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"Get Free" (originally titled "Malibu") is a song by Lana Del Rey. It was co-written and produced with Rick Nowels, Kieron Menzies and Dean Reid. It serves as the closing track on her fifth studio album and fourth major-label studio album, Lust for Life, which was released worldwide on July 21, 2017.

Writing and inspiration[]

During interviews for BBC Radio 1 and Complex magazine, Del Rey revealed that the song originally had a different title and much more personal lyrics. As she stated: "That song started out really revealing [...] I wanted to summarize my whole experience over the last six years; and then I realized, I don't want to reveal everything". After deciding not to use the original version titled "Malibu", the song was completely deleted and reworked into the final version, known as "Get Free".[1][2]

During her concert in San Diego, California, on July 31, 2017, Del Rey commented that she purposely intended the last word on the record to be "blue", stating that she felt like the word was "a good omen" for a direction that she wanted to go, and a "a little jumping off point for the next record".[3][dead link]

Del Rey revealed that the song is based on the concept of the "Hero's Journey" from the book The Hero with a Thousand Faces by author Joseph Campbell, where he recounts his findings of comparing the myths and legends of many cultures. The book illustrates the metaphors for the deep inner journeys of transformation that heroes in every time and place seem to share: A path of twelve stages that leads one through great movements of separation, descent, ordeal and return that ultimately guides one to reach the journey of self-discovery.

"When I was writing that song, I had a little conversation with my engineer, who's one of my dear friends; his name's Kieron Menzies. And we were talking about this model they use in literature; sometimes it's called the Hero's Journey. And it starts with crossing the threshold of the ordinary world and moving to the main character's reveal of the heart. And then the character goes through all these different cycles; they battle the giant, they battle themselves, and then they come back and they find out who they really are. And so I liked that idea. I thought it sort of resembled my story. [Inaudible] I revealed my heart. And then the rest is a mystery. All I'll say."[4]

During a 2018 interview for World Cafe, Del Rey shared the sentiment behind the song:

"It's about people who don't get to reach their full potential because they let controlling people stop them from being free... [The key is] going deeper... Knowing that you're your own doorway to the answers and not looking for answers in other people... taking the time to get to know yourself."[5][6]

The song is rumored to have 106 mixes.[S 1] Contrary to what Del Rey would say in some 2017 interviews, it has since been revealed that the "Malibu" demo was not deleted and is rumored to be circulating.[S 2]

Critical reception[]

Meaghan Garvey of Pitchfork called "Get Free" the most stunning and thematically essential song on the album along with "Change", stating that "Del Rey delivers, at last, the album's mission statement: 'Finally, I'm crossing the threshold/From the ordinary world/To the reveal of my heart.' It is not so much a revelation as a promise that one is coming, and when she sings plainly, 'This is my commitment,' the album cover's uncharacteristic smile reveals itself not as a declaration of happiness, but a reminder that it's still worth believing in".[7]

The Fader magazine named it the best song on Lust for Life and added it was "an amalgam of influences and interpolations and inter-references to the sprawling Lana universe". It was described as a "gorgeous-sounding promise" and pact between Del Rey and herself to "unapologetically rid her life of unnecessary darkness". They went on to call it the most spiritually uplifting Del Rey song to date and as the album's last track, it solidified its mission statement: "Lana will always be Lana, but she reserves the right to make life changes, to feel proud of what she's accomplished, and to sing about being happy and free, for once".[8]

Live performances[]

Del Rey sang a brief a cappella snippet of the song for the first time on August 1, 2017, at the House of Blues in Anaheim, California. On October 23, 2017, at Terminal 5 in New York City, Del Rey performed another a cappella version of the song and revealed the censored words in the first pre-chorus to be "Amy" and "Whitney", as a nod to two of Del Rey's inspirations Amy Winehouse and Whitney Houston, whose names she has tattooed above her chest. Del Rey sang the line as "I'm doing it for all of us, who never got the chance, for Amy and for Whitney". During some live performances, Del Rey has added the line "...of cruel romance" to the line "Cause they were caught up in the dance". In 2018, Del Rey performed the song on various dates of the LA to the Moon Tour.

Music video[]

In an interview with Gabrielle Wilson for MTV which was published on October 31, 2017, Del Rey expressed interest in creating a music video for "Get Free" or "Cherry".[9] A brief snippet of the song is also featured in the "White Mustang" music video.

Controversy[]

On January 7, 2018, Del Rey revealed via Twitter that the English rock band Radiohead were suing her for copyright infringement,[10] claiming that their single "Creep" had been plagiarised in the song "Get Free", which used a similar chord progression and melody.[11]

According to Del Rey's tweet, Radiohead had insisted on receiving 100% of the publishing rights of the song after she had proposed conceding 40% of the rights. On the same day as her tweet, at an LA to the Moon Tour show in Denver, Colorado, Del Rey expressed to fans:

"I just want to let you know that regardless of what happens in court, the sentiment that I wrote in that particular song, which was my statement song for the record, my personal manifesto, my modern manifesto. I just want to let you know that regardless if it gets taken down off of everything, those sentiments that I wrote and that I really am still gonna strive for them even if that song is not on the future physical releases of the record."[12]

The comment further insinuated that if Radiohead were to win the dispute, "Get Free" may have been be removed from all platforms as it would no longer within be Del Rey's or her label's right to distribute the track. However, a representative of Warner/Chapell denied that Radiohead were seeking to have total control over the track and its publishing rights, although noted that discussions were being held regarding the writing credits on the song. In their statement, they advised:

"As Radiohead’s music publisher, it’s true that we’ve been in discussions since August of last year with Lana Del Rey’s representatives. It’s clear that the verses of ‘Get Free’ use musical elements found in the verses of ‘Creep’ and we’ve requested that this be acknowledged in favor of all writers of ‘Creep.’ To set the record straight, no lawsuit has been issued and Radiohead have not said they ‘will only accept 100 percent’ of the publishing of ‘Get Free.’"[13]

Nearly three months later, Del Rey addressed fans during her set at the Lollapalooza festival in São Paulo, Brazil, on March 25, 2018, and confirmed that the dispute had been settled. After performing "Get Free" as part of her encore, Del Rey told fans: "Well, fuck, now that my lawsuit's over, I guess I can sing that song any time I want, right?"[14] The writing credits for "Get Free" have not been updated on the ASCAP database, suggesting that no further action was taken by Warner/Chappell or Radiohead as a result of their discussions with Del Rey's representatives.[15]

Cross-references[]

Official versions[]

  • Album version — 5:34
    • Instrumental version — 5:40
  • "Malibu" demo version — Unknown

Lyrics[]

Finally, I'm crossing the threshold
From the ordinary world
To the reveal of my heart
Undoubtedly, that will for certain
Take the dead out of the sea
And the darkness from the arts

This is my commitment
My modern manifesto
I'm doing it for all of us
Who never got the chance
For... and for...[a] (Shut up, shut up)
And all my birds of paradise (Shut up, shut up)
Who never got to fly at night (Shut up, shut up)
'Cause they were caught up in the dance

Sometimes it feels like I've got a war in my mind
I wanna get off, but I keep riding the ride
I never really noticed that I had to decide
To play someone's game, or live my own life

And I now I do, I wanna move
Out of the black (Out of the black)
Into the blue (Into the blue)

Finally, gone is the burden
Of the Crowley way of being
That comes from energies combined
Like my part was I, was not discerning
And you, as we found out
Were not in your right mind

There's no more chasing rainbows
And hoping for an end to them
Their arches are illusions
Solid at first glance
But then you try to touch them (Touch, touch)
There's nothing to hold on to (Hold, hold)
The colors used to lure you in
And put you in a trance (Ah, ah, ah, yeah)

Sometimes it feels like I've got a war in my mind
I wanna get off but I keep riding the ride
I never really noticed that I had to decide
To play someone's game or live my own life

And I now I do, I wanna move
Out of the black (Out of the black)
Into the blue (Into the blue)
Out of the black (Out of the black)
Into the blue (Into the blue)

Out of the black (Out of the black)
Into the blue (Into the blue)
Out of the black (Out of the black)
Into the blue (Into the blue)

Notes[]

  1. While the album version of the song is censored, Del Rey has performed this line as "For Amy and for Whitney" in various live shows, referencing the singers Amy Winehouse and Whitney Houston.

Credits[]

Personnel
  • Lana Del Rey — vocals, songwriting, production
  • Rick Nowels — songwriting, production, bass, organ, keyboards, synth pad
  • Kieron Menzies — songwriting, production, engineering, mixing, percussion, synthesizer, field recording
  • Dean Reid — production, engineering, mixing, synth bass, percussion, electric guitar
  • Trevor Yasuda — engineering, keyboards
  • David Levita — electric guitar
  • Zac Rae — synth pad, organ, Mellotron, guitar
  • Aaron Sterling — live drums, percussion
  • Mighty Mike — drums, percussion
  • Chris Garcia — engineering
  • Adam Ayan — mastering
Technical
  • Published by Cosmic Lime (ASCAP) / R-Rated Music administered by EMI April Music Inc. (Global Music Rights) / Sony/ATV Music Publishing (ASCAP)
  • Recorded at The Green Building, Los Angeles and Hampstead Studios, London
  • Mastered at Gateway Mastering, Portland, Maine

Charts[]

Chart (2018) Peak
position
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[16] 20

References[]

  1. Savage, Mark (July 26, 2017). "Lana Del Rey: 'I got jolted into the real world'". BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-40714557. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  2. Complex (July 26, 2017). "Lana Del Rey On "Lust for Life," Avoiding Cultural Appropriation, and Politics | Complex Cover". YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3ReJi0bXCs. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxqSwOtmbW4
  4. Tessari, Joelle (February 22, 2018). "Lana del Rey - Get Free @ Valley View Casino Center San Diego 2/15/2018 THE HERO'S JOURNEY". YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQgYaSGlQjM&t=139s. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  5. Schlanger, Talia; Myers, John (February 16, 2018). "Lana Del Rey On Accountability And The Art Of Self-Editing". NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/world-cafe/2018/02/16/586059115/lana-del-rey-on-world-cafe. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  6. Lana Del Rey Interviews & Archive (August 17, 2021). "LANA DEL REY EXPLAINS GET FREE LYRICS & REVEALS MEANING". YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpqGbF3okEY. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  7. Garvey, Meaghan (July 25, 2017). "Lana Del Rey: Lust for Life". Pitchfork. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/lana-del-rey-lust-for-life/. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  8. Mandel, Leah (July 24, 2017). "The Best Lana Del Rey Song On Lust For Life Is "Get Free"". The FADER. https://www.thefader.com/2017/07/24/lana-del-rey-get-free-lust-for-life. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  9. MTV News (October 31, 2017). "Lana Del Rey Talks Next Music Video & Tour w/ Kali Uchis & Jhené Aiko | MTV News". YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTUk2AOuZhM. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  10. Peters, Mitchell (January 7, 2018). "Lana Del Rey Responds to Radiohead Dispute: ‘Their Lawyers Have Been Relentless’". Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/lana-del-rey-responds-to-radiohead-thom-yorke-lawsuit-get-free-creep-copyright-infringement-8093121/. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  11. Kommenda, Niko (March 26, 2018). "Did Lana Del Rey plagiarise Radiohead? A note-by-note analysis". the Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/music/ng-interactive/2018/mar/26/did-lana-del-rey-plagiarise-radiohead-note-by-note-analysis. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  12. Kreps, Daniel (January 9, 2018). "Watch Lana Del Rey Talk Potential Radiohead Lawsuit at Denver Concert". Rolling Stone. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/watch-lana-del-rey-talk-potential-radiohead-lawsuit-at-denver-concert-124011/. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  13. Blistein, Jon (January 9, 2018). "Radiohead Publisher Issues Statement Refuting Lana Del Rey Lawsuit". Rolling Stone. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/radiohead-publisher-issues-statement-refuting-lana-del-rey-lawsuit-2-196753/. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  14. Lanapedia (@Lanapedia). "Lana Del Rey talking about ‘Get Free’" March 25, 2018. Twitter. [Access Date: March 27, 2018][dead link]
  15. Sodomsky, Sam (March 26, 2018). "Lana Del Rey Says Radiohead Lawsuit Is "Over"". Pitchfork. https://pitchfork.com/news/lana-del-rey-says-radiohead-lawsuit-is-over/. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  16. Lana Del Rey Chart History (Hot Rock Songs). Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2018.

Notes[]

  1. This is speculation and should not be relied upon. It has not been confirmed by any official sources, but has been reported by bunoner, who is considered a reliable insider by the community.
  2. This is speculation and should not be relied upon. It has not been confirmed by any official source, but is considered widespread knowledge within the community.


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