"Groupie Love" is a song by Lana Del Rey featuring ASAP Rocky. It was co-written with Rocky and Rick Nowels and co-produced with Nowels, Kieron Menzies, Hector Delgado and Dean Reid. The song is featured on her fifth studio album and fourth major-label studio album, Lust for Life. It was released as the album's fourth single on July 12, 2017, alongside "Summer Bummer".
Background and writing[]
On July 8, 2017, a snippet of the song surfaced online, and after speculation from fans that the song would be released as a single, Del Rey revealed that it would be released on July 12, 2017, along with "Summer Bummer", which also features ASAP Rocky.[1]
On July 12, 2017, Zane Lowe premiered both "Summer Bummer" and "Groupie Love" on Beats 1 Radio. Lust for Life was simultaneously put up for pre-order. The song impacted contemporary hit radio in Italy on July 28, 2017.[2]
In an interview with BBC Radio 1 on July 12, 2017, Del Rey stated that "Groupie Love" was the first collaboration that her and ASAP Rocky did together for the album and that she had sent him about four songs that she wanted him to contribute to.[3] Del Rey posted the unofficial promotional single artwork through her Facebook and Twitter where she credits ASAP Rocky as "Flacko".[4][5][dead link]
In another interview on July, 2017 producer Rick Nowels told Genius that "Groupie Love" was one of the first songs they wrote for the album. About the collaboration he said that "Lana had the idea to bring A$AP Rocky. He's a great guy; very smart and creative. His producer Hector Delgado came in too and did the beats on the song and co-produced it with us".[6]
The song is rumored to have 392 mixes.[S 1]
Critical reception and composition[]
"Groupie Love" is a slow-paced track with trap beats that lyrically explores the topic of having a romantic relationship with a musician. The song is performed in the key of A major at approximately 176 beats per minute and lasts 4 minutes and 24 seconds, although an alternate mix of the song is registered on PPL Repertoire and lasts 4 minutes and 45 seconds, but this version remains unleaked in digital quality.[7] This version surfaced in a low quality recording during October 2022 via a TikTok user's account who noticed their vinyl pressing featured a different version of the song.[8] It features more prominent trap beats and a minor lyrical change, from "And pretending that nothing means anything" to "And remembering 'bout how we changed everything". These lyrics were originally uploaded on Apple Music before the songs official release, but later changed.
ASAP Rocky's vocal contributions to the track received mixed reactions from critics. Dan Weiss of Consequence of Sound criticized ASAP Rocky's contribution to the track, saying that "it adds nothing to the latter",[9] while in contrast, Madison Zehmer of Old Gold & Black stated that his contributions on "Summer Bummer" and "Groupie Love" enhanced the tracks in style.[10]
Live performances[]
Del Rey performed the song live for the first time at her Lust for Life listening party and performance hosted by Spotify at No Vacancy in Los Angeles, California, on July 20, 2017.
Cross-references[]
- "You and I, till the day we die" is a similar lyric to "'cause you and I, we were born to die" from "Born to Die".
- A love story with a rockstar is also referenced in "Is It Wrong", "Match Made in Heaven", "Big Bad Wolf", "The Next Best American Record" and "White Mustang", among others.
- Del Rey also says "groupie" in "Gods & Monsters" and "West Coast".
- Key lime is also mentioned in the title of "Coconut and Key Lime Pie".
- Playing guitar is also mentioned in "Music to Watch Boys To", "Brooklyn Baby", "For K (Part 2)", "The Next Best American Record" and "Tomorrow Never Came".
- A bar is also mentioned in "Video Games", "Happiness Is a Butterfly", "Bartender", "Oh Say Can You See", "For K (Part 2)" and "The Greatest".
Official versions[]
- Album version — 4:24
- Instrumental version — 4:28
- Clean version — 4:24
- Alternate version — 4:45
Lyrics[]
Album version[]
[Lana Del Rey & A$AP Rocky]:
You're in the bar, playin' guitar
I'm tryin' not to let the crowd next to me (Yeah)
It's so hard sometimes with a star
When you have to share him with everybody (Yeah)
You're in the club, livin' it up
I'm tryin' not to let the crowd notice me
It's so sweet, swingin' to the beat
When I know that you're doin' it all for me (You're doin' it all for me, baby)
(That's right)
And every time you look up
I know what you're thinkin' of
I know what you're thinkin' of
You want my groupie love
Groupie love (Uh)
Groupie love (Yeah)
(That's right) (Uh)
[Lana Del Rey]:
Time after time, writing my lines
Havin' my baby there next to me (Hello there, baby)
It's so sweet pourin' you a drink
And pretendin' that nothing means anything (Nothing means anything)
This is my life, you by my side
Key lime and perfume and festivals
Taking our dreams, turning them to things
It's like magic, babe, isn't life wonderful?
[Lana Del Rey & A$AP Rocky]:
And every time we hook up
I know what you're thinkin' of
I know what you're thinkin' of
You want my groupie love
Groupie love (Uh)
Groupie love (Uh)
(Yeah)
[A$AP Rocky & Lana Del Rey]:
Front row, every show, like a hype man (Hmm)
Sing along, word for word, watchin' my bae (Yeah)
Side stage, fans screamin's causin' migraines
Yamborghini high, but she ain't on my grade (Hm-hm)
God dang, got a n**** actin' irate (Oh-oh)
My babe, my babe, stay on my brain (Yeah)
My babe, made me sing to a fire escape
City girl, though she grew up in the tri-state
She ain't got no time for no groupie love (Hmm) (That's right)
We don't pay no minds to the girl with her boobs out (Hmm)
Girl, it's you and I, so who do we trust? (Woo)
You and I 'til the day we die (Woo, woo)
[Lana Del Rey & A$AP Rocky]:
Groupie love
Groupie love
Groupie love
(You are my babe)
Groupie love
Groupie love
Groupie love
(That's right) (Uh)
Groupie love
Alternate version[]
[A$AP Rocky]:
Uh
[Lana Del Rey & A$AP Rocky]:
You're in the bar, playin' guitar
I'm tryin' not to let the crowd next to me (Yeah)
It's so hard sometimes with a star
When you have to share him with everybody (Yeah)
You're in the club, livin' it up
I'm tryin' not to let the crowd notice me
It's so sweet, swingin' to the beat
When I know that you're doin' it all for me (You're doin' it all for me, baby)
(That's right)
And every time you look up
I know what you're thinkin' of
I know what you're thinkin' of
You want my groupie love
Groupie love (Uh)
Groupie love (Yeah)
(That's right) (Uh)
[Lana Del Rey]:
Time after time, writing my lines
Havin' my baby there next to me (Hello there, baby)
It's so sweet pourin' you a drink
And rememberin' 'bout how we changed everything (Nothing means anything)
This is my life, you by my side
Key lime and perfume and festivals
Taking our dreams, turning them to things
It's like magic, babe, isn't life wonderful?
[Lana Del Rey & A$AP Rocky]:
And every time we hook up
I know what you're thinkin' of
I know what you're thinkin' of
You want my groupie love
Groupie love (Uh)
Groupie love (Uh)
(Yeah)
[A$AP Rocky & Lana Del Rey]:
Front row, every show, like a hype man (Hmm)
Sing along, word for word, watchin' my bae (Yeah)
Side stage, fans screamin's causin' migraines
Yamborghini high, but she ain't on my grade (Hm-hm)
God dang, got a n**** actin' irate (Oh-oh)
My babe, my babe, stay on my brain (Yeah)
My babe, made me sing to a fire escape
City girl, though she grew up in the tri-state
She ain't got no time for no groupie love (Hmm) (That's right)
We don't pay no minds to the girl with her boobs out (Hmm)
Girl, it's you and I, so who do we trust? (Woo)
You and I 'til the day we die (Woo, woo)
(Uh)
[Lana Del Rey & A$AP Rocky]:
Groupie love
Groupie love
Groupie love
(You are my babe)
Groupie love
Groupie love
Groupie love
(That's right) (Uh)
Groupie love
Credits[]
- Personnel
- Lana Del Rey — vocals, songwriting, production
- ASAP Rocky — vocals, songwriting
- Rick Nowels — songwriting, production, mellotron, piano, synthesizer, synthesizer program, vibraphone
- Hector Delgado — production, engineering, keyboard, bass guitar, drums, percussion, synthesizer
- Kieron Menzies — production, engineering, keyboard, drums, mixing, percussion, synthesizer
- Dean Reid — production, engineering, bass guitar, vocoder, mixing, sound effects
- Trevor Yasuda — engineering, keyboard
- Patrick Warren — keyboard, piano, strings
- Zac Rae — keyboard, electric guitar
- David Levita — electric guitar
- Berkay Birecikli — percussion
- Mighty Mike — sound effects, percussion
Charts[]
Chart (2017) | Peak position |
---|---|
France (SNEP)[11] | 141 |
New Zealand Heatseekers (RMNZ)[12] | 8 |
US Alternative Digital Songs (Billboard)[13] | 13 |
References[]
- ↑ Del Rey, Lana (July 10, 2017). "2 new tracks w ASAP ROCKY dropping on the 12th...". Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/lanadelrey/videos/1639957492713361/. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ↑ Ceschi, Isabella (July 24, 2017). "Lana Del Rey - Groupie Love (feat. A$AP Rocky) (Radio Date: 28-07-2017)" (in Italian). EarOne. https://www.earone.it/news/lana_del_rey_groupie_love_feat_asap_rocky_radio_date_28_07_2017_25138563/. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ↑ "Lana Del Rey - Summer Bummer, Annie Mac". BBC Radio 1. July 12, 2017. Archived from the original on July 16, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170716161549/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p058hzxm.
- ↑ Del Rey, Lana (July 12, 2017). "NEW SONG W FLACKO https://youtu.be/tBwoRviPvVw". Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/lanadelrey/photos/a.720244504684669.1073741825.117713628271096/1642971469078630/. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ↑ Del Rey, Lana (July 12, 2017). "New song GROUPIE LOVE w FLACKO https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tBwoRviPvVw". Twitter. https://twitter.com/LanaDelRey/status/885304431255867393.
- ↑ Mench, Chris (July 21, 2017). "Songwriter & Producer Rick Nowels Explains How Lana Del Rey’s ‘Lust For Life’ Came Together". Genius. https://genius.com/a/songwriter-producer-rick-nowels-explains-how-lana-del-rey-s-lust-for-life-came-together. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ↑ ISRC: GBUM71702648
- ↑ clitnically._.1nsane (October 5, 2022). "i tried posting the full thing tiktok kept muting it for copyright reasons so i had to crop the vid🫡". TikTok. https://www.tiktok.com/@clitnically._.1nsane/video/7151204935609224490. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ↑ Weiss, Dan (July 25, 2017). "Album Review: Lana Del Rey – Lust for Life". Consequence of Sound. https://consequenceofsound.net/2017/07/album-review-lana-del-rey-lust-for-life/. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ↑ Zehmer, Madison (September 1, 2017). "“Lust for Life” introduces a new del Rey". Old Gold & Black. http://wfuogb.com/2017/09/lust-for-life-introduces-a-new-del-rey/. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
- ↑ "Lana Del Rey feat. A$AP Rocky – Groupie Love" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 24, 2017. https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/singles?chart=4381#all_records_extra. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ↑ "Alternative Digital Song Sales : July 29, 2017". Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2017-07-29/alternative-digital-songs. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
Notes[]