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"Summertime Sadness" is a song written by Lana Del Rey, Kieran De Jour and Rick Nowels in 2011. Nowels also assisted in the song's production along with Emile Haynie. Taken from Del Rey's first major-label album Born to Die, the song was released as the album's fourth official single worldwide on June 22, 2012. A remix was made by Cedric Gervais which found the track worldwide commercial success.

Composition

"Summertime Sadness" is a trip hop ballad written in the key of C♯ Minor. Del Rey's vocals cover exactly two octaves, ranging from C♯3 to C♯5. It is performed at approximately 112 beats per minute and runs at a duration of four minutes and twenty-five seconds.

A second version known as "Final 2" exists. Was produced by someone who worked on the album, but finally was produced with Emile Haynie. Three snippets of this version leaked between 2016-2017 with the last one on August 31, 2017 during an Instagram livestream. The first snippet was leaked on May, 2016 and the second one on April 20, 2017. This version a more rock and electronic sound, featuring an electronic guitar. At first, it was mistaken to a demo or a different radio mix but the leaker confirmed it to be a different version of the final one.

Critical reception

In his track-by-track review of Born to Die for Billboard magazine Andrew Hampp wrote about "Summertime Sadness" that "the pouty title alone drew giggles at Del Rey's Bowery gig, but the song itself proves to be one of the more durable tracks here even if its lyrics start to get redundant ('Kiss me hard before you go... That baby you're the best')".[1] Amy Sciarretto of PopCrush noted that "on an album marked by shoe gazing moments, [the song] is Lana Del Rey at her most head down. But even though there is a palpable damaged girl in her voice, she commands attention with her lazy delivery."[2] Los Angeles Times named it among the best tracks on the album along with "Video Games" and "Dark Paradise".[3]

Live performances

Del Rey first performed the song at the Bowery Ballroom on December 5, 2011, before the song was officially released. At the end of the performance, she stated: "I know you don't care, but you're gonna fucking like it when it's on the record." The song is now one of the songs Del Rey performs live most frequently, it has been included in the setlist for the Born to Die Tour, Paradise Tour, Endless Summer Tour, and Festival Tour.

Cross-references

Music video

Music video Information
Lana_Del_Rey_-_Summertime_Sadness Released June 22, 2012.
Length 4:25
Director Kyle Newman, Spencer Susser
Producer Tova Dann
Filmed April—May, 2012
Location Pasadena, California
Vevo views 98+ Million views

Background

The music video for "Summertime Sadness" was filmed in April and May of 2012. It was directed by Kyle Newman and Spencer Susser. Newman's wife, actress Jaime King, stars alongside Del Rey in the video, and said that, "It's about not being able to live without the one you love, friend or lover it doesn't matter, that's whatever you want it to be." Actor Alex Pettyfer reportedly also helped out on set as a production assistant. The radio mix edit of the video was released on July 20, 2012, in Germany on ClipFish.[4] The same day, the video with the album version of the song was released worldwide on Del Rey's official YouTube channel.

Description

The music video for the song features two lovers, one played by Jaime King and the other played by Del Rey. As the storyline progresses, one of the lovers commit suicide by jumping from perilous heights.

The music video opens with the clouds parting during which a female voice is heard speaking through a phone call, telling her lover, "remember, i'll always love you, bye", then it shows Lana Del Rey singing the opening verse before jumping from a cliff overlooking a waterfall. The video traces the women's relationship with spliced together through film bits – much like the effects used in her earlier efforts – and foggy scenes of the stars pouting and glancing seductively over their shoulders. The final sixty seconds of the video features both the grief stricken lovers falling in slow motion off of a bridge, suicidal after realizing the irreparability of their relationship. "I just wanted you to know," Del Rey intones as she tumbles slowly into the abyss, "that baby you were the best."

Behind the scenes

Remix music video

Lana_Del_Rey,_Cedric_Gervais_-_Summertime_Sadness_Lana_Del_Rey_vs._Cedric_Gervais

Lana Del Rey, Cedric Gervais - Summertime Sadness Lana Del Rey vs. Cedric Gervais

The video was re-edited to go alongside the release of the Cedric Gervais remix.

Official versions

  • Album version — 4:25
  • Single version — 4:23
  • Music video version — 4:42
  • Radio mix — 4:12
  • Radio mix, extended version — 5:06
  • Instrumental version — 4:24
  • Radio edit — 3:09
  • Demo version 1 — 4:13 (produced by Rick Nowels)
  • Final Version 2 (snippet) — 0:22
  • Final Version 2 (snippet 2)  — 0:14

Lyrics

Kiss me hard before you go
Summertime sadness
I just wanted you to know
That baby, you the best

I got my red dress on tonight
Dancin' in the dark in the pale moonlight
Done my hair up real big, beauty queen style
High heels off, I'm feelin' alive

Oh my god, I feel it in the air
Telephone wires above
Are sizzlin' like a snare
Honey I'm on fire, I feel it everywhere
Nothin' scares me anymore
(One, two, three, four)

Kiss me hard before you go
Summertime sadness
I just wanted you to know
That baby, you the best

I got that summertime, summertime sadness
Su-su-summertime, summertime sadness
Got that summertime, summertime sadness
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

I'm feelin' electric tonight
Cruisin' down the coast, goin' about ninety-nine
Got my bad baby by my heavenly side
I know if I go, I'll die happy tonight

Oh my god, I feel it in the air
Telephone wires above
Are sizzlin' like a snare
Honey I'm on fire, I feel it everywhere
Nothin' scares me anymore
(One, two, three, four)

Kiss me hard before you go
Summertime sadness
I just wanted you to know
That baby, you the best

I got that summertime, summertime sadness
Su-su-summertime, summertime sadness
Got that summertime, summertime sadness
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Think I'll miss you forever
Like the stars miss the sun in the morning sky
Later's better than never
Even if you're gone I'm gonna drive

I got that summertime, summertime sadness
Su-su-summertime, summertime sadness
Got that summertime, summertime sadness
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Kiss me hard before you go
Summertime sadness
I just wanted you to know
That baby, you the best

I got that summertime, summertime sadness
Su-su-summertime, summertime sadness
Got that summertime, summertime sadness
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Commercial release

Summertime Sadness (Remixes) - EP
SS Slimcase Cover Label: Universal Music
Format: Digital
Released: June 22, 2012
Barcode: None
Photography: Spencer Susser
Design: Unknown
# Name Time
1. "Summertime Sadness" (Radio Mix) 4:12
2. "Summertime Sadness"   4:25
3. "Summertime Sadness" (Radio Mix, Extended Version) 5:06
4. "Summertime Sadness" (Hannes Fischer Nightflight Remix) 6:41
German CD single
SS Slimcase Cover Label: Vertigo Berlin
Format: CD in slimcase
Released: July 13, 2012
Barcode: 0602537102631
Photography: Spencer Susser
Design: Unknown
# Name Time
1. "Summertime Sadness" (Radio Mix) 4:12
2. "Summertime Sadness"   4:25
German 12" remixes EP
SS Vinyl Label: Stranger
Format: 12" vinyl in cardsleeve
Released: July, 2012
Barcode: 0602537105106
Photography: Nicole Nodland
Design: Unknown


SIDE A (45RPM)

# Name Time
1. "Summertime Sadness" (Todd Terry Remix) 6:35
2. "Summertime Sadness" (Todd Terry Dub) 5:37

SIDE B (45RPM)

# Name Time
1. "Summertime Sadness" (Hannes Fischer Nightflight Remix) 6:41
2. "Summertime Sadness" (Marbert Rocel Remix) 5:41
Summertime Sadness (Asadinho Remixes)
Summertime Sadness Asadinho Label: RvS
Format: Digital, 12" vinyl
Released: Various
Barcode:
Photography: None
Design: Unknown
# Name Time
1. "Summertime Sadness" (Asadinho Main Vocal Mix) 8:34
2. "Summertime Sadness" (Asadinho Dub) 7:45
3. "Summertime Sadness" (Asadinho Instrumental) 7:00
Summertime Sadness (Nick Warren Remixes)
Summetime Sadness Nick Warren Label: Hope Recordings
Format: Digital
Released: February, 2013
Barcode: None
Photography: None
Design: Unknown
# Name Time
1. "Summertime Sadness" (Nick Warren's Vocal Remix) 10:34
2. "Summertime Sadness" (Nick Warren's Skandik Dub) 10:40
3. "Summertime Sadness" (Nick Warren's Instrumental Remix) 10:32
Summertime Sadness (Cedric Gervais Remix) - Single
Summertime Sadness Remix Label: Spinnin' Records
Format: Digital
Released: July 11, 2013
Barcode: None
Photography: None
Design: Unknown
# Name Time
1. "Summertime Sadness" (Cedric Gervais Remix) 3:34
Summertime Sadness (Cedric Gervais Extended Remix) - Single
Summertime Sadness Extended Remix Label: Spinnin' Records
Format: Digital
Released: February 24, 2014
Barcode: None
Photography: None
Design: Unknown
# Name Time
1. "Summertime Sadness" (Cedric Gervais Extended Remix) 6:52

Promotional releases

Summertime Sadness CD by Vertigo in Germany, Austria & Switzerland

Summertime Sadness - The Remix EP 12" Vinyl by Universal Music Group in Germany

Summertime Sadness CD by Polydor and Universal Music France in France

Summertime Sadness (Asadinho Remixes) 12" Vinyl by RvS Music in UK

Summertime Sadness (Cedric Gervais Remix) CD by Universal Music in Netherlands

Summertime Sadness (Cedric Gervais Remix) CD by Polydor and Spinnin' Records in UK

Summertime Sadness CD by Universal Music in Sweden

Credits

Song

Personnel
  • Lana Del Rey — vocals, songwriting
  • Rick Nowels — songwriting, co-production, additional strings
  • Emile Haynie — production, drums, keyboards
  • Larry Gold — strings arrangement and conduction
  • Steve Tirpak — strings assistance
  • Dan Heath — flute
  • Patrick Warren — additional strings, guitar and keyboards
  • Devrim Karaoglu — additional pads
  • Dan Grech-Marguerat — mixing
  • Duncan Fuller — mixing assistance
  • John Davis — mastering
Technical
  • Published by EMI
  • Mastered at Metropolis Mastering, London, United Kingdom
  • Mixed at Miloco's Engine Room, London, United Kingdom

Music video

Personnel
  • Spencer Susser — director, editor
  • Kyle Newman — assistant director
  • Tova Dann — producer
  • Morgan Susser — director of photography

Charts and certifications (original version)

Weekly charts

Chart (2012–14) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[5] 8
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] 15
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[7] 17
Bulgaria (BAMP)[8] 3
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[9] 42
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[10] 36
France (SNEP)[11] 56
Germany (Official German Charts)[12] 4
Greece Digital Songs (Billboard)[13] 3
Israel (Media Forest)[14] 10
Italy (FIMI)[15] 6
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[16] 23
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[17] 1
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[18] 53
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[19] 20
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] 3
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[21] 5

Year-end charts

Chart (2012) Position
Germany (Media Control AG)[22] 21
Chart (2013) Position
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[23] 58
Chart (2014) Position
Italy (Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana)[24] 67

Certifications (original version)

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Austria (IFPI Austria)[25] Gold 15,000*
Germany (BVMI)[26] Platinum 300,000^
Italy (FIMI)[27] 3× Platinum 150,000*
Mexico (AMPROFON)[28] Platinum 60,000*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[29] Gold 15,000^
United States (RIAA)[30] Platinum[sales of remix + original version] 1,000,000[31]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

References

  1. http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1067142/lana-del-reys-born-to-die-track-by-track-review
  2. http://popcrush.com/lana-del-rey-born-to-die-album-review
  3. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2012/01/lana-del-rey-born-to-die.html
  4. https://web.archive.org/web/20120723060429if_/http://www.clipfish.de/musikvideos/video/3816557/lana-del-rey-summertime-sadness/
  5. http://www.austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=Summertime+Sadness&cat=s
  6. http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=Summertime+Sadness&cat=s
  7. http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=Summertime+Sadness&cat=s
  8. http://www.bamp-bg.org/2009-07-08-09-48-53/nielsen/362-15102012-21102012.html
  9. http://www.ifpicr.cz/hitparada/index.php?hitp=R
  10. http://www.ifpicr.cz/hitparada/index.php?hitp=R
  11. http://www.lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=Summertime+Sadness&cat=s
  12. http://www.officialcharts.de/song.asp?artist=Lana+Del+Rey&title=Summertime+Sadness&cat=s&country=de
  13. http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2013-08-03/greece
  14. http://www.mediaforest.biz/WeeklyCharts/HistoryWeeklyCharts.aspx?year=2012&week=39
  15. http://www.fimi.it/main/chart_id/1671
  16. http://www.charts.org.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=Summertime+Sadness&cat=s
  17. http://bestsellery.zpav.pl/airplays/top/archiwum.php?year=2012&idlisty=849#title
  18. http://www.ifpicr.cz/hitparadask/index.php?hitp=R
  19. http://www.swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=Summertime+Sadness&cat=s
  20. http://www.swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=Summertime+Sadness&cat=s
  21. http://www.billboard.com/artist/306420/Lana+Del+Rey/chart?f=902
  22. http://www.mix1.de/charts/jahrescharts-2012-singles.htm
  23. http://zene.slagerlistak.hu/archivum/eves-osszesitett-listak/radios/2013
  24. http://www.fimi.it/5233
  25. http://www.ifpi.at/?section=goldplatin
  26. http://www.musikindustrie.de/no_cache/gold_platin_datenbank/?action=suche&strTitel=Summertime+Sadness&strInterpret=Lana+Del+Rey&strTtArt=alle&strAwards=checked
  27. http://www.fimi.it/archivio_certificazioni.php
  28. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asociaci%C3%B3n_Mexicana_de_Productores_de_Fonogramas_y_Videogramas
  29. http://www.swisscharts.com/search_certifications.asp?search=Lana+Del+Rey+Summertime+Sadness
  30. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Summertime+Sadness%22
  31. http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5695421/go-behind-lana-del-reys-summertime-surge


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