No Kung Fu demo — 3:05
- Steven Mertens demo — 3:00
- The Rich Whores rehearsal — 3:30
Lyrics[]
Album version[]
I look for you in magazines
I look for you in magazines
I look for you in magazines
I'm taking off my wedding ring
I gave you everything
I gave you everything
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Yeah
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Yeah
I'm going back to Arbor Dean
I'm going back to Arbor Dean
I'm going back to Arbor Dean
Where when I was a beauty queen
I wasn't anything
It wasn't anything
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Yeah
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Yeah
Hey hey, hey hey
Hey hey
I'm waving on the silver screen
I'm waving on the silver screen
I'm waving on the trampoline
I'm waving on the silver screen
The film is fading, look at me, yeah
The film is fading, look at me, yeah
The film is fading, look at me, yeah
The film is fading, look at me, look at me, ah
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Yeah
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Yeah
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Yeah
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Yeah, yeah
Acoustic demo[]
(1, 2... 1, 2, 3, 4)
I look for you in magazines
I look for you in magazines
I look for you in magazines
I'm taking off my wedding ring
I gave you everything
I gave you everything
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Yeah
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Yeah, yeah
I'm going back to Arbor Dean
I'm going back to Arbor Dean
I'm going back to Arbor Dean
Where when I was a beauty queen
It wasn't anything
It wasn't anything
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Yeah
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Ay, yeah, yeah, ooh
I'm waving on the silver screen
I'm waving on the silver screen
I'm waving on the silver screen
The film is fading, look at me
The film is fading, look at me, yeah
Film is fading, look at me, yeah
Film is fading, look at me, yeah
The film is fading, look at me, look at me, ah
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Yeah
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Yeah
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Yeah
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Yeah
(Well, I don't know)
Steven Mertens demo version[]
I look for you in magazines
I look for you in magazines
I look for you in magazines
I'm taking off my wedding ring
I gave you everything
I gave you everything
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Yeah
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Yeah
They name me Lana Ray Loreen
They name me Lana Ray Loreen
They name me Lana Ray Loreen
From when I was a beauty queen
I wasn't anything
I wasn't anything
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Yeah
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Yeah
I'm waving on the silver screen
I'm waving on the silver screen
I'm waving on the silver screen
The film is fading, look at me
The film is fading, look at me, ay
The film is fading, look at me, ay
The film is fading, look at me, ay
The film is fading, look at me, look at me, ah
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Yeah
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Yeah
The Rich Whores rehearsal[]
I look for you in magazines
I look for you in magazines
I look for you in magazines
I'm taking off my wedding ring
I gave you everything
I gave you-
-bright lights
Yeah
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Yeah, ooh-ooh
I'm going back to Arbor Dean
Going back to Arbor Dean
I'm going back to Arbor Dean
Where when I was a beauty queen
It wasn't anything
It wasn't anything
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Yeah
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Yeah, ahh, yeah
I'm waving on the silver screen
I'm waving on the silver screen
I'm waving on the silver screen
The film is fading, look at me
The film is fading, look at me, yeah
The film is fading, look at me, yeah
The film is fading, look at me, yeah
The film is fading, look at me, look at me, ah
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Gimme the bright lights
Yeah, ooh, aah
Ahhh, ahh, ahh, ahh
 | ||
|---|---|---|