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"Lust for Life" is a song by Lana Del Rey featuring The Weeknd. It is the title track from Del Rey's fifth studio album and fourth major-label studio album. It was co-written with The Weeknd, Max Martin and Rick Nowels and co-produced with Nowels, Kieron Menzies and Dean Reid, with additional production by Martin. The song was officially released as the second single from Lust for Life on April 19, 2017.
Background
The song was registered at ASCAP Ace Repertory under Del Rey's name during March 2017, with The Weeknd credited as a co-writer under his real name Abel Tesfaye.[1] After the song was registered, Del Rey teased the collboration on March 26, when she tweeted The Weeknd's signature 'XO' logo,[2], and she also teased it when she included the same 'XO' logo in the Lust for Life album trailer.
The song was officially released worldwide on April 19, 2017, shortly after being premiered worldwide on BBC Radio 1.[3] The song serves as the fourth collaboration between Del Rey and The Weeknd, the first three being his tracks, "Prisoner", "Party Monster", and "Stargirl Interlude". "Lust for Life" was the first track Del Rey released that features another artist.
Writing and production
In an interview with Courtney Love for Dazed magazine, Del Rey opened up about writing "Lust for Life" and stated that it was the first song she wrote for the album. She loved the song but felt "it wasn't right", so while in process of finishing the song, Del Rey flew to Sweden to meet with Max Martin, who advised her to turn what had previously been a verse into the song's chorus. When Del Rey had returned to her main producer Rick Nowels, she felt like she really wanted The Weeknd sing the chorus, whom she is very close with and has worked with before. He "rewrote a little bit of it," but she still felt like it was missing something, so she "went back for a fourth time and layered it up with harmonies", and felt that she was finally happy with the song.[4] Nowels called the original version of the song "a beautiful art song, it’s quite touching".[5]
Commercial performance
Upon release, "Lust for Life" was a success for Del Rey commercially. The song quickly went to #1 on the Billboard + Twitter Trending 140 chart,[6] becoming her second consecutive single from Lust for Life to do so, and in less than 24 hours the official audio gained over 4.7 million views on YouTube. The track also peaked at #3 on the Worldwide iTunes Song Charts.
Critical reception and composition
Idolator characterized "Lust for Life" as a "witchy dream pop" song,[7] as well as describing it as a breathtakingly ambitious track with "throwback to the wall of sound production of the '60s with the lush, beautiful harmonies associated with acts like The Shangri-Las".[8] Sheldon Pearce of Pitchfork called the song "the auditory equivalent of a perfume commercial, all wisps of sensations and hints of feeling".[9]
Live performances
Del Rey performed a solo version of the song live for the very first time on May 20, 2017, in Carson, California, for the KROQ Weenie Roast, and again on May 27, 2017, in Hull, United Kingdom, for BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend. Del Rey also performed the song 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
- Del Rey similarly calls her boyfriend "cool" in "Brooklyn Baby", "Architecture", "Ridin'", "Push Me Down", and alludes to it in "National Anthem".
- The "H of the Hollywood sign" is also mentioned in the Lust for Life album trailer monologue.
- The lyrics "take off, take off" are melodically similar to the lyrics "hello, hello" in "Without You".
Music video
| Music video | Information | |
|---|---|---|
|
Released | May 22, 2017 |
| Length | 5:19 | |
| Director | Rich Lee | |
| Producer | ||
| Filmed | April, 2017 | |
| Location | California | |
| Vevo views | 50+ Million views | |
Background
After releasing an official audio video for "Lust for Life" about a month prior, on May 14, 2017, Del Rey announced that an official music video for the song would be released soon, and on May 19 she posted a teaser featuring a clip of the video on social media.[10] On May 21, Del Rey revealed that the video would be released the next day and also posted several behind-the-scenes photos taken by Neil Krug as well as another short teaser clip of the video. The official music video was uploaded to Del Rey's VEVO on May 22, 2017.
Description
The video kicks off with footage of outer space, and gradually zooms out from the center of Del Rey's eye to reveal Del Rey in a TV studio. She is wearing a red dress and performing simply choreographed moves with her two backup dancers, Alexandria Kaye and Ashley Rodriguez, who are in the background. As the track moves into the chorus, Del Rey climbs up a ladder that leads her up the "H" of the famed Hollywood sign, where The Weeknd is there to pull her to the top. The duo make the sign their playground, sitting on the edge of the letters and running all the way across, until Del Rey slides down the "D" and they both land in a field of orange flowers. To close the video, it zooms out to show the world illuminated with a large peace sign.
Photoshoot by Neil Krug
Photoshoot by Neil Krug
Behind the scenes
Official versions
- Album version – 4:24
- Radio edit – 3:40
- Music video version – 5:19
Lyrics
Album version
[Lana Del Rey]:
Climb up the H of the Hollywood sign (yeah)
In these stolen moments, the world is mine (doo-wop, doo-wop)
There's nobody here, just us together (shoo-wop, shoo-wop)
Keeping it hot, like July forever
'Cause we're the masters of our own fate
We're the captains of our own souls
There's no way for us to complain
'Cause boy we're gold, boy we're gold
And I was like
Take off, take off
Take off all your clothes
Take off, take off
Take off all your clothes
Take off, take off
Take off all of your clothes
[The Weeknd]:
They say only the good die young
That just ain't right
'Cause we're having too much fun
Too much fun tonight
Yeah
[Lana Del Rey & The Weeknd]:
And a lust for life, and a lust for life
And a lust for life, and a lust for life
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
And a lust for life, and a lust for life
And a lust for life, and a lust for life
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
[Lana Del Rey]:
We dance on the H of the Hollywood sign (yeah)
Till we run out of breath
[Lana Del Rey & The Weeknd]:
Gotta dance til we die (doo-wop, doo-wop)
[Lana Del Rey]:
My boyfriend's back and he's cooler than ever (shoo-wop, shoo-wop)
There's no more night
[Lana Del Rey & The Weeknd]:
Blue skies forever
[The Weeknd]:
'Cause we're the masters of our own fate
We're the captains of our own souls
So there's no need for us to hesitate
We're all alone, let's take control
And I was like
Take off, take off
Take off all your clothes
Take off, take off
Take off all your clothes
Take off, take off
Take off all of your clothes
[Lana Del Rey]:
They say only the good die young
That just ain't right
'Cause we're having too much fun
Too much fun tonight
[The Weeknd]:
Yeah
[Lana Del Rey & The Weeknd]:
And a lust for life, and a lust for life
And a lust for life, and a lust for life
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
And a lust for life, and a lust for life
And a lust for life, and a lust for life
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
[Lana Del Rey]:
My boyfriend's back and he's cooler than ever
There's no more night
[The Weeknd]:
Blue skies forever
[Lana Del Rey]:
I told you twice
In our love letter
There's no stopping now
[Lana Del Rey & The Weeknd]:
Green lights forever
[Lana Del Rey]:
And I was like
Take off, take off
Take off all your clothes
Take off, take off
Take off all your clothes
Take off, take off
Take off all of your clothes
[Lana Del Rey & The Weeknd]:
And a lust for life, and a lust for life
And a lust for life, and a lust for life
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
And a lust for life, and a lust for life
And a lust for life, and a lust for life
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
Radio edit
[Lana Del Rey]:
Climb up the H of the Hollywood sign (yeah)
In these stolen moments, the world is mine (doo-wop, doo-wop)
There's nobody here, just us together (shoo-wop, shoo-wop)
Keeping it hot, like July forever
'Cause we're the masters of our own fate
We're the captains of our own souls
There's no way for us to complain
'Cause boy we're gold, boy we're gold
And I was like
Take off, take off
Take off all your clothes
Take off, take off
Take off all your clothes
Take off, take off
Take off all of your clothes
[The Weeknd]:
They say only the good die young
That just ain't right
'Cause we're having too much fun
Too much fun tonight
Yeah
[Lana Del Rey & The Weeknd]:
And a lust for life, and a lust for life
And a lust for life, and a lust for life
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
And a lust for life, and a lust for life
And a lust for life, and a lust for life
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
[Lana Del Rey]:
We dance on the H of the Hollywood sign (yeah)
Till we run out of breath
[Lana Del Rey & The Weeknd]:
Gotta dance til we die (doo-wop, doo-wop)
[Lana Del Rey]:
My boyfriend's back and he's cooler than ever (shoo-wop, shoo-wop)
There's no more night
[Lana Del Rey & The Weeknd]:
Blue skies forever
[The Weeknd]:
'Cause we're the masters of our own fate
We're the captains of our own souls
So there's no need for us to hesitate
We're all alone, let's take control
And I was like
Take off, take off
Take off all your clothes
Take off, take off
Take off all your clothes
Take off, take off
Take off all of your clothes
[Lana Del Rey]:
They say only the good die young
That just ain't right
'Cause we're having too much fun
Too much fun tonight
[The Weeknd]:
Yeah
[Lana Del Rey & The Weeknd]:
And a lust for life, and a lust for life
And a lust for life, and a lust for life
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
And a lust for life, and a lust for life
And a lust for life, and a lust for life
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
And a lust for life, and a lust for life
And a lust for life, and a lust for life
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
And a lust for life, and a lust for life
And a lust for life, and a lust for life
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
Keeps us alive, keeps us alive
Commercial release
Digital release
- Lust for Life - Single
|
Label: Polydor, Interscope Format: Digital download Released: April 19, 2017 Barcode: None Photography: Neil Krug Design: Uncredited |
|---|
| # | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Lust for Life" (featuring The Weeknd) | 4:24 |
- Lust for Life (BloodPop® Remix) - Single
|
Label: Polydor, Interscope Format: Digital download Released: August 25, 2017 Barcode: None Photography: Uncredited Design: Uncredited |
|---|
| # | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Lust for Life" (featuring The Weeknd [BloodPop® Remix]) | 3:22 |
- Lust for Life (The Avener Rework) - Single
|
Label: Polydor, Interscope Format: Digital download Released: August 25, 2017 Barcode: None Photography: N/A Design: Uncredited |
|---|
| # | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Lust for Life" (The Avener Rework [featuring The Weeknd]) | 4:12 |
Physical release
- Love / Lust for Life Limited LP
|
Label: Polydor, Interscope Format: 10" vinyl Released: September 15, 2017 Barcode: 44292373 Photography: Neil Krug Design: Uncredited |
|---|
| # | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Love" | 4:32 |
| 2. | "Lust for Life" (featuring The Weeknd) | 4:24 |
Credits
- Personnel
- Lana Del Rey — vocals, songwriting, production
- Abel Tesfaye — vocals, songwriting
- Rick Nowels — songwriting, production, piano, Mellotron, synth pad
- Max Martin — songwriting, additional production, Juno bas
- Dean Reid — production, engineering, mixing, drums, percussion, bass guitar, synth guitar, vocoder, effectss
- Kieron Menzies — production, engineering, mixing, drums, percussion, keyboards, synthesizer, strings, tape loops
- Jordan Stilwell & Trevor Yasuda — engineering
- Adam Ayan — mastering
- David Levita — electric guitar
- Zac Rae — synthesizer
- Ali Payami — drum programming
- Mighty Mike — bongo
- Technical
- Published by MXM (administered by Kobalt) (ASCAP) / R-Rated Music administered by EMI April Music Rights Inc. (Global Music Rights) / Songs Music Music Publishing, LLC o/b/o Songs of SMP (ASCAP) / Sony / ATV Music Publishing (ASCAP)
- Recorded at The Green Building, Los Angeles and Hampstead Studios, London
- Mastered at Gateway Mastering, Portland, Maine
- The Weeknd appears courtesy of The Weeknd XO, Inc.
Charts
| Chart (2017) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[11] | 44 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[12] | 51 |
| Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[13] | 17 |
| Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[14] | 22 |
| Canada (Billboard Hot 100)[15] | 39 |
| Canadian Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[16] | 18 |
| Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[17] | 35 |
| Finland Download (Suomen virallinen latauslista)[18] | 11 |
| France (SNEP)[19] | 19 |
| Germany (Official German Charts)[20] | 65 |
| Greece Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[21] | 1 |
| Hungary (Single Top 40)[22] | 15 |
| Iceland (RÚV)[23] | 7 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[24] | 33 |
| Italy (FIMI)[25] | 58 |
| New Zealand Heatseekers (RMNZ)[26] | 1 |
| Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[27] | 34 |
| Portugal (AFP)[28] | 61 |
| Scotland (Official Charts Company)[29] | 29 |
| Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[30] | 24 |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE)[31] | 22 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[32] | 29 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[33] | 48 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[34] | 38 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[35] | 64 |
| US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[36] | 21 |
| US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[37] | 4 |
| US Rock Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[38] | 2 |
External links
- Buy/stream "Lust for Life"
References
- ↑ ASCAP Work ID: 892211618
- ↑ https://twitter.com/lanadelrey/status/845893135494369281
- ↑ Pitchfork. "Listen to Lana Del Rey and The Weeknd's New Song 'Lust for Life'" (April 19, 2017)
- ↑ Dazed, "Lana Del Rey: wild at heart", (April 18, 2017)
- ↑ https://genius.com/a/songwriter-producer-rick-nowels-explains-how-lana-del-rey-s-lust-for-life-came-together
- ↑ http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7767668/lana-del-rey-lust-for-life-weeknd-billboard-twitter-trending-140?utm_source=twitter
- ↑ http://www.idolator.com/7663159/lana-del-rey-new-song-cherry-snippet
- ↑ http://www.idolator.com/7661460/lana-del-rey-weeknd-lust-for-life-full-song-review
- ↑ http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/19012-lana-del-rey-lust-for-life-ft-the-weeknd/
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/BUSTba4gjZv/?taken-by=lanadelrey&hl=en
- ↑ http://www.ariacharts.com.au/charts/singles-chart
- ↑ http://www.ariacharts.com.au/charts/singles-chart
- ↑ http://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/193d56/Lana-Del-Rey-feat.-The-Weeknd-Lust-For-Life
- ↑ http://www.ultratop.be/fr/song/193d56/Lana-Del-Rey-feat.-The-Weeknd-Lust-For-Life
- ↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/306420/Lana+Del+Rey/chart?f=793
- ↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/306420/lana-del-rey/chart?f=1186
- ↑ http://www.ifpicr.cz/hitparada/index.php
- ↑ http://www.ifpi.fi/tilastot/virallinen-lista/artistit/Lana+Del+Rey/Lust+for+Life+%28Feat.+The+Weeknd%29
- ↑ http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-singles-telecharges/?ye=2017&we=17
- ↑ https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-1654102
- ↑ http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2017-05-06/greece
- ↑ http://zene.slagerlistak.hu/single-track-top-40-lista/2017/17
- ↑ http://www.ruv.is/persona/lana-del-rey
- ↑ http://www.irma.ie/#chartTab1
- ↑ http://www.fimi.it/classifiche#/category:digital/year:2015/id:2465/page:1
- ↑ http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/singles?chart=4357#all_records_extra
- ↑ http://bestsellery.zpav.pl/airplays/top/archiwum.php?year=2017&idlisty=2388#title
- ↑ http://portuguesecharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey+feat.+The+Weeknd&titel=Lust+for+Life&cat=s
- ↑ http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/
- ↑ http://www.ifpicr.cz/hitparadask/index.php?hitp=R
- ↑ http://www.spanishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey+feat.+The+Weeknd&titel=Lust+for+Life&cat=s
- ↑ http://www.sverigetopplistan.se
- ↑ http://www.swisscharts.com/song/Lana-Del-Rey-feat.-The-Weeknd/Lust-For-Life-1654102
- ↑ http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/lust%20for%20life/
- ↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/306420/lana-del-rey/chart
- ↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/306420/lana-del-rey/chart?f=395
- ↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/306420/lana-del-rey/chart?f=902
- ↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/306420/lana-del-rey/chart?f=1085
