"Gods & Monsters" (also registered as "Gods" and referred to as "In the Land of Gods and Monsters") is a song written by Lana Del Rey and Tim Larcombe, and produced by Larcombe and Emile Haynie in 2012 from Del Rey's third EP, and second major-label release, Paradise.
Background and composition
The first mentioning of the song came from Del Rey on June 15, 2012, during an interview with Catalunya Radio. At that time the song was called "In the Land of Gods and Monsters". She also mentioned "Body Electric" as "I Sing the Body Electric" and "Young and Beautiful" as "Will You Still Love Me When I'm No Longer Young and Beautiful".[1]
On September 24, 2012, Del Rey posted the sampler video of Paradise containing short snippets of all the tracks. The song is in the key of G# minor with at 96 BPM. It is a soft rock ballad that lyrically deals with innocence and hedonism. The song features signature sounds from Haynie that are reminiscent of his work on "Million Dollar Man".
During 2014, limited official promo CDs for the song were exclusively distributed by Polydor and Interscope. The CDs included official remixes of the song, as well as the official instrumental, a cappella, and "TV Track" versions of the song. The song was never received commercial individual release though, meaning it is not a single or promotional single.[2][3][4]
On May 7, 2017, various snippets of the official instrumental, a cappella, and TV track versions of the song leaked online. On May 5, 2018, the full instrumental and the studio acapella were leaked in lossless form. On April 18, 2020, the full TV Track leaked.
Critical reception
The track was well received by critics. Jesse Cataldo of Slant magazine said, "Nothing here is on the same level as Born to Die, with only a few tracks, like "Gods and Monsters" and bonus track "Burning Desire", attaining a similar degree of snappy, mesmerizing languorousness."[5] Nick Butler of Sputnikmusic felt the track was an unintentionally new sound for Del Rey, but that the track was good. AllMusic reviewer John Bush commented that the line "like a groupie incognito posing as a real singer, life imitates art" was an embodiment of the whole album. Some reviewers shared negativity on the track, such as Drowned In Sound's David Edwards who commented: "'Gods and Monsters' simply drags."
Use in media
In 2014, American actress Jessica Lange covered "Gods & Monsters" for the American Horror Story: Freak Show episode "Edward Mordrake (Part 1)". The cover was released as a single on October 22, 2014.[6]
Tropico music video
- Main article: Tropico (film)
Del Rey's short film, Tropico (released December 6, 2013), contains a visual for "Gods & Monsters", as part of Tropico's second chapter titled Gods & Monsters. It shows Del Rey working as a stripper and actor Shaun Ross as a gang member who works as a clerk at a convenience store during the day.
Cross-references
- In "Go Go Dancer", Del Rey tells a man to "keep your fingertips on my waist", similar to "put your hands on my waist".
- The lyric "Me and my momma we don't get along" from "My Momma" is similar to the lyric "Me and God we don't get along".
Official versions
- Album version — 3:57
- Clean version — 3:57
- Instrumental version — 3:58
- A cappella version — 3:58
- TV Track version — 3:58
Lyrics
In the land of Gods and Monsters
I was an angel, living in the garden of evil
Screwed up, scared, doing anything that I needed
Shining like a fiery beacon
You got that medicine I need
Fame, liquor, love, give it to me slowly
Put your hands on my waist, do it softly
Me and God, we don’t get along, so now I sing
No one’s gonna take my soul away
I'm living like Jim Morrison
Headed towards a fucked up holiday
Motel sprees, sprees and I’m singing
"Fuck yeah, give it to me, this is Heaven, what I truly want."
It's innocence lost, innocence lost
In the land of gods and monsters
I was an angel, looking to get fucked hard
Like a groupie incognito, posing as a real singer
Life imitates art
You got that medicine I need
Dope, shoot it up, straight to the heart, please
I don't really wanna know what's good for me
God's dead, I said, "Baby that's alright with me."
No one’s gonna take my soul away
I'm living like Jim Morrison
Headed towards a fucked up holiday
Motel sprees, sprees and I’m singing
"Fuck yeah, give it to me, this is Heaven, what I truly want."
It's innocence lost, innocence lost
When you talk, it's like a movie and you're makin' me crazy
'Cause life imitates art
If I get a little prettier, can I be your baby?
You tell me, "Life isn't that hard."
No one’s gonna take my soul away
I'm living like Jim Morrison
Headed towards a fucked up holiday
Motel sprees, sprees and I’m singing
"Fuck yeah, give it to me, this is Heaven, what I truly want."
It's innocence lost, innocence lost
Official remixes
- Club Clique Remix — 4:13
- Village Remix — 4:39
- Mokadem Remix — 4:42
- Mokadem Instrumental — 4:45
- Balistiq Remix — 3:33
- Balistiq Instrumental — 3:31
Promotional release
Gods & Monsters CD by Polydor in UK
Gods & Monsters CD by Polydor and Interscope Records in UK & US
Gods & Monsters CD by Polydor in UK
Credits
- Personnel
- Tim Larcombe — guitars, drums, piano, keyboards
- Emile Haynie — drums, piano, keyboards
- Dan Heath — strings arrangment, horns
- Robert Orton — mixing
- John Davis — mastering
Technical
- Recorded at The Time Square Studio, Hoxton Square, London
- Mastered at Metropolis Mastering, London
- Mixed at Hot Rocks Studio
Charts
Chart | Peak position |
---|---|
France (SNEP)[7] | 91 |
UK (Official Charts Company)[8] | 39 |
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[9] | 15 |
References
- ↑ https://www.ccma.cat/catradio/alacarta/nom-programa/Lana-del-Rey-una-de-les-estrelles-del=/audio/646450/
- ↑ https://www.discogs.com/Lana-Del-Rey-Gods-And-Monsters/release/9897062
- ↑ https://www.discogs.com/Lana-Del-Rey-Gods-And-Monsters/release/9893654
- ↑ https://www.discogs.com/Lana-Del-Rey-Gods-And-Monsters/release/9893736
- ↑ http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/lana-del-rey-paradise
- ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/gods-monsters-from-american-horror-story-feat-jessica/id932516559
- ↑ http://www.lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=Cola&cat=s
- ↑ http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20140427/7501
- ↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/306420/lana%2Bdel%2Brey/chart?f=902
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