"National Anthem" (originally titled "I Want It All") is a song written by Lana Del Rey, Justin Parker, Penny Foster, and The Nexus, produced by Emile Haynie. It served as the fifth single from Del Rey's first major-label studio album, Born to Die. It was officially released as a single on July 6, 2012.
Background[]
The first demo of the song leaked on SoundCloud on July 25, 2011, preceding the song's official release on Born to Die, but went unnoticed until November 6. Its original file leaked on October 14, 2021. The second demo would leak on June 9, 2012. According to an insider, the first demo of the song is edited; Del Rey reportedly did not like the production on the track.[S 1] The instrumental of the song leaked on January 28, 2014.
On August 29 and December 17, 2016, snippets of the second version of a 2010 demo of the song titled "I Want It All" leaked. A third would leak on March 24, 2017, before the demo's leak in full on April 17. The original file of this version leaked in .wav format on December 23, 2023. The first version of the demo leaked on January 31, 2020. A third version of this demo has been rumored to exist.[S 2] The Nexus is responsible for producing all known demos of the song, except for the second, the producer of which is Emile Haynie.
Writing and inspiration[]
Lyrically, the track deals with a hedonistic and melodramatic love story with Del Rey commanding her lover to pledge allegiance to her. It is similar in theme to the unreleased track "Children of the Bad Revolution", and is possibly about J.
Composition[]
"National Anthem" has been described as an alternative hip-hop or trip-hop track. In it, Del Rey employs a rapping-like technique, similarly heard in fellow Born to Die tracks "Diet Mountain Dew" and "Off to the Races". The song opens with a strings section including firework sound effects before introducing some hip-hop beats. It is in the key of C minor with a tempo of 85 BPM. Del Rey's vocal range spans from G3 to Bb4. It features a sample of the song "Mary Jane (Live @ Long Beach '81)" by Rick James, which is also used in "Blue Jeans", "Dark Paradise", "Lolita", and "Without You".
While she is not listed in the album's liner notes, publishing websites like Harry Fox Agency's Songfile[1] and ASCAP[2] list Penny Foster as a co-writer. A listing of the song titled "National Anthem (Demo Version)" is registered to these sites as well and lists Justin Parker as a co-writer.[3][4] It is unknown whether or not this listing is for a demo of the song that has already leaked.
Critical reception[]
Priya Elan of NME mostly praised the track in her four-star review, but said that Del Rey sings the chorus of the song "like a perfect mannequin", and that the lyrics of which "[feel] less like the evocation of true love and more like something workman-like, as if love is something to clothe yourself in for a moment and then unthinkingly step out of". Elan ended her article with "Lana's ability to paint a multi-layered narrative within four minutes proves jaw-dropping once again."[5] Robert Copsey of Digital Spy wrote that the song "makes for utterly compelling listening, as Del Rey purrs about being whisked off to the Hamptons by her bad boy lover with a laconic, anaesthetised vocal that conjures up images of her swigging from a bottle of Hendricks."[6][7]
Accolades[]
The music video for "National Anthem" was nominated for Best Art Direction at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards. At the 2012 UK Music Video Awards, the video was nominated for Best Styling and Best Pop Video - International, the latter of which she lost to herself, for "Blue Jeans".
Live performances[]
Del Rey performed the song live for the first time on June 3, 2012, at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, California. From then on, the song was a fixture of her shows on the Born to Die Tour and Paradise Tour. Del Rey re-added the song to her set list for the LA to the Moon Tour and the 2019 festival tour, but it hasn't been performed since. A song by the name of "Bittersweet Anthem" appeared on early tracklists of the Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd Promotional Tour; while it was never performed, it is speculated to have been a mashup of "National Anthem" and The Verve's "Bittersweet Symphony".
The song was a part of a session recorded by Del Rey's live touring band in preparation for her Paradise Tour performances. The full rehearsal session, which featured Del Rey's pre-recorded vocals and were created with the intent of aiding the tour's videographer, leaked on October 15, 2020.
Music videos[]
Homemade music video[]
| Music video | Information | |
|---|---|---|
|
Released | N/A |
| Length | 3:31 | |
| Director | Lana Del Rey | |
| Producer | ||
| Filmed | 2011 | |
| Location | Encore Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| Vevo views | N/A | |
Background and description[]
The original video is close in style to Del Rey's other homemade music videos such as "Lolita" and "On Our Way". It consists of various film and TV clips such as shots of a Bugatti Veyron and of Elvis and Priscilla Presley's wedding. These shots are interspersed with Del Rey in a Las Vegas hotel, formerly The Wynn, in a blue dress, dancing and lip-syncing to the track. There are occasional clips of Del Rey in a dark wig with large sunglasses on and in a blue jacket. This music video, set to the first demo of the song, is thought to have been recorded in 2011 and leaked on June 22, 2012.
Behind the scenes[]
Official music video[]
| Music video | Information | |
|---|---|---|
|
Released | June 27, 2012 |
| Length | 7:49 | |
| Director | Anthony Mandler | |
| Producer | Lana Del Rey | |
| Filmed | May 25, 2012 | |
| Location | Hempstead House, Port Washington, New York | |
| Vevo views | 109 million+ views | |
Background[]
The official music video was premiered by Noisey on June 27, 2012,[8] and on September 5, was posted to Del Rey's Vevo channel. The video was directed by Anthony Mandler in May of the same year. It features previous musical collaborator and rapper ASAP Rocky as her co-star and love interest.
The treatment for the video was written by Del Rey with ASAP Rocky in mind. Rocky said of the video, "We did a video together...[it's] some swag shit...I play JFK, she plays Jackie O, you know, some cool, trippy shit, some really 2015 shit. People gonna get it in like three years, and that's the whole purpose of it." Del Rey said that the video was "definitely the most beautiful thing [she's] ever done."[9] It was met with generally favorable reviews and was nominated at the 2012 UK Music Video Awards for Best Pop Video - International and Best Styling in a Video. In 2018, the video placed at 51 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Music Videos of the 21st Century list, adding, "All of Lana Del Rey’s music videos are cinematic — it’s kind of her thing — but 'National Anthem' has a movie-quality plot to boot."[10]
On the death scene, Mandler explained:[11]
- "What you're used to seeing with the Zapruder film, is this very kind of violent, destructive act; I didn't want to go anywhere near that. It was never about re-creating a death scene, it was always about the person sitting next to him. It was always about seeing it through her eyes, seeing this kind of castle crumble in the moment, and that shot where she's coming up out of the car, and the pain in her eyes, that destruction, it's like the whole castle is crumbling around her. That's what we were going for."
In a 2024 Instagram story, Azealia Banks, rapper and former friend of Del Rey's, revealed that she was offered to play a role in an early treatment for the music video, which Del Rey had sent to Banks via Interscope. According to Banks, the role was as a "handmaid" who would be "brushing [Del Rey's] hair", and ASAP Rocky was reportedly not yet involved in the video.[12] The veracity of Banks' claims is unclear.
On-set photoshoot by Naomi Shon and Chuck Grant[]
Behind the scenes[]
Description[]
The video begins with Del Rey portraying Marilyn Monroe singing "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" to Rocky, who portrays President John F. Kennedy. After this introduction, Del Rey takes on the persona of first lady Jacqueline Kennedy, and the video adopts a home-movie style depicting the Kennedy's life. The clip ends with a re-enactment of JFK's assassination as Del Rey reads a multi-layered narrative treatment exploring Jackie's love for her husband.
Closing monologue[]
And I remember when I met him, it was so clear that he was the only one for me
We both knew it right away
And as the years went on, things got more difficult and we were faced with more challenges
I begged him to stay
"Try to remember what we had at the beginning"
He was charismatic, magnetic, electric, and everybody knew it
When he walked in, everyone's head turned
Everyone stood up to talk to him
He was like this hybrid, this mix of a man who couldn't contain himself
I always got the sense that he become torn between being a good person and missing out on all of the opportunities that life could offer a man as magnificent as him
And in that way, I understood him and I loved him
I loved him, I loved him, I loved him
And I still love him
I love him
Cross-references[]
- A mention about a lover putting their hands on Del Rey is also found in "Burning Desire", "Oooh Baby", and "You & Me", among many other songs.
- A party dress is also mentioned in "Cruel World" and "Hundred Dollar Bill".
- Del Rey also sings about her lover's pants being off in "Oooh Baby".
- Del Rey mentions singing the national anthem in "Mermaid Motel".
- Diamonds are mentioned in several Del Rey songs, including "Body Electric", "Fake Diamond", "Fine China", "Last Girl on Earth", "Money Power Glory", "Venice Bitch", and "Young and Beautiful".
- Singing about red, white, and blue is also present in "Axl Rose Husband" and "Scarface".
- The lyric "Heaven's in your eyes" may be inspired by the line "Heaven in her eye" from John Milton's poem "Paradise Lost", which was used in Del Rey's short film Tropico. The line also appears in "Starry Eyed".
- The lyric "queen of Saigon" is also used in "Live or Die" and "West Coast".
- A standing ovation is also mentioned in "Freak".
- The lyric "take your body downtown" is also used in "Video Games".
- The lyric "wind in my hair" is also used in "Burning Desire" and "The Blackest Day".
Official versions[]
- Album version – 3:43
- Instrumental version – 3:50
- Radio edit – 3:39
- Music video version (with monologue and introduction) – 7:49
- "I Want It All" demo version 1 (produced by The Nexus) – 3:48
- "I Want It All" demo version 2 (produced by The Nexus) – 3:46
- "I Want It All" demo version 3 (unleaked) – Unknown
- Demo version 1 (unleaked; produced by The Nexus) – Unknown
- Edited version – 3:37
- Demo version 2 (produced by Emile Haynie) – 3:20
- Paradise Tour rehearsal session – 4:42
Official remixes[]
- Afterlife Remix – 3:48
- bretonLABS Remix (also known as Breton Remix) – 4:04
- Das Racist Remix – 3:51
- DC Breaks Remix – 4:07
- Fred Falke Remix Edit – 3:46
- Seasfire Remix – 4:29
- Steve Smart & WestFunk Remix Edit – 2:38[13]
- Sunless '97 Remix (money is the anthem / neck - up refix) – 3:09
- Tensnake Remix – 3:43
- Todd Terry Dub Remix – 5:07
- Todd Terry Radio Remix – 3:50
Lyrics[]
Album version[]
Money is the anthem of success
So before we go out, what's your address?
I'm your national anthem, God, you're so handsome
Take me to The Hamptons, Bugatti Veyron
He loves to romance 'em, reckless abandon
Holdin' me for ransom, upper echelon
He says to be cool, but I don't know how yet
Wind in my hair, hand on the back of my neck
I said, "Can we party later on?", he said, "Yes, yes, yes"
Tell me I'm your national anthem (Booyah, baby, bow down, making me say wow now)
Tell me I'm your national anthem (Sugar, sugar, how now, take your body downtown)
Red, white, blue is in the sky
Summer's in the air and baby, Heaven's in your eyes
I'm your national anthem
Money is the reason we exist
Everybody knows it, it's a fact, kiss, kiss
I sing the national anthem while I am standin'
Over your body, hold you like a python
And you can't keep your hands off me or your pants on
See what you done to me, king of chevron
He said to be cool, but I'm already coolest
I said to get real, don't you know who you're dealing with?
Um, do you think you'll buy me lots of diamonds?
Tell me I'm your national anthem (Booyah, baby, bow down, making me say wow now)
Tell me I'm your national anthem (Sugar, sugar, how now, take your body downtown)
Red, white, blue is in the sky
Summer's in the air and baby, Heaven's in your eyes
I'm your national anthem
It's a love story for the new age, for the sixth page
We're on a quick sick rampage
Winin' and dinin', drinkin' and drivin'
Excessive buyin', overdose and dyin'
On our drugs and our love and our dreams and our rage
Blurrin' the lines between real and the fake
Dark and lonely, I need somebody to hold me
He will do very well, I can tell, I can tell
Keep me safe in his belltower hotel
Money is the anthem of success
So put on mascara and your party dress
I'm your national anthem, boy, put your hands up
Give me a standing ovation
Boy, you have landed, babe in the land of
Sweetness and danger, queen of Saigon
Tell me I'm your national anthem (Booyah, baby, bow down, making me say wow now)
Tell me I'm your national anthem (Sugar, sugar, how now, take your body downtown)
Red, white, blue is in the sky
Summer's in the air and baby, Heaven's in your eyes
I'm your national anthem
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
Demo versions 1 & 2[]
Money is the anthem of success
So before we go out, what's your address?
I'm your national anthem, God, you're so handsome
Take me to The Hamptons, Bugatti Veyron
He loves to romance 'em, reckless abandon
Holdin' me for ransom, upper echelon
He says to be cool, but I don't know how yet
Wind in my hair, hand on the back of my neck
I said, "Can we party later on?", he said, "Yes, yes, yes"
Tell me I'm your national anthem (Booyah, baby, bow down, making me say wow now)
Tell me I'm your national anthem (Sugar, sugar, how now, take your body downtown)
Red, white, blue is in the sky
Summer's in the air and baby, Heaven's in your eyes
I'm your national anthem
Money is the reason we exist
Everybody knows it, it's a fact, kiss, kiss
I sing the national anthem while I am standin'
Over your body, hold you like a python
And you can't keep your hands off me or your pants on
See what you done to me, king of chevron
He said to be cool, but I'm already coolest
I said to get real, don't you know who you're dealing with?
Um, do you think you'll buy me lots of diamonds?
(Yes, of course I will, my darling)
Tell me I'm your national anthem (Booyah, baby, bow down, making me say wow now)
Tell me I'm your national anthem (Sugar, sugar, how now, take your body downtown)
Red, white, blue is in the sky
Summer's in the air and baby, Heaven's in your eyes
I'm your national anthem
It's a love story for the new age, for the sixth page
We're on a quick sick rampage
Winin' and dinin', drinkin' and drivin'
Excessive buyin', overdose and dyin'
On our drugs and our love and our dreams and our rage
Blurrin' the lines between real and the fake
Dark and lonely, I need somebody to hold me
He will do very well, I can tell, I can tell
Keep me safe in his belltower hotel
Money is the anthem of success
So put on mascara and your party dress
I'm your national anthem, boy, put your hands up
Give me a standing ovation
Boy, you have landed, babe in the land of
Sweetness and danger, queen of Saigon
Tell me I'm your national anthem (Booyah, baby, bow down, making me say wow now)
Tell me I'm your national anthem (Sugar, sugar, how now, take your body downtown)
Red, white, blue is in the sky
Summer's in the air and baby, Heaven's in your eyes
I'm your national anthem
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
"I Want It All" demo versions 1 & 2[]
Money is the anthem of success
So before we go out, what's your address?
I'm the national anthem, God, you're so handsome
Take me to The Hamptons, Bugatti Veyron
He loves to romance 'em, reckless abandon
Holdin' me for ransom, upper echelon
He says to be cool, but I don't know how yet
Wind in my hair, hand on the back of my neck
I said, "Can we party later on?", he said, "Yes, yes, yes"
(Of course we can, my darling)
And I want it all (I want the rings and the bling and the sweets I like)
Yeah, I want it all from you (I wanna sing, wanna swing on the stage and shine)
Said I want it all (I want my dreams, want the things that love can't buy)
Yeah, I want it all from you (Bye-bye, baby, bye-bye-bye)
Money is the reason we exist
Everybody knows it, it's a fact, kiss, kiss
I sing the national anthem while I am standin'
Over your body, hold you like a python
And you can't keep your hands off me or your pants on
See what you done to me, king of chevron
He says to be cool, but I'm already coolest
I said to get real, don't you know who you're dealing with?
Um, do you think you'll buy me lots of diamonds?
(Yes, of course I will, my darling)
And I want it all (I want the rings and the bling and the sweets I like)
Yeah, I want it all from you (I wanna sing, wanna swing on the stage and shine)
Said I want it all (I want my dreams, want the things that love can't buy)
Yeah, I want it all from you (Bye-bye, baby, bye-bye-bye)
It's a love story for the new age, for the sixth page
We're on a quick sick rampage
Wining and dining, drinkin' and drivin'
Excessive buyin', overdose and dyin'
On our drugs and our love and our dreams and our rage
Blurrin' the lines between real and the fake
Dark and lonely, I need somebody to hold me
He will do very well, I can tell, I can tell
Keep me safe in his belltower hotel
Money is the anthem of success
So put on mascara and your party dress
I'm the national anthem, boy, put your hands up
Give me a standing ovation
Boy, you have landed, babe, in the land of
Sweetness and danger, queen of Saigon
He says to be cool and I know he means it
He's loving my look and I'm loving all his strategic ways
I said, "Do you think you'll kill for me one day?"
(Yes, of course I will, my darling)
And I want it all (I want the rings and the bling and the sweets I like)
Yeah, I want it all from you (I wanna sing, wanna swing on the stage and shine)
Said I want it all (I want my dreams, want the things that love can't buy)
Yeah, I want it all from you (Bye-bye, baby, bye-bye-bye)
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
Money is the anthem, God, you're so handsome
Money is the anthem of success
I'm your national anthem, national anthem
I'm your national anthem, national anthem
Commercial release[]
Digital release[]
- United Kingdom
|
Label: Polydor Format: Digital download Released: July 8, 2012 Barcode: N/A Photography: Naomi Shon Design: Unknown |
|---|
| # | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "National Anthem" | 3:50 |
| 2. | "National Anthem" (Fred Falke Remix Edit) | 3:46 |
| 3. | "National Anthem" (Tensnake Remix) | 3:43 |
| 4. | "National Anthem" (Afterlife Remix) | 3:58 |
Physical release[]
- United Kingdom & Europe
|
Label: Polydor Format: 7" picture disc vinyl in plastic sleeve Released: July 9, 2012 Barcode: 00602537100538 Photography: Naomi Shon Design: Unknown |
|---|
| # | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "National Anthem" | 3:51 |
| 2. | "National Anthem" (Breton Labs Remix) | 5:23 |
Promotional releases[]
National Anthem CDr by Polydor; France[]
National Anthem CD by Polydor and Interscope; United Kingdom[]
Credits[]
- Personnel[a]
- Lana Del Rey – songwriting, vocals
- Justin Parker – songwriting
- The Nexus – songwriting, vocal production
- Penny Foster – songwriting[b]
- Emile Haynie – production, drums, keyboards
- Jeff Bhasker – additional production, additional keyboards, guitar
- Dan Heath – strings arrangement, strings conducting
- Larry Gold – strings arrangement, strings conducting
- Steve Tirpak – strings assistance
- James Bauer-Mein – backing vocals
- Emilie Bauer-Mein – backing vocals
- David Sneddon – backing vocals
- Manny Marroquin – mixing
- Erik Madrid – mixing assistance
- Chris Galland – mixing assistance
- John Davis – mastering
- Technical
- Published by EMI / Sony / ATV / Sony ATV (ASCAP)
- Mastered at Metropolis Mastering, London, United Kingdom
