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|image = Image:NA itunes.jpg
  
|image = Image:NA itunes.jpg
 
|artist = Lana Del Rey
  
|artist = Lana Del Rey
−
|written = [[Lana Del Rey]]<br>[[Justin Parker]]<br>[[The Nexus]]
 +
|written = [[Lana Del Rey]]<br>[[Justin Parker]]<br>[[The Nexus]]<br>[[Penny Foster]]
−
|producer = [[Emile Haynie]]
 +
|producer = [[Emile Haynie]]<br>[[Jeff Bhasker]]
−
|altproducer = [[Jeff Bhasker]]<br>The Nexus
 +
|altproducer = The Nexus
 
|time = 3:51<br><small>(See [[#Official versions|official versions]])</small>
  
|time = 3:51<br><small>(See [[#Official versions|official versions]])</small>
 
|Source = [[File:Btdogo.png|125px|link=Born to Die (album)]]
  
|Source = [[File:Btdogo.png|125px|link=Born to Die (album)]]
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|previous = "[[Diet Mountain Dew (song)|Diet Mountain Dew]]"
  
|previous = "[[Diet Mountain Dew (song)|Diet Mountain Dew]]"
 
|next = "[[Dark Paradise (song)|Dark Paradise]]"
  
|next = "[[Dark Paradise (song)|Dark Paradise]]"
−
|released = July 6, 2012}}
 +
|released = July 6, 2012
  +
|Last single image = SS Cover.jpg
−  
  +
|Last single link = Summertime Sadness (song)
⚫
"'''National Anthem'''" is a song written by [[Lana Del Rey]], [[Justin Parker]] and [[The Nexus]] and produced by [[Emile Haynie]] and [[Jeff Bhasker]] in 2012. It served as the fifth single from Del Rey's first major-label studio album ''[[Born to Die (album)|Born to Die]]''. It was officially released as a single on July 6, 2012.
  
  +
|Last single title = Summertime Sadness
  +
|This single image = NA itunes.jpg
  +
|This single link = National Anthem (song)
  +
|This single title = National Anthem
  +
|Next single image = BV_single.jpg
  +
|Next single link = Blue Velvet (song)
  +
|Next single title = Blue Velvet
  ⚫
}}"'''National Anthem'''" (originally titled "'''I Want it All'''") is a song written by [[Lana Del Rey]], [[Justin Parker]], [[Penny Foster]] and [[The Nexus]] and produced by [[Emile Haynie]] and [[Jeff Bhasker]]. It served as the fifth single from Del Rey's first major-label studio album ''[[Born to Die (album)|Born to Die]]''. It was officially released as a single on July 6, 2012.
   
 
==Writing and inspiration==
  
==Writing and inspiration==
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==Composition==
  
==Composition==
 
"National Anthem" has been described as an alternative hip hop or trip hop track. Del Rey's vocals on the track employ a rapping-like technique, similar to that in the ''Born to Die'' tracks, "[[Off to the Races (song)|Off to the Races]]" and "[[Diet Mountain Dew (song)|Diet Mountain Dew]]". The song opens with a strings section including firework sound effects before introducing more hip hop inspired 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. The song focuses on the spoken hook of "Money is the anthem of success." The verses rhyme scheme focuses on rhymes and half rhymes of "anthem" including "ransom", "standin'" and "landed". The song uses male background vocals of a spoken line from a live performance of "Mary Jane" by Rick James, also used in "[[Blue Jeans (song)|Blue Jeans]]", "[[Lolita (song)|Lolita]]", "[[Dark Paradise (song)|Dark Paradise]]" and "[[Without You (song)|Without You]]". Two demos of the song exist, an album demo which features a gospel choir in the chorus, produced by Haynie, and a demo by production duo, The Nexus - which is notably more tailored towards the pop genre.
  
"National Anthem" has been described as an alternative hip hop or trip hop track. Del Rey's vocals on the track employ a rapping-like technique, similar to that in the ''Born to Die'' tracks, "[[Off to the Races (song)|Off to the Races]]" and "[[Diet Mountain Dew (song)|Diet Mountain Dew]]". The song opens with a strings section including firework sound effects before introducing more hip hop inspired 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. The song focuses on the spoken hook of "Money is the anthem of success." The verses rhyme scheme focuses on rhymes and half rhymes of "anthem" including "ransom", "standin'" and "landed". The song uses male background vocals of a spoken line from a live performance of "Mary Jane" by Rick James, also used in "[[Blue Jeans (song)|Blue Jeans]]", "[[Lolita (song)|Lolita]]", "[[Dark Paradise (song)|Dark Paradise]]" and "[[Without You (song)|Without You]]". Two demos of the song exist, an album demo which features a gospel choir in the chorus, produced by Haynie, and a demo by production duo, The Nexus - which is notably more tailored towards the pop genre.
  +
  +
Some publishing websites like Harry Fox Agency<ref>HFA Song code: N50605</ref> and ASCAP<ref>ISRC Code: T9126568976</ref> are listing [[Penny Foster]] as a co-writer. A demo version of the song is registered on ASCAP and lists Justin Parker as a co-writer.<ref>[https://www.ascap.com/repertory#ace/search/workID/883699761 ASCAP demo credits]</ref>
   
 
==Critical reception==
  
==Critical reception==
−
Vocally, ''NME'' observed that Del Rey sings like a "perfect mannequin" on "National Anthem", criticizing the track for baldly revisiting the beat-driven chorus of "[[Born to Die (song)|Born to Die]]". Further, ''NME'' praised certain elements of the track, saying: "As she sings of a relationship of a well-heeled man and a blank canvas woman, she invokes not only the dreamland of the monied classes (The Hamptons) and their could-be motto 'Money is the anthem of success' but also invokes the spectre of Vietnam with a reference to 'The Queen Of Saigon'."<ref>http://www.nme.com/reviews/lana-del-rey/12563</ref> Digital Spy called the running theme of ''Born to Die'', "demonic Stepford moll", which "National Anthem" fit into.<ref>http://www.digitalspy.com/music/singlesreviews/a390343/lana-del-rey-national-anthem-single-review.html</ref> The track was praised for having a: "laconic, anaesthetised vocal that conjures up images of her swigging from a bottle of Hendricks. There's a deep sadness underneath the sweeping string section and gangster hip-hop beats, but it's the chorus's fleeting glimpse of euphoria that'll keep you coming back."<ref>http://www.digitalspy.com/music/singlesreviews/a390343/lana-del-rey-national-anthem-single-review.html</ref>
 +
''ME'' praised certain elements of the track, saying: "As she sings of a relationship of a well-heeled man and a blank canvas woman, she invokes not only the dreamland of the monied classes (The Hamptons) and their could-be motto 'Money is the anthem of success' but also invokes the spectre of Vietnam with a reference to 'The Queen Of Saigon'."<ref>http://www.nme.com/reviews/lana-del-rey/12563</ref> The track was praised for having a: "laconic, anaesthetised vocal that conjures up images of her swigging from a bottle of Hendricks. There's a deep sadness underneath the sweeping string section and gangster hip-hop beats, but it's the chorus's fleeting glimpse of euphoria that'll keep you coming back."<ref>http://www.digitalspy.com/music/singlesreviews/a390343/lana-del-rey-national-anthem-single-review.html</ref>
  ⚫
===Charts===
−  
  ⚫
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
⚫
==Cross-references==
  
  ⚫
!Chart (2012)
⚫
*"Take your body downtown" is a lyric also found in "[[Video Games (song)|Video Games]]".
  
  ⚫
!Peak<br />
⚫
*A party dress is found in "[[St. Tropez (song)|St. Tropez]]", "[[American (song)|American]]" and "[[Smarty (song)|Smarty]]", among many others.
  
  ⚫
position
⚫
*Del Rey mentions singing the national anthem in "[[Mermaid Motel (song)|Mermaid Motel]]".
  
  ⚫
|-
⚫
*The phrase "Queen of Saigon" also appears in "[[West Coast (song)|West Coast]]" and "[[Live or Die (song)|Live or Die]]".
  
  ⚫
!Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)<ref>http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=National+Anthem&cat=s</ref>
⚫
*The lyric "wind in my hair" also appears in "[[Burning Desire (song)|Burning Desire]]" and "[[ The Blackest Day (song)|The Blackest Day]]".
  
  ⚫
|40
⚫
*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 later used in [[Tropico (film)|''Tropico'']]''.''
  
  ⚫
|-
⚫
*The lyric "red, white, and blue" is also present in "[[Axl Rose Husband (song)|Axl Rose Husband]]" and "[[Scarface (song)|Scarface]]".
  
  ⚫
!France (SNEP)<ref>http://www.lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=National+Anthem&cat=s</ref>
  ⚫
|152
  ⚫
|-
  ⚫
!UK Singles (Official Charts Company)<ref>http://www.officialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/1/2012-07-21/</ref>
  ⚫
|92
  ⚫
|-
  ⚫
!US Hot Rock Songs (''Billboard'')<ref>http://www.billboard.com/artist/306420/lana+del+rey/chart?f=902</ref>
  ⚫
|37
  ⚫
|}
   
 
==Music videos==
  
==Music videos==
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|director = [[Lana Del Rey]]
  
|director = [[Lana Del Rey]]
 
|producer = Lana Del Rey
  
|producer = Lana Del Rey
−
|filmed= Unknown, 2010
 +
|filmed= Unknown, 2011
 
|location= Unknown
  
|location= Unknown
 
|vevo views= N/A
  
|vevo views= N/A
 
}}
  
}}
   
−
==== Background and description ====
 +
==== '''Background and description''' ====
−
The original video was much in the style of Del Rey's other homemade clips such as "[[Lolita (song)|Lolita]]" and "[[On Our Way (song)|On Our Way]]". It featured the album demo of the "National Anthem". It consisted 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, what appears to be, a hotel room in a blue dress dancing and lipsyncing to the track. In the same setting Del Rey also wears a dark blue jacket. There are occasional clips of Del Rey in a dark wig with large sunglasses on. It is thought to have been recorded in 2010 and leaked in 2012.
 +
The original video was much in the style of Del Rey's other homemade clips such as "[[Lolita (song)|Lolita]]" and "[[On Our Way (song)|On Our Way]]". It featured the album demo of the "National Anthem". It consisted 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 the Las Vegas hotel, The Wynn, in a blue dress dancing and lipsyncing to the track. In the same setting Del Rey also wears a dark blue jacket. There are occasional clips of Del Rey in a dark wig with large sunglasses on. It is thought to have been recorded in 2011 and leaked in 2012.
  +
  +
==== '''Behind the scenes''' ====
  +
<gallery orientation="portrait" widths="70" spacing="small">
  +
BET uhl1pHQ.jpg
  ⚫
</gallery>
   
 
===Official music video===
  
===Official music video===
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|filmed= May, 2012
  
|filmed= May, 2012
 
|location= Unknown
  
|location= Unknown
−
|vevo views= 58+ Million views
 +
|vevo views= 66+ Million views
 
}}
  
}}
   
−
==== Background and description ====
 +
==== '''Background and description''' ====
−
The official music video was premiered by Noisey on [[2012/June#June 27|June 27, 2012]]<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7daxzs-EK2A</ref>, and on [[2012/September#September 5|September 5, 2012]] it 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 love interest, rather than [[Bradley Soileau]] who featured in her previous two videos.
 +
The official music video was premiered by Noisey on [[2012/June#June 27|June 27, 2012]]<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7daxzs-EK2A</ref>, and on [[2012/September#September 5|September 5, 2012]] it 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 love interest, rather than [[Bradley Soileau]] who featured in her previous two videos.
   
 
The video begins with Del Rey portraying Marilyn Monroe singing "[[Happy Birthday, Mr. President (song)|Happy Birthday, Mr. President]]" to Rocky, who portrays John F. Kennedy. After this introduction, Del Rey takes on the persona of 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 Jacqueline Kennedy's love for her husband. On the death scene, Mandler explained "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." Mandler and Del Rey intended for the video to be about loss and destruction rather than accurately interpreting history.
  
The video begins with Del Rey portraying Marilyn Monroe singing "[[Happy Birthday, Mr. President (song)|Happy Birthday, Mr. President]]" to Rocky, who portrays John F. Kennedy. After this introduction, Del Rey takes on the persona of 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 Jacqueline Kennedy's love for her husband. On the death scene, Mandler explained "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." Mandler and Del Rey intended for the video to be about loss and destruction rather than accurately interpreting history.
   
−
The treatment for the video was written by Del Rey with [[ASAP Rocky]] in mind. Del Rey described the video saying "definitely the most beautiful thing I've ever done." It was met with generally favourable reviews and was nominated at the 2012 UK Music Video Awards for Best Pop Video - International and Best Styling in a Video.
 +
The treatment for the video was written by Del Rey with [[ASAP Rocky]] in mind. Del Rey described the video saying "definitely the most beautiful thing I've ever done." 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 #51 on ''Rolling Stone''<nowiki/>'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."<ref>[https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/list/8466543/100-greatest-music-videos-of-the-21st-century Billboard Staff (July 24, 2018). "The 100 Greatest Music Videos of the 21st Century: Critics' Picks". ''Billboard''.]</ref>
   
 
{{NAMVGallery}}
  
{{NAMVGallery}}
   
−
====Accolades====
 +
===='''Accolades'''====
 
{| class="wikitable"
  
{| class="wikitable"
 
!Year
  
!Year
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| rowspan="2" |UK Music Video Awards
  
| rowspan="2" |UK Music Video Awards
 
|Best Pop Video - International
  
|Best Pop Video - International
−
|class="no table-no2" style="padding-right:0.4em;padding-left:0.4em;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;background:rgb(255,221,221);"|Nominated
 +
| class="no table-no2" style="padding-right:0.4em;padding-left:0.4em;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;background:rgb(255,221,221);" |Nominated
 
| rowspan="2" |<ref>http://www.ukmva.com/user/docs/UKMVAs_2012_Nominations_PR.pdf</ref>
  
| rowspan="2" |<ref>http://www.ukmva.com/user/docs/UKMVAs_2012_Nominations_PR.pdf</ref>
 
|-
  
|-
 
|Best Styling in a Video
  
|Best Styling in a Video
−
|class="no table-no2" style="padding-right:0.4em;padding-left:0.4em;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;background:rgb(255,221,221);"|Nominated
 +
| class="no table-no2" style="padding-right:0.4em;padding-left:0.4em;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;background:rgb(255,221,221);" |Nominated
 
|-
  
|-
 
| rowspan="2" |2013
  
| rowspan="2" |2013
 
|Xbox Entertainment Awards
  
|Xbox Entertainment Awards
 
|Best Music Video
  
|Best Music Video
−
|class="no table-no2" style="padding-right:0.4em;padding-left:0.4em;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;background:rgb(255,221,221);"|Nominated
 +
| class="no table-no2" style="padding-right:0.4em;padding-left:0.4em;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;background:rgb(255,221,221);" |Nominated
 
|<ref>https://www.vg247.com/2013/04/09/xbox-entertainment-awards-finalists-include-halo-4-walking-dead/</ref>
  
|<ref>https://www.vg247.com/2013/04/09/xbox-entertainment-awards-finalists-include-halo-4-walking-dead/</ref>
 
|-
  
|-
 
|MTV Video Music Awards
  
|MTV Video Music Awards
 
|Best Art Direction
  
|Best Art Direction
−
|class="no table-no2" style="padding-right:0.4em;padding-left:0.4em;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;background:rgb(255,221,221);"|Nominated
 +
| class="no table-no2" style="padding-right:0.4em;padding-left:0.4em;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;background:rgb(255,221,221);" |Nominated
 
|<ref>https://www.spin.com/2013/08/mtv-video-music-awards-2013-winners-vma/</ref>
  
|<ref>https://www.spin.com/2013/08/mtv-video-music-awards-2013-winners-vma/</ref>
 
|}
  
|}
  +
  ⚫
== Cross-references ==
  ⚫
*"Take your body downtown" is a lyric also found in "[[Video Games (song)|Video Games]]".
  ⚫
*A party dress is mentioned in "[[St. Tropez (song)|St. Tropez]]", "[[American (song)|American]]" and "[[Smarty (song)|Smarty]]", among many other songs.
  ⚫
*Del Rey mentions singing the national anthem in "[[Mermaid Motel (song)|Mermaid Motel]]".
  ⚫
*The phrase "Queen of Saigon" also appears in "[[West Coast (song)|West Coast]]" and "[[Live or Die (song)|Live or Die]]".
  ⚫
*The line "wind in my hair" also appears in "[[Burning Desire (song)|Burning Desire]]" and "[[ The Blackest Day (song)|The Blackest Day]]".
  ⚫
*The phrase "heaven's in your eyes" may be inspired by the line "heaven in her eye" from John Milton's poem "Paradise Lost" which was later used in [[Tropico (film)|''Tropico'']].
  ⚫
*The use of red, white and blue is also present in "[[Axl Rose Husband (song)|Axl Rose Husband]]" and "[[Scarface (song)|Scarface]]".
  +
*The phrase "want the things that love can't buy" in the "I Want It All" demo might be a reference to "tell me that you want the kind of thing that money just can't buy" from the song "Can't Buy Me Love" by The Beatles.
  +
*Del Rey also sings about her lover's pants being off in "[[Oooh Baby (song)|Oooh Baby]]".
  +
*A mention about a lover putting their hands on Del Rey is also found in "[[You & Me (song)|You &amp; Me]]", "[[Oooh Baby (song)|Oooh Baby]]" and "[[Burning Desire (song)|Burning Desire]]".
  +
*A party dress is also mentioned in "[[Hundred Dollar Bill (song)|Hundred Dollar Bill]]" and "[[Cruel World (song)|Cruel World]]".
  +
*The phase "standing ovation" used in the "I Want It All" demo also appears in the demo for "[https://lanadelrey.fandom.com/wiki/Freak_(song) Freak]".
  +
*"The Hamptons" is an exclusive and expensive area of Long Island for rich families. It is speculated this place was where John F. Kennedy would take Marilyn Monroe when they had an affair.
   
 
==Official versions==
  
==Official versions==
−
Multiple versions of the song exist including the album version, the video version, and various demos. An edited version was released as promo in Europe and is based on the album version. The first demo (retroactively named "[[The Nexus]] demo") leaked on November 6, 2011, preceding the song's official release on ''Born to Die'', and the second demo leaked June 9, 2012.
 +
Multiple versions of the song exist including the album version, the video version, and various demos. An edited version was released as promo in Europe and is based on the album version. "National Anthem (Demo 1)" leaked on November 6, 2011, preceding the song's official release on ''[[Born to Die (album)|Born to Die]]. ''"National Anthem (Demo 2)" leaked on June 9, 2012.
  +
  +
The song was also previously titled "I Want it All" in 2010. Three demos of the song exist under this name. There is said to have been three versions of this demo. "I Want it All (Demo 2)" leaked in full on April 17, 2017, while "I Want it All (Demo 1)" leaked on January 31, 2020. "I Want it All (Demo 3)" has yet to leak. All versions of this demo were produced by [[The Nexus]].
 
*Album version — 3:51
  
*Album version — 3:51
 
*Radio edit — 3:39
  
*Radio edit — 3:39
 
*Music video version (with monologue and introduction) — 7:49
  
*Music video version (with monologue and introduction) — 7:49
 
*Instrumental version — 3:50
  
*Instrumental version — 3:50
−
*"The Nexus demo" (demo version one) — 3:32
 +
*I Want it All (Demo 1) <span>— 3:48</span>
−
*Demo version two — 3:22
 +
*I Want it All (Demo 2) <span>— 3:46</span>
−
*"I Want It All" (version 2) (demo 4) — 3:46
 +
*I Want it All (Demo 3) <span>— Unknown</span>
  +
*National Anthem (Demo 1 or "The Nexus Demo") <span>— 3:32</span>
−
*"I Want It All" (version 3) (demo 5) — Unknown (3 snippets leaked)
  
  +
*National Anthem (Demo 2) – 3:24
−
===I Want It All===
  
  +
*Paradise Tour version — 4:42
−
"I Want It All" is an unreleased demo by Lana Del Rey. It serves as an early version of "National Anthem", however the demo has a different chorus, the inclusion of an extra verse after the bridge and an alternate outro section. The first snippet of "I Want It All" leaked on August 29, 2016, followed by another snippet on December 17, 2016, and on March 24, 2017, a low quality extended snippet leaked. Fans have reported there are three versions of this demo, and that the snippets are from the third version. The second version leaked in full on April 17, 2017. All versions of this demo were produced by The Nexus.
  
   
 
==Lyrics==
  
==Lyrics==
Line 120: Line 161:
 
So before we go out, what's your address?
  
So before we go out, what's your address?
   
−
I'm your national anthem, god, you're so handsome
 +
I'm your national anthem
  +
God, you're so handsome
−
Take me to the Hamptons, Bugatti Veyron
 +
Take me to the Hamptons
⚫
He loves to romance 'em, reckless abandon
  
  +
Bugatti Veyron
⚫
Holdin' me for ransom, upper echelon
  
   
  ⚫
He loves to romance 'em
⚫
He says to be cool but I don't know how yet
  
  +
Reckless abandon
⚫
Wind in my hair, hand on the back of my neck
  
  ⚫
Holdin' me for ransom
⚫
I said, "Can we party later on?"
  
  +
Upper echelon
−
He said, "Yes, yes, yes."
  
  +
  ⚫
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".
   
 
Tell me I'm your national anthem
  
Tell me I'm your national anthem
−
(Booyah, baby, bow down
 +
Booyah baby bow down making me say wow now
−
Makin' me say wow now)
  
 
Tell me I'm your national anthem
  
Tell me I'm your national anthem
−
(Sugar, sugar, how now
 +
Sugar sugar how now take your body downtown
  +
−
Take your body downtown)
  
 
Red, white, blue's in the sky
  
Red, white, blue's in the sky
−
Summer's in the air and, baby, heaven's in your eyes
 +
Summer's in the air, baby, heaven's in your eyes
 
I'm your national anthem
  
I'm your national anthem
   
 
Money is the reason we exist
  
Money is the reason we exist
−
Everybody knows it, it's a fact, kiss, kiss
 +
Everybody knows it, it's a fact
  +
Kiss, kiss
   
−
I sing the national anthem while I'm standin'
 +
I sing the national anthem while I'm standin' over your body, hold you like a python
−
Over your body, hold you like a python
  
 
And you can't keep your hands off me or your pants on
  
And you can't keep your hands off me or your pants on
−
See what you've done to me? King of Chevron
 +
See what you've done to me
  +
King of chevron
   
−
You said to be cool but I'm already coolest
 +
He said to be cool, but I'm already coolest
−
I said to get real
 +
I said to get real, don't you know who you're dealing with?
−
Don't you know who you're dealing with?
 +
Umm, do you think you'll buy me lots of diamonds?
−
Um, do you think you'll buy me lots of diamonds?
 
   
 
Tell me I'm your national anthem
  
Tell me I'm your national anthem
−
(Booyah, baby, bow down
 +
Booyah baby bow down making me say wow now
−
Makin' me say wow now)
  
 
Tell me I'm your national anthem
  
Tell me I'm your national anthem
−
(Sugar, sugar, how now
 +
Sugar sugar how now take your body downtown
  +
−
Take your body downtown)
  
 
Red, white, blue's in the sky
  
Red, white, blue's in the sky
−
Summer's in the air and, baby, heaven's in your eyes
 +
Summer's in the air, baby, heaven's in your eyes
 
I'm your national anthem
  
I'm your national anthem
   
 
It's a love story for the new age
  
It's a love story for the new age
−
For the sixth page we're on a quick sick rampage
 +
For the sixth page
  +
We're on a quick, sick rampage
 
Wining and dining, drinking and driving
  
Wining and dining, drinking and driving
−
Excessive buying, overdose and dying
 +
Excessive buying overdose and dying
  +
 
On our drugs and our love and our dreams and our rage
  
On our drugs and our love and our dreams and our rage
 
Blurring the lines between real and the fake
  
Blurring the lines between real and the fake
−  
 
Dark and lonely, I need somebody to hold me
  
Dark and lonely, I need somebody to hold me
 
He will do very well, I can tell, I can tell
  
He will do very well, I can tell, I can tell
−
Keep me safe in his Bell Tower Hotel
 +
Keep me safe, in his belltower hotel
   
 
Money is the anthem of success
  
Money is the anthem of success
 
So put on mascara and your party dress
  
So put on mascara and your party dress
   
−
I'm your national anthem, boy, put your hands up
 +
I'm your national anthem
  +
Boy, put your hands up
 
Give me a standing ovation
  
Give me a standing ovation
  +
−
Boy, you have landed, babe in the land of sweetness and danger
  
  +
Boy, you have landed
−
Queen of Saigon
  
  +
Babe, in the land of
  +
Sweetness and danger - queen of Saigon
   
 
Tell me I'm your national anthem
  
Tell me I'm your national anthem
−
(Booyah, baby, bow down
 +
Booyah baby bow down making me say wow now
−
Makin' me say wow now)
  
 
Tell me I'm your national anthem
  
Tell me I'm your national anthem
−
(Sugar, sugar, how now
 +
Sugar sugar how now take your body downtown
  +
−
Take your body downtown)
  
 
Red, white, blue's in the sky
  
Red, white, blue's in the sky
−
Summer's in the air and, baby, heaven's in your eyes
 +
Summer's in the air, baby, heaven's in your eyes
 
I'm your national anthem
  
I'm your national anthem
   
 
Money is the anthem
  
Money is the anthem
 
God, you're so handsome
  
God, you're so handsome
−
Money is the anthem of success
 +
Money is the anthem, of success
   
 
Money is the anthem
  
Money is the anthem
 
God, you're so handsome
  
God, you're so handsome
−
Money is the anthem of success
 +
Money is the anthem, of success
   
 
Money is the anthem
  
Money is the anthem
 
God, you're so handsome
  
God, you're so handsome
−
Money is the anthem of success
 +
Money is the anthem, of success
   
 
Money is the anthem
  
Money is the anthem
 
God, you're so handsome
  
God, you're so handsome
−
Money is the anthem of success
 +
Money is the anthem, of success
 
</poem>
  
</poem>
 
}}
  
}}
   
−
===''The Nexus'' demo version===
 +
===National Anthem (Demo 1) ===
 
{{Scroll box
  
{{Scroll box
 
|content=<poem>
  
|content=<poem>
Line 308: Line 355:
 
}}
  
}}
   
−
===Demo version two===
 +
===National Anthem (Demo 2) ===
 
{{Scroll box
  
{{Scroll box
 
|content=<poem>
  
|content=<poem>
Line 406: Line 453:
 
}}
  
}}
   
−
=== "I Want It All" (version two) ===
 +
=== "I Want it All" demos ===
 
{{Scroll box|content = <poem>
  
{{Scroll box|content = <poem>
 
Money is the anthem of success
  
Money is the anthem of success
Line 416: Line 463:
 
Holdin' me for ransom, upper echelon
  
Holdin' me for ransom, upper echelon
   
−
He says to be cool but I don't know how yet
 +
He says to be cool, but I don't know how yet
 
Wind in my hair, hand on the back of my neck
  
Wind in my hair, hand on the back of my neck
 
I said, "Can we party later on?"
  
I said, "Can we party later on?"
Line 439: Line 486:
 
See what you done to me? King of Chevron
  
See what you done to me? King of Chevron
   
−
He says to be cool but I'm already coolest
 +
He says to be cool, but I'm already coolest
 
I said to get real
  
I said to get real
 
Don't you know who you're dealing with?
  
Don't you know who you're dealing with?
Line 471: Line 518:
 
I'm the national anthem, boy, put your hands up
  
I'm the national anthem, boy, put your hands up
 
Give me a standing ovation
  
Give me a standing ovation
−
Boy, you have landed, babe in the land of sweetness and danger
 +
Boy, you have landed, babe, in the land of sweetness and danger
 
Queen of Saigon
  
Queen of Saigon
   
Line 513: Line 560:
 
|gdate = 9 June, 2012|gcode = 00602537100538
  
|gdate = 9 June, 2012|gcode = 00602537100538
 
|gphotog = Naomi Shon
  
|gphotog = Naomi Shon
−
|gdesign = Unknown|image = NA Vinyl.jpg}}{{Template:Tracklist
 +
|gdesign = Unknown|image = NA Vinyl.jpg}}
  +
{{Template:Tracklist
 
|title1 = National Anthem
  
|title1 = National Anthem
 
|title2 = National Anthem
  
|title2 = National Anthem
Line 521: Line 569:
 
===Digital releases===
  
===Digital releases===
 
;'''National Anthem (Remixes) - EP'''
  
;'''National Anthem (Remixes) - EP'''
  +
 
{{Template:Discobox
  
{{Template:Discobox
 
|glabel = [[Polydor Records|Polydor]]
  
|glabel = [[Polydor Records|Polydor]]
Line 546: Line 595:
 
*Afterlife Remix — 3:48
  
*Afterlife Remix — 3:48
 
*bretonLABS Remix — 4:04
  
*bretonLABS Remix — 4:04
  +
*Burns' SFTCR Remix — 4:00
  +
*Das Racist Remix — 3:51
  +
*DC Breaks Remix — 4:07
 
*Fred Falke Remix Edit — 3:46
  
*Fred Falke Remix Edit — 3:46
  +
*Seasfire Remix — 4:29
  +
*Sega Bodega Remix — 5:01
  +
*Sunless 97' Remix (money is the anthem / neck - up refix) — 3:09
 
*Tensnake Remix — 3:43
  
*Tensnake Remix — 3:43
  +
*Todd Terry Dub Remix — 5:07
  +
*Todd Terry Radio Remix — 3:50
   
 
==Promotional releases==
  
==Promotional releases==
  +
{{NAPromo}}
−
===''National Anthem'' CD by ''Polydor'' and ''Interscope Records'' in UK===
  
−
<gallery spacing="small" widths="100">
  
−
NA1.jpg|<small>Front cover</small>
  
−
NA2.jpg|<small>Back cover</small>
  
−
NA3.jpg|<small>CD</small>
  
⚫
</gallery>
  
−  
−
===''National Anthem'' 7" Picture Vinyl by ''Polydor'' in UK & Europe===
  
−
<gallery spacing="small" widths="100">
  
−
NA4.jpg|<small>Side A with tag</small>
  
−
NA5.jpg|<small>Side A</small>
  
−
NA6.jpg|<small>Side B</small>
  
−
</gallery>
  
−  
−
===''National Anthem'' CD by ''Polydor'' in Europe===
  
−
<gallery spacing="small" widths="100">
  
−
NA7.jpg|<small>Front cover</small>
  
−
NA8.jpg|<small>Back cover</small>
  
−
</gallery>
  
   
−
==Credits==
+
==Credits==
 
;'''Personnel'''
  
;'''Personnel'''
−
*Lana Del Rey — vocals, songwriting
 +
*[[Lana Del Rey]] — vocals, songwriting
−
*Justin Parker — songwriting
 +
*[[Justin Parker]] — songwriting
−
*The Nexus — songwriting, vocal production
 +
*[[The Nexus]] — songwriting, vocal production
−
*Emile Haynie — production, drums, keyboards
 +
*[[Emile Haynie]] — production, drums, keyboards
−
*Jeff Bhasker — production assistance, additional keyboards, guitar
 +
*[[Jeff Bhasker]] — production assistance, additional keyboards, guitar
  ⚫
*[[Dan Heath]] — strings arrangement, strings conductor
−
*James Bauer-Mein, David Sneddon, Emilie Bauer-Mein — backing vocals
 +
*James Bauer-Mein, David Sneddon, Emilie Bauer-Mein — backing vocals
⚫
*Larry Gold & Dan Heath — strings arrangement and conduction
  
  +
*Larry Gold — strings arrangement, strings conductor
 
*Steve Tirpak — strings assistance
  
*Steve Tirpak — strings assistance
 
*Manny Marroquin — mixing
  
*Manny Marroquin — mixing
Line 584: Line 624:
 
*John Davis — mastering
  
*John Davis — mastering
 
;'''Technical'''
  
;'''Technical'''
−
*Published by BMG Chrysalis / EMI
+
*Published by BMG Chrysalis / EMI
 
*Mastered at Metropolis Mastering, London, United Kingdom
  
*Mastered at Metropolis Mastering, London, United Kingdom
−  
⚫
==Charts==
  
⚫
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
  
⚫
!Chart (2012)
  
⚫
!Peak<br />
  
⚫
position
  
⚫
|-
  
⚫
!Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)<ref>http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=National+Anthem&cat=s</ref>
  
⚫
|40
  
⚫
|-
  
⚫
!France (SNEP)<ref>http://www.lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=National+Anthem&cat=s</ref>
  
⚫
|152
  
⚫
|-
  
⚫
!UK Singles (Official Charts Company)<ref>http://www.officialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/1/2012-07-21/</ref>
  
⚫
|92
  
⚫
|-
  
⚫
!US Hot Rock Songs (''Billboard'')<ref>http://www.billboard.com/artist/306420/lana+del+rey/chart?f=902</ref>
  
⚫
|37
  
⚫
|}
  
   
 
== References ==
  
== References ==
 
<references />
  
<references />
−  
 
{{Navbox album BTD}}
  
{{Navbox album BTD}}
 
[[Category:Born to Die music videos]]
  
[[Category:Born to Die music videos]]
Line 620: Line 640:
 
[[Category:Released songs]]
  
[[Category:Released songs]]
 
[[Category:LA to the Moon Tour songs]]
  
[[Category:LA to the Moon Tour songs]]
  +
[[Category:Pages With Speculation]]

Revision as of 19:18, 11 June 2021

"National Anthem" (originally titled "I Want it All") is a song written by Lana Del Rey, Justin Parker, Penny Foster and The Nexus and produced by Emile Haynie and Jeff Bhasker. 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.

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 themes 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. Del Rey's vocals on the track employ a rapping-like technique, similar to that in the Born to Die tracks, "Off to the Races" and "Diet Mountain Dew". The song opens with a strings section including firework sound effects before introducing more hip hop inspired 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. The song focuses on the spoken hook of "Money is the anthem of success." The verses rhyme scheme focuses on rhymes and half rhymes of "anthem" including "ransom", "standin'" and "landed". The song uses male background vocals of a spoken line from a live performance of "Mary Jane" by Rick James, also used in "Blue Jeans", "Lolita", "Dark Paradise" and "Without You". Two demos of the song exist, an album demo which features a gospel choir in the chorus, produced by Haynie, and a demo by production duo, The Nexus - which is notably more tailored towards the pop genre.

Some publishing websites like Harry Fox Agency[1] and ASCAP[2] are listing Penny Foster as a co-writer. A demo version of the song is registered on ASCAP and lists Justin Parker as a co-writer.[3]

Critical reception

ME praised certain elements of the track, saying: "As she sings of a relationship of a well-heeled man and a blank canvas woman, she invokes not only the dreamland of the monied classes (The Hamptons) and their could-be motto 'Money is the anthem of success' but also invokes the spectre of Vietnam with a reference to 'The Queen Of Saigon'."[4] The track was praised for having a: "laconic, anaesthetised vocal that conjures up images of her swigging from a bottle of Hendricks. There's a deep sadness underneath the sweeping string section and gangster hip-hop beats, but it's the chorus's fleeting glimpse of euphoria that'll keep you coming back."[5]

Charts

Chart (2012) Peak

position

Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[6] 40
France (SNEP)[7] 152
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[8] 92
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[9] 37

Music videos

Homemade music video

Music video Information
Lana_Del_Rey_-_National_Anthem_(Original_Demo_Version)_HQ Released June 22, 2012 (leaked)
Length 3:31
Director Lana Del Rey
Producer Lana Del Rey
Filmed Unknown, 2011
Location Unknown
Vevo views N/A

Background and description

The original video was much in the style of Del Rey's other homemade clips such as "Lolita" and "On Our Way". It featured the album demo of the "National Anthem". It consisted 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 the Las Vegas hotel, The Wynn, in a blue dress dancing and lipsyncing to the track. In the same setting Del Rey also wears a dark blue jacket. There are occasional clips of Del Rey in a dark wig with large sunglasses on. It is thought to have been recorded in 2011 and leaked in 2012.

Behind the scenes

Official music video

Music video Information
Lana_Del_Rey_-_National_Anthem Released June 27, 2012
Length 7:49
Director Anthony Mandler
Producer Lana Del Rey
Filmed May, 2012
Location Unknown
Vevo views 66+ Million views

Background and description

The official music video was premiered by Noisey on June 27, 2012[10], and on September 5, 2012 it 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 love interest, rather than Bradley Soileau who featured in her previous two videos.

The video begins with Del Rey portraying Marilyn Monroe singing "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" to Rocky, who portrays John F. Kennedy. After this introduction, Del Rey takes on the persona of 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 Jacqueline Kennedy's love for her husband. On the death scene, Mandler explained "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." Mandler and Del Rey intended for the video to be about loss and destruction rather than accurately interpreting history.

The treatment for the video was written by Del Rey with ASAP Rocky in mind. Del Rey described the video saying "definitely the most beautiful thing I've ever done." 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 #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."[11]

On-set photoshoot by Naomi Shon and Chuck Grant

Behind the scenes

Accolades

Year Awards ceremony Award Results Ref.
2012 UK Music Video Awards Best Pop Video - International Nominated [12]
Best Styling in a Video Nominated
2013 Xbox Entertainment Awards Best Music Video Nominated [13]
MTV Video Music Awards Best Art Direction Nominated [14]

Cross-references

  • "Take your body downtown" is a lyric also found in "Video Games".
  • A party dress is mentioned in "St. Tropez", "American" and "Smarty", among many other songs.
  • Del Rey mentions singing the national anthem in "Mermaid Motel".
  • The phrase "Queen of Saigon" also appears in "West Coast" and "Live or Die".
  • The line "wind in my hair" also appears in "Burning Desire" and "The Blackest Day".
  • The phrase "heaven's in your eyes" may be inspired by the line "heaven in her eye" from John Milton's poem "Paradise Lost" which was later used in Tropico.
  • The use of red, white and blue is also present in "Axl Rose Husband" and "Scarface".
  • The phrase "want the things that love can't buy" in the "I Want It All" demo might be a reference to "tell me that you want the kind of thing that money just can't buy" from the song "Can't Buy Me Love" by The Beatles.
  • Del Rey also sings about her lover's pants being off in "Oooh Baby".
  • A mention about a lover putting their hands on Del Rey is also found in "You & Me", "Oooh Baby" and "Burning Desire".
  • A party dress is also mentioned in "Hundred Dollar Bill" and "Cruel World".
  • The phase "standing ovation" used in the "I Want It All" demo also appears in the demo for "Freak".
  • "The Hamptons" is an exclusive and expensive area of Long Island for rich families. It is speculated this place was where John F. Kennedy would take Marilyn Monroe when they had an affair.

Official versions

Multiple versions of the song exist including the album version, the video version, and various demos. An edited version was released as promo in Europe and is based on the album version. "National Anthem (Demo 1)" leaked on November 6, 2011, preceding the song's official release on Born to Die. "National Anthem (Demo 2)" leaked on June 9, 2012.

The song was also previously titled "I Want it All" in 2010. Three demos of the song exist under this name. There is said to have been three versions of this demo. "I Want it All (Demo 2)" leaked in full on April 17, 2017, while "I Want it All (Demo 1)" leaked on January 31, 2020. "I Want it All (Demo 3)" has yet to leak. All versions of this demo were produced by The Nexus.

  • Album version — 3:51
  • Radio edit — 3:39
  • Music video version (with monologue and introduction) — 7:49
  • Instrumental version — 3:50
  • I Want it All (Demo 1) — 3:48
  • I Want it All (Demo 2) — 3:46
  • I Want it All (Demo 3) — Unknown
  • National Anthem (Demo 1 or "The Nexus Demo") — 3:32
  • National Anthem (Demo 2) – 3:24
  • Paradise Tour version — 4:42

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".

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's in the sky
Summer's in the air, 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'm 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've 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?
Umm, 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's in the sky
Summer's in the air, 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
Wining and dining, drinking and driving
Excessive buying overdose and dying

On our drugs and our love and our dreams and our rage
Blurring 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's in the sky
Summer's in the air, 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

National Anthem (Demo 1)

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
Makin' me say wow now)
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Sugar, sugar, how now
Take your body downtown)
Red, white, blue's 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'm 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've done to me? King of Chevron

You 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
Makin' me say wow now)
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Sugar, sugar, how now
Take your body downtown)
Red, white, blue's 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
Wining and dining, drinking and driving
Excessive buying, overdose and dying
On our drugs and our love and our dreams and our rage
Blurring 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 Bell Tower 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
Makin' me say wow now)
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Sugar, sugar, how now
Take your body downtown)
Red, white, blue's 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

National Anthem (Demo 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
Makin' me say wow now)
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Sugar, sugar, how now
Take your body downtown)
Red, white, blue's 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'm 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've done to me? King of Chevron

You 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
Makin' me say wow now)
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Sugar, sugar, how now
Take your body downtown)
Red, white, blue's 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
Wining and dining, drinking and driving
Excessive buying, overdose and dying
On our drugs and our love and our dreams and our rage
Blurring 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 Bell Tower 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
Makin' me say wow now)
Tell me I'm your national anthem
(Sugar, sugar, how now
Take your body downtown)
Red, white, blue's 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" demos

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 bling and the sweets that 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 bling and the sweets that 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 buying, overdose and dyin'
On our drugs and our love and our dreams and our rage
Blurring 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 Bell Tower 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 lovin' my look and I'm lovin' 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 bling and the sweets that 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

"National Anthem" was released as a digital EP in Ireland on June 6, 2012, and in the UK on June 8, 2012. On June 9, 2012 it was released as a 7" picture disc vinyl in the UK. It charted at 37 on Billboard's US Rock Songs chart, 40 on Belgium's Ultratip Flanders chart, 92 on the United Kingdom's Official Chart Company chart and 152 on France's SNEP chart.

Physical releases

United Kingdom (3710053)

(45RPM)

NA Vinyl Label: Polydor
Format: 7" picture disc vinyl in plastic sleeve
Released: 9 June, 2012
Barcode: 00602537100538
Photography: Naomi Shon
Design: Unknown
# Name Time
1. "National Anthem"   3:51
2. "National Anthem" (Breton Labs Remix) 5:23

Digital releases

National Anthem (Remixes) - EP
NA itunes Label: Polydor
Format: Digital
Released: 6 June, 2012
Barcode: None
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

Official remixes

  • Afterlife Remix — 3:48
  • bretonLABS Remix — 4:04
  • Burns' SFTCR Remix — 4:00
  • Das Racist Remix — 3:51
  • DC Breaks Remix — 4:07
  • Fred Falke Remix Edit — 3:46
  • Seasfire Remix — 4:29
  • Sega Bodega Remix — 5:01
  • 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

Promotional releases

National Anthem CD by Polydor and Interscope Records in UK

National Anthem 7" Picture Vinyl by Polydor in UK & Europe

National Anthem CD by Polydor in Europe

Credits

Personnel
  • Lana Del Rey — vocals, songwriting
  • Justin Parker — songwriting
  • The Nexus — songwriting, vocal production
  • Emile Haynie — production, drums, keyboards
  • Jeff Bhasker — production assistance, additional keyboards, guitar
  • Dan Heath — strings arrangement, strings conductor
  • James Bauer-Mein, David Sneddon, Emilie Bauer-Mein — backing vocals
  • Larry Gold — strings arrangement, strings conductor
  • Steve Tirpak — strings assistance
  • Manny Marroquin — mixing
  • Erik Madrid & Chris Galland — mixing assistance
  • John Davis — mastering
Technical
  • Published by BMG Chrysalis / EMI
  • Mastered at Metropolis Mastering, London, United Kingdom

References

  1. ↑ HFA Song code: N50605
  2. ↑ ISRC Code: T9126568976
  3. ↑ ASCAP demo credits
  4. ↑ http://www.nme.com/reviews/lana-del-rey/12563
  5. ↑ http://www.digitalspy.com/music/singlesreviews/a390343/lana-del-rey-national-anthem-single-review.html
  6. ↑ http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=National+Anthem&cat=s
  7. ↑ http://www.lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=National+Anthem&cat=s
  8. ↑ http://www.officialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/1/2012-07-21/
  9. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/306420/lana+del+rey/chart?f=902
  10. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7daxzs-EK2A
  11. ↑ Billboard Staff (July 24, 2018). "The 100 Greatest Music Videos of the 21st Century: Critics' Picks". Billboard.
  12. ↑ http://www.ukmva.com/user/docs/UKMVAs_2012_Nominations_PR.pdf
  13. ↑ https://www.vg247.com/2013/04/09/xbox-entertainment-awards-finalists-include-halo-4-walking-dead/
  14. ↑ https://www.spin.com/2013/08/mtv-video-music-awards-2013-winners-vma/
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