Changes: Million Dollar Man (song)

Revision as of 01:04, 16 April 2018

Lana Del Rey

Writer(s)

Lana Del Rey
Chris Braide

Producer(s)

Emile Haynie
Chris Braide

Length

3:51
(See official versions)

From

Single(s)

"Video Games"
"Born to Die"
"Blue Jeans"
"Summertime Sadness"
"National Anthem"
"Dark Paradise"

Promotional single(s)

"Off to the Races"
"Carmen"

*Born to Die* track listing
"Carmen"	"Summertime Sadness"

"Million Dollar Man" is a song by Lana Del Rey that is featured as the tenth track on her debut major-label studio album, Born to Die. It was written with Chris Braide, who also produced the song with Emile Haynie.

Composition and critical reception

"Million Dollar Man" is a cinematic Jazz-influenced ballad with low vocals and piano laced production. It runs at a duration of three minutes and fifty-one seconds.

Sal Cinquemani of Slant called it a "solid, bluesy ballad" and stated that it felt quite reminiscent of Fiona Apple's music.^[1] Jen Dan of Delusions of Adequacy similarly referred to the song as a jazzy torch song, that "layers together smoky, expressive vocals, piano notes, and extended strings".^[2]

Live performances

Del Rey first performed the song live on the 2011 leg of her Born to Die Tour, before the song was officially released. It was also included on the setlist of the 2012 leg of the Born to Die Tour, as well as the Paradise Tour (2013-2014). In 2017, the song was performed a cappella on August 1 at the House of Blues in Anaheim, California. And in 2018, the first verse and chorus of the song was performed on February 5 in Atlanta, Georgia at the LA to the Moon Tour.

Cross-references

Money is mentioned in several songs, including "Hundred Dollar Bill", "Money Power Glory" and "National Anthem".
The lyric "one for the money, and two for the show" is a direct reference to Elvis Presley's cover of "Blue Suede Shoes" by Carl Perkins.

Music video

Music video	Information
	Released	N/A
	Length	4:06
	Director	Lana Del Rey
	Producer
	Filmed	2010
	Location
	Vevo views	N/A

Background and description

Before the release of Born to Die, Del Rey filmed a homemade music video for the demo version of "Million Dollar Man". It features clips of Del Rey herself and clips from miscellaneous films and videos, similar to the style of many of her pre-Born to Die era music videos.

Official versions

Album version — 3:51
Demo version — 3:42 (produced by Chris Braide)
Instrumental version — 3:50

Lyrics

You said I was the most exotic flower
Holding me tight in our final hour
I don't know how you convince them and get them, boy
I don't know what you do
It's unbelievable
And I don't know how you get over, get over
Someone as dangerous, tainted and flawed as you

One for the money
Two for the show
I love you honey
I'm ready, I'm ready to go

How did you get that way?
I don't know
You're screwed up and brilliant
You look like a million dollar man
So why is my heart broke?

You've got the world
But baby, at what price?
Something so strange
Hard to define

It isn't that hard boy
To like you or love you
I'd follow you down, down, down
You're unbelievable

If you're going crazy
Just grab me and take me
I'd follow you down, down, down
Anywhere, anywhere

One for the money
Two for the show
I love you honey
I'm ready, I'm ready to go

How did you get that way?
I don't know
You're screwed up and brilliant
You look like a million dollar man
So why is my heart broke?

One for the money
Two for the show
I love you honey
I'm ready, I'm ready to go

How did you get that way?
I don't know
You're screwed up and brilliant
You look like a million-dollar man
So why is my heart broke?

Credits

Personnel

Lana Del Rey — vocals, songwriting
Christ Braide — songwriting, production, guitars, acoustic piano, strings, drum programming
Emile Haynie — production, drums, additional keyboards
Dan Grech-Marguerat — mixing
Duncan Fuller — mixing assistance
John Davis — mastering

Technical

Published by EMI / Sony / ATV
Recorded at Human Feel Studios, Los Angeles, United States
Mixed at Miloco's Engine Room, London, United Kingdom
Mastered at Metropolis Mastering, London, United Kingdom

References

Singles | Tour | Music videos | Photoshoots | Producers

"Born to Die"
"Off to the Races"
"Blue Jeans"
"Video Games"
"Diet Mountain Dew"
"National Anthem"

"Dark Paradise"
"Radio"
"Carmen"
"Million Dollar Man"
"Summertime Sadness"
"This Is What Makes Us Girls"

Bonus tracks:
"Without You"
"Lolita"
"Lucky Ones"

[1] ttp://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/lana-del-rey-born-to-die

[2] ttp://www.adequacy.net/2012/02/lana-del-rey-born-to-die/

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Infobox song
-|image = File:BornToDie.jpg
+|image = Image:BornToDie.jpg
 |artist = Lana Del Rey
 |written = [[Lana Del Rey]]<br>[[Chris Braide]]
@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 |next = "[[Summertime Sadness (song)|Summertime Sadness]]"
 }}
-'''"Million Dollar Man"''' is a song by [[Lana Del Rey]] released on her second studio album, ''[[Born to Die (album)|Born to Die]]'' It was written by Del Rey and Chris Braide, who also produced the song with [[Emile Haynie]].
+"'''Million Dollar Man'''" is a song by [[Lana Del Rey]] that is featured as the tenth track on her debut major-label studio album, ''[[Born to Die (album)|Born to Die]]''. It was written with [[Chris Braide]], who also produced the song with [[Emile Haynie]].
+== Composition and critical reception ==
+"Million Dollar Man" is a cinematic Jazz-influenced ballad with low vocals and piano laced production. It runs at a duration of three minutes and fifty-one seconds.
+Sal Cinquemani of ''Slant ''called it a "solid, bluesy ballad" and stated that it felt quite reminiscent of Fiona Apple's music.<ref>http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/lana-del-rey-born-to-die</ref> Jen Dan of ''Delusions of Adequacy ''similarly referred to the song as a jazzy torch song, that "layers together smoky, expressive vocals, piano notes, and extended strings".<ref>http://www.adequacy.net/2012/02/lana-del-rey-born-to-die/</ref>
 == Live performances ==
-Del Rey first performed the song live on the 2011 leg of her [[Born to Die Tour]], before the song was officially released. It was also included on the setlist of the 2012 leg of the [[Born to Die Tour]], as well as the [[Paradise Tour]] (2013-2014).
+Del Rey first performed the song live on the 2011 leg of her [[Born to Die Tour]], before the song was officially released. It was also included on the setlist of the 2012 leg of the [[Born to Die Tour]], as well as the [[Paradise Tour]] (2013-2014). In 2017, the song was performed a cappella on [[2017/August#August 1|August 1]] at the House of Blues in Anaheim, California. And in 2018, the first verse and chorus of the song was performed on [[2018/February#February 5|February 5]] in Atlanta, Georgia at the [[LA to the Moon Tour]].
+== Cross-references ==
+* Money is mentioned in several songs, including "[[Hundred Dollar Bill (song)|Hundred Dollar Bill]]", "[[Money Power Glory (song)|Money Power Glory]]" and "[[National Anthem (song)|National Anthem]]".
+* The lyric "one for the money, and two for the show" is a direct reference to Elvis Presley's cover of "Blue Suede Shoes" by Carl Perkins.
+== Music video ==
+{{infobox mvideo
+|video = Lana Del Rey – Million Dollar Man (Official Video)
+|released = N/A
+|length= 4:06
+|director = Lana Del Rey
+|producer =
+|choreographer =
+|filmed= 2010
+|location=
+|vevo views= N/A
+}}
+====Background and description====
+Before the release of ''[[Born to Die (album)|Born to Die]]'','' ''Del Rey filmed a homemade music video for the demo version of "Million Dollar Man". It features clips of Del Rey herself and clips from miscellaneous films and videos, similar to the style of many of her pre-''Born to Die'' era music videos.
+==Official versions==
+*Album version — 3:51
+*Demo version — 3:42 <small>(produced by Chris Braide)</small>
+*Instrumental version — 3:50
 ==Lyrics==
@@ Line 25: / Line 54: @@
 I don't know what you do
 It's unbelievable
-And I don't know how you get over, oh, get over
+And I don't know how you get over, get over
-Someone as dangerous, tainted, and flawed as you
+Someone as dangerous, tainted and flawed as you
-One for the money, and
+One for the money
 Two for the show
-I love you, honey
+I love you honey
 I'm ready, I'm ready to go
 How did you get that way?
 I don't know
 You're screwed up and brilliant
-Look like a million dollar man
+You look like a million dollar man
 So why is my heart broke?
@@ Line 42: / Line 72: @@
 Something so strange
 Hard to define
-It isn't that hard, boy
+It isn't that hard boy
-To like you, or love you
+To like you or love you
 I'd follow you down, down, down
 You're unbelievable
 If you're going crazy
 Just grab me and take me
 I'd follow you down, down, down
-Anywhere, anywhere, oh
+Anywhere, anywhere
 One for the money
 Two for the show
-I love you, honey
+I love you honey
 I'm ready, I'm ready to go
 How did you get that way?
 I don't know
 You're screwed up and brilliant
-Look like a million dollar man
+You look like a million dollar man
 So why is my heart broke?
 One for the money
-Two for the show, oh
+Two for the show
-I love you, honey
+I love you honey
 I'm ready, I'm ready to go
 How did you get that way?
 I don't know
 You're screwed up and brilliant
-Look like a million-dollar man
+You look like a million-dollar man
-So why is my heart broke?
-I don't know
-You're screwed up and brilliant
-Look like a million-dollar man
 So why is my heart broke?
 </poem>}}
+==Credits==
-==Official versions==
+;'''Personnel'''
-*Album version – 3:51
+*Lana Del Rey — vocals, songwriting
-*Demo version – 3:42
+*Christ Braide — songwriting, production, guitars, acoustic piano, strings, drum programming
-*Instrumental version – 3:50
+*Emile Haynie — production, drums, additional keyboards
+*Dan Grech-Marguerat — mixing
+*Duncan Fuller — mixing assistance
+*John Davis — mastering
+;'''Technical'''
+*Published by EMI / Sony / ATV
+*Recorded at Human Feel Studios, Los Angeles, United States
+*Mixed at Miloco's Engine Room, London, United Kingdom
+*Mastered at Metropolis Mastering, London, United Kingdom
-== Music video ==
+==References==
+{{Reflist}}
-Before the release of ''[[Born to Die (album)|Born to Die]], ''Del Rey filmed a homemade music video for "[[Million Dollar Man (song)|Million Dollar Man]]". It features clips of Lana herself and clips from different films.
-<div class="thumb tcenter" style= "position: relative; top: 0px; left: -2px; width:420px; background-color:#eeeeee;">
-<div class="thumbinner">
-[[File:Lana Del Rey - Million Dollar Man|370px|centre|]]
-</div>
-</div>
-==Credits==
-'''Personnel'''
-*Guitars — Chris Braide
-*Acoustic Piano — Chris Braide
-*Strings — Chris Braide
-*Drum programming — Chris Braide
-*Drums — Emile Haynie
-*Additional keyboards — Emile Haynie
-*Mixing — Dan Grech Marguerat for 365 Artists
-*Assistant mixing — Duncan Fuller
-*Recording — at Human Feel Studio (California)
 {{Navbox album BTD}}
-[[Category:Born to Die songs]]
 [[Category:Songs]]
-[[Category:Paradise Tour songs]]
+[[Category:Released songs]]
+[[Category:Born to Die songs]]
 [[Category:Born to Die Tour songs]]
 [[Category:Music videos]]
 [[Category:Born to Die music videos]]
-[[Category:Released songs]]
+[[Category:Paradise Tour songs]]
+[[Category:LA to the Moon Tour songs]]