"So Legit" is an unreleased song by Lana Del Rey. It is unknown when it was recorded, but is speculated to be from either 2009 or 2010. The track leaked on July 23, 2013.
Background and controversy[]
Lyrically, the song is about former labelmate and singer Lady Gaga. In the song, Del Rey addresses Gaga by her real name and says she "sucks" among other insults towards her. When the track leaked, it caused controversy among media outlets such as The Guardian, Metro, Le Figaro, and HuffPost, all referring to the song as a "Lady Gaga diss track".[1][2][3] The song was also discussed by American shock jock Howard Stern on an episode of The Howard Stern Show.[citation needed]
Del Rey was asked about the song and its context in an interview with Rolling Stone, released on July 16, 2014. According to the interview, Del Rey had never met Lady Gaga, although they were part of the same downtown scene.
"Her manager, Bob Leone, was a confidante of mine, and he gave me a two-month scholarship to a songwriting class and put me on a list of Monday night lineups at the Cutting Room. We played a couple of shows together, but never met."
When asked about this song specifically, Del Rey responded with, “That was a misunderstanding”. She laughed after the interviewer inferred that maybe the song was just not supposed to be heard by anyone.[4]
Bob Leone has also publicly discussed the song with the Daily Mail. After the song leaked, Leone would share that Gaga had reportedly left him "ruined", having not properly rewarded him for helping land her first record deal. According to Leone, Del Rey's lyrics reflect the fury she had towards Gaga regarding the situation.[5]
The original file name is called "So Legittt".
Cross-references[]
- A mention of "switching it up" is in "Put Your Lips Together".
- Del Rey refers to the "downtown scene" in "Art Deco", "Salvatore", and "Dum Dum".
- Coke is mentioned in songs like "Dangerous Girl" and "Girl That Got Away".
- "Punk rock" is mentioned in "Blue Jeans".
- To be "born bad" is also mentioned in "Kinda Outta Luck" and "Never Let Me Go".
Lyrics[]
You were the freak king of the piercing shop
All the girls thought that they could sing
But they're really not shit, I don't get it
You're lookin' like a man and you're talkin' like a baby
How the fuck is your song in a Coke commercial? Crazy
I don't get it, your taste once exquisite
What happened to Brooklyn? What happened to New York?
What happened to my scene? What happened to punk rock, rock?
You called me the queen of the downtown scene, babe
How the fuck would you go switch it up and then replace me?
I don't get it, I'm so legit
Tell me, was it 'cause I wasn't platinum and jewels?
That perhaps you thought I was a little bit of an uncool kid
Was that it?
Stefani, you suck, I know you're sellin' twenty million
Wish they could have seen you when we booed you off in Williamsburg
You're hurt? I know my words don't hurt ya
Oh, girl, I see you walkin' 'round in your pearls
Thinkin' that you're number one
You're so funny, 'cause honey, you're not
What happened to Brooklyn, the last frontier?
They said you can make it anywhere if you can make it here
But where? No magic in the air
What happened to Brooklyn? What happened to our scene, baby?
Have we all gone Gaga crazy?
Remember when the streets used to be dangerous?
And we were born bad
And we were born bad
Punk rock, punk rock
The boys used to punch each other in the face and girls were walkin' 'round wasted
Everyone had a good night, come back in sunlight
Punk rock, rock, rock
References[]
- ↑ Michaels, Sean (July 25, 2013). "Lana Del Rey lashes out at Lady Gaga on leaked track". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jul/25/lana-del-rey-lashes-lady-gaga. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
- ↑ Lee, Ann (July 24, 2013). "Lana Del Rey tells Lady Gaga she ‘sucks’ in So Legit". Metro. https://metro.co.uk/2013/07/24/lana-del-rey-tells-lady-gaga-she-sucks-in-so-legit-3896189/. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
- ↑ Turcan, Marie (July 24, 2013). "Lana Del Rey attaque Lady Gaga en chanson [Lana Del Rey attacks Lady Gaga in song]" (in fr). Le Figaro. https://www.lefigaro.fr/musique/2013/07/24/03006-20130724ARTFIG00276-lana-del-rey-attaque-lady-gaga-en-chanson.php. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
- ↑ Hiatt, Brian (July 24, 2014). "18 Things You Learn After Two Long Days With Lana Del Rey". Rolling Stone. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/18-things-you-learn-after-two-long-days-with-lana-del-rey-170579/. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
- ↑ Boyle, Simon (August 24, 2013). "Penniless and living with his elderly mother, the mentor cruelly dumped by Lady Gaga after he helped transform her into world superstar". Daily Mail. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2401543/Bob-Leone-ex-manager-Lady-Gaga-penniless-living-elderly-mother.html. Retrieved December 20, 2023.