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|written = [[Lana Del Rey]]<br>[[Jack Antonoff]] |
|written = [[Lana Del Rey]]<br>[[Jack Antonoff]] |
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|producer = Jack Antonoff<br>Lana Del Rey |
|producer = Jack Antonoff<br>Lana Del Rey |
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− | |released = August |
+ | |released = August 22, 2019 |
− | |recorded = |
+ | |recorded =2018–2019 |
|time = 5:00 |
|time = 5:00 |
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|Source = [[File:Nfrlogo.png|link=Norman Fucking Rockwell (album)]] |
|Source = [[File:Nfrlogo.png|link=Norman Fucking Rockwell (album)]] |
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|album = [[Norman Fucking Rockwell (album)|Norman Fucking Rockwell]] |
|album = [[Norman Fucking Rockwell (album)|Norman Fucking Rockwell]] |
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|MiX = {{Singles7}} |
|MiX = {{Singles7}} |
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− | |Last single image = |
+ | |Last single image = NormanFuckingRockwell.jpg |
− | |Last single link = |
+ | |Last single link = Fuck It I Love You (song) |
− | |Last single title = |
+ | |Last single title = Fuck It I Love You |
|This single image = NormanFuckingRockwell.jpg |
|This single image = NormanFuckingRockwell.jpg |
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|This single link = The Greatest (song) |
|This single link = The Greatest (song) |
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|This single title = The Greatest |
|This single title = The Greatest |
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− | |Next single image = |
+ | |Next single image = don't call me angel cover.jpg |
− | |Next single link = |
+ | |Next single link = Don't Call Me Angel (song) |
⚫ | |Next single title = Don't Call Me Angel}}"'''The Greatest'''" (stylized in sentence case) is a song by [[Lana Del Rey]] for her sixth studio album, ''[[Norman Fucking Rockwell! (album)|Norman Fucking Rockwell!]]''. It was accidentally uploaded to Google Play on August 15, 2019 and was removed hours later <ref>[https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Bn5pwuqrac5z6x52vr76ehlsg5u&tid=song-Tm7ymqfyocectightjyacu3utxm Lana Del Rey: The greatest - Music on Google Play]</ref> and officially released as a single on August 22, 2019. |
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− | |Next single title = Fuck It I Love You |
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⚫ | }}"'''The Greatest'''" ( |
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− | == |
+ | == Background == |
− | On July 26, 2019, Del Rey announced the song via Instagram along with "[[Fuck It I Love You (song)|Fuck It I Love You]]".<ref name="July 26">https://www.instagram.com/p/B0ZMHk9h4K5/</ref> Co-producer and co-writer [[Jack Antonoff]] tweeted on July 31, 2019 that "The Greatest" was his favorite song on ''Norman Fucking Rockwell''.<ref>[https://twitter.com/jackantonoff/status/1156673230922485760 Antonoff, Jack. (2019). "the greatest is my favorite nfr song just wait". ''Twitter''. [Access date: August 15, 2019<nowiki>]</nowiki>]</ref> |
+ | On July 26, 2019, Del Rey announced the song via Instagram along with "[[Fuck It I Love You (song)|Fuck It I Love You]]".<ref name="July 26">https://www.instagram.com/p/B0ZMHk9h4K5/</ref> Co-producer and co-writer [[Jack Antonoff]] tweeted on July 31, 2019 that "The Greatest" was his favorite song on ''[[Norman Fucking Rockwell! (album)|Norman Fucking Rockwell!]]''.<ref>[https://twitter.com/jackantonoff/status/1156673230922485760 Antonoff, Jack. (2019). "the greatest is my favorite nfr song just wait". ''Twitter''. [Access date: August 15, 2019<nowiki>]</nowiki>]</ref> |
+ | == Composition == |
||
− | "The Greatest" is a surf rock torch song with a total running time of 5 minutes, playing at |
+ | "The Greatest" is a surf rock torch song with a total running time of 5 minutes, playing at approximately 80 beats per minute in the key of D minor. The track opens with guitars before Del Rey begins the first verse accompanied by piano. As the song progresses to the first chorus, vocal harmonies, drums, guitars and strings are introduced to the instrumentation. A drum break then leads the song into a 30 second electric guitar solo. The second verse returns to stripped back instrumentation, with a piano, single guitar and light drums before returning to the full instrumentation in the second chorus. The outro features Del Rey singing multiple harmonies over guitar and piano which slowly draw the song to a close. |
+ | == Writing and inspiration == |
||
− | The lyrics make multiple references to various musicians and songs, including The Beach Boys' "Kokomo", David Bowie's "Life on Mars" and Kanye West. The song focuses on Del Rey lamenting how she misses a former flame in California, her old friends in New York and her previously uncomplicated life. It also brings in themes of worldwide |
+ | The lyrics make multiple references to various musicians and songs, including The Beach Boys' "Kokomo", David Bowie's "Life on Mars" and Kanye West. The song focuses on Del Rey lamenting how she misses a former flame in California, her old friends in New York and her previously uncomplicated life. It also brings in themes of worldwide political unrest, Millennial and Generation Z culture, and the 2019 California wildfires which are featured in the background of the ''Norman Fucking Rockwell!'' album cover. |
+ | In an interview with ''The Washington Post'', Del Rey commented on the lyric "Dennis' last stop before Kokomo" - “I literally went on a date [in Marina del Rey], and this dude was trying to impress me and was like, ‘This was Dennis’s last stop before he hit his head on the dock.’”<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/entertainment/lana-del-rey/ Richards, Chris. (October 24, 2019). “Lana Del Rey isn’t trying to fool you.” ''The Washington Post''<nowiki>. [Retrieved October 24, 2019]</nowiki>]</ref> |
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⚫ | |||
− | Del Rey confirmed that the music video was directed by [[Rich Lee]] and that it is a double music video with "Fuck It, I Love You".<ref name="July 26"/> |
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+ | == Critical reception == |
||
⚫ | |||
+ | After the songs release, "The Greatest" placed #79 on ''Pitchfork''<nowiki/>'s '200 Best Songs of the 2010s' list during October, 2019.<ref>[https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-200-best-songs-of-the-2010s/ Pitchfork Media Inc.'' ''(October 7, 2019). "The 200 Best Songs of the 2010s". ''Pitchfork'']</ref> |
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⚫ | |||
+ | |||
− | |content = <poem> |
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⚫ | |||
+ | {{infobox mvideo |
||
+ | |video = Lana Del Rey - Fuck It I Love You & The Greatest (Official Video) |
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+ | |released = August 22, 2019 |
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+ | |length= 9:19 |
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+ | |director = [[Rich Lee]] |
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+ | |producer =Justin Diener, Michael Angeles |
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+ | |filmed= July, 2019 |
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+ | |location= Long Beach, Los Angeles, California |
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+ | |vevo views= 10+ Million views}} |
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+ | |||
+ | ==== '''Background and description''' ==== |
||
+ | Del Rey confirmed that the music video was directed by [[Rich Lee]] and that it is a double music video with "[[Fuck It I Love You (song)|Fuck It I Love You]]" on July 26, 2019.<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/p/B0ZMHk9h4K5/ Lana Del Rey (@lanadelrey). "I think you’re gonna love the new double video I did with Rich Lee for two songs off the new record – ‘fuck it I love you!’ And ‘the greatest’". (July 26, 2019) ''Instagram''<nowiki>. [Access date: August 26, 2019]</nowiki>]</ref> It premiered August 22, 2019. |
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+ | |||
+ | "The Greatest" part of the video begins with Del Rey walking throughout a Long Beach terminal and sailing a boat. Interpolated are shots of herself bartending, singing at the bar and playing billiards. |
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+ | |||
+ | {{FIILY&TGGallery}} |
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+ | |||
+ | == Cross-references == |
||
+ | * The Beach Boys are also mentioned in "[[Coca Cola (My Song 57) (song)|My Song 57]]" and [[Beach Boys (song)|the song of the same name]]. |
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+ | ** The phrase "Dennis's last stop before Kokomo" references the death of the Beach Boys member Dennis Wilson and the band's song "[[wikipedia:Kokomo (song)|Kokomo]]". |
||
+ | * The phrase "Life on Mars ain't just a song" is a direct reference to David Bowie's song "[[wikipedia:Life on Mars (song)|Life on Mars]]". |
||
+ | ** Bowie is also referenced in the bridge of "[[Terrence Loves You (song)|Terrence Loves You]]", in which Del Rey interpolates lyrics from "[[wikipedia:Space Oddity|Space Oddity]]". |
||
+ | * California, New York, and rock and roll music have all been recurring themes throughout Del Rey's career. |
||
+ | * Lana also mentions feeling "burned out" in "[[Run Motorcycle (song)|Run Motorcycle]]". |
||
+ | * The phrase "the greatest" also appears in "[[Fordham Road (song)|Fordham Road]]". |
||
+ | * Long Beach is also mentioned in the poem "[[Past the Bushes Cypress Thriving (poem)|Past the Bushes Cypress Thriving]]". |
||
+ | * "The fall" is also mentioned in "[[Money Power Glory (song)|Money Power Glory]]". |
||
+ | * Del Rey referring to the culture as "lit" is similar to the line "the party's lit" from [[Thunder]]. |
||
+ | * L.A. being in flames is a reference to the several wildfires in California. It's also a direct reference to the poem "[[The Land of 1000 Fires (poem)|The Land of 1000 Fires]]". |
||
+ | * When talking about the line "me and my friends we miss rock and roll" Del Rey stated she was refering to bands like Kings of Lions, The Strokes and The White Stripes. [https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/28/arts/music/lana-del-rey-norman-rockwell-album.html <nowiki>[6]</nowiki>] |
||
+ | * The line "Kanye West is blond and gone" is a reference to her open disappointment about Kanye supporting president Donald Trump. |
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+ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
I miss Long Beach and I miss you, babe |
I miss Long Beach and I miss you, babe |
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I miss dancing with you the most of all |
I miss dancing with you the most of all |
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We couldn't get higher |
We couldn't get higher |
||
We didn't know that we had it all |
We didn't know that we had it all |
||
− | But nobody |
+ | But nobody warns you before the fall |
And I'm wasted |
And I'm wasted |
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I miss New York and I miss the music |
I miss New York and I miss the music |
||
Me and my friends, we miss rock and roll |
Me and my friends, we miss rock and roll |
||
− | I want |
+ | I want you to feel just like you used to |
When, baby, I was doing nothing the most of all |
When, baby, I was doing nothing the most of all |
||
− | The culture is lit and if this it I had a ball |
+ | The culture is lit and if this is it, I had a ball |
I guess that I'm burned out after all |
I guess that I'm burned out after all |
||
− | + | I'm wasted |
|
Don't leave, I just need a wake-up call |
Don't leave, I just need a wake-up call |
||
I'm facing the greatest |
I'm facing the greatest |
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But I guess that I'm burned out after all |
But I guess that I'm burned out after all |
||
− | If this is it I'm signing off |
+ | If this is it, I'm signing off |
− | Miss |
+ | Miss doing nothing the most of all |
Hawaii just missed a fireball |
Hawaii just missed a fireball |
||
− | + | L.A.'s in flames, it's getting hot |
|
− | + | Kanye West is blond and gone |
|
"Life on Mars" ain't just a song |
"Life on Mars" ain't just a song |
||
Oh, the livestream's almost on |
Oh, the livestream's almost on |
||
− | </poem> |
+ | </poem>}} |
− | }} |
||
− | == |
+ | == Credits == |
+ | ;'''Personnel''' |
||
+ | * Lana Del Rey — songwriting, production, vocals |
||
+ | * Jack Antonoff — songwriting, production, engineering, mixing, programming, acoustic guitar, drums, electric guitar, keyboards, piano |
||
+ | * Laura Sisk — engineering, mixing |
||
+ | * Tate McDowell — assistant engineering |
||
+ | * Jonathan Sher — assistant engineering |
||
+ | * Evan Smith — flute, saxophones |
||
+ | * Phillip Peterson — cello |
||
+ | * Victoria Parker — violin |
||
+ | * Chris Gehringer — mastering |
||
+ | * Will Quinnell — assistant mastering |
||
+ | |||
+ | ;'''Technical''' |
||
+ | * Mastered at Sterling Sound |
||
+ | * Recorded at Conway Recording Studios, Los Angeles, United States / Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles, United States / House of Breaking Glass, Seattle, United States |
||
+ | * Mixed at Conway Recording Studios, Los Angeles, United States |
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+ | |||
+ | == References == |
||
{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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{{Navbox album NFR}} |
{{Navbox album NFR}} |
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[[Category:Songs]] |
[[Category:Songs]] |
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⚫ | |||
[[Category:Norman Fucking Rockwell songs]] |
[[Category:Norman Fucking Rockwell songs]] |
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⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
[[Category:Singles]] |
[[Category:Singles]] |
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[[Category:Norman Fucking Rockwell singles]] |
[[Category:Norman Fucking Rockwell singles]] |
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+ | [[Category:Music videos]] |
||
⚫ |
Revision as of 18:39, 28 September 2020
"The Greatest" (stylized in sentence case) is a song by Lana Del Rey for her sixth studio album, Norman Fucking Rockwell!. It was accidentally uploaded to Google Play on August 15, 2019 and was removed hours later [1] and officially released as a single on August 22, 2019.
Background
On July 26, 2019, Del Rey announced the song via Instagram along with "Fuck It I Love You".[2] Co-producer and co-writer Jack Antonoff tweeted on July 31, 2019 that "The Greatest" was his favorite song on Norman Fucking Rockwell!.[3]
Composition
"The Greatest" is a surf rock torch song with a total running time of 5 minutes, playing at approximately 80 beats per minute in the key of D minor. The track opens with guitars before Del Rey begins the first verse accompanied by piano. As the song progresses to the first chorus, vocal harmonies, drums, guitars and strings are introduced to the instrumentation. A drum break then leads the song into a 30 second electric guitar solo. The second verse returns to stripped back instrumentation, with a piano, single guitar and light drums before returning to the full instrumentation in the second chorus. The outro features Del Rey singing multiple harmonies over guitar and piano which slowly draw the song to a close.
Writing and inspiration
The lyrics make multiple references to various musicians and songs, including The Beach Boys' "Kokomo", David Bowie's "Life on Mars" and Kanye West. The song focuses on Del Rey lamenting how she misses a former flame in California, her old friends in New York and her previously uncomplicated life. It also brings in themes of worldwide political unrest, Millennial and Generation Z culture, and the 2019 California wildfires which are featured in the background of the Norman Fucking Rockwell! album cover.
In an interview with The Washington Post, Del Rey commented on the lyric "Dennis' last stop before Kokomo" - “I literally went on a date [in Marina del Rey], and this dude was trying to impress me and was like, ‘This was Dennis’s last stop before he hit his head on the dock.’”[4]
Critical reception
After the songs release, "The Greatest" placed #79 on Pitchfork's '200 Best Songs of the 2010s' list during October, 2019.[5]
Music video
Music video | Information | |
---|---|---|
Released | August 22, 2019 | |
Length | 9:19 | |
Director | Rich Lee | |
Producer | Justin Diener, Michael Angeles | |
Filmed | July, 2019 | |
Location | Long Beach, Los Angeles, California | |
Vevo views | 10+ Million views |
Background and description
Del Rey confirmed that the music video was directed by Rich Lee and that it is a double music video with "Fuck It I Love You" on July 26, 2019.[6] It premiered August 22, 2019.
"The Greatest" part of the video begins with Del Rey walking throughout a Long Beach terminal and sailing a boat. Interpolated are shots of herself bartending, singing at the bar and playing billiards.
On-set photoshoot by Chuck Grant, Pamela Cochrane and Rich Lee
Behind the scenes
Cross-references
- The Beach Boys are also mentioned in "My Song 57" and the song of the same name.
- The phrase "Dennis's last stop before Kokomo" references the death of the Beach Boys member Dennis Wilson and the band's song "Kokomo".
- The phrase "Life on Mars ain't just a song" is a direct reference to David Bowie's song "Life on Mars".
- Bowie is also referenced in the bridge of "Terrence Loves You", in which Del Rey interpolates lyrics from "Space Oddity".
- California, New York, and rock and roll music have all been recurring themes throughout Del Rey's career.
- Lana also mentions feeling "burned out" in "Run Motorcycle".
- The phrase "the greatest" also appears in "Fordham Road".
- Long Beach is also mentioned in the poem "Past the Bushes Cypress Thriving".
- "The fall" is also mentioned in "Money Power Glory".
- Del Rey referring to the culture as "lit" is similar to the line "the party's lit" from Thunder.
- L.A. being in flames is a reference to the several wildfires in California. It's also a direct reference to the poem "The Land of 1000 Fires".
- When talking about the line "me and my friends we miss rock and roll" Del Rey stated she was refering to bands like Kings of Lions, The Strokes and The White Stripes. [6]
- The line "Kanye West is blond and gone" is a reference to her open disappointment about Kanye supporting president Donald Trump.
Lyrics
I miss Long Beach and I miss you, babe
I miss dancing with you the most of all
I miss the bar where the Beach Boys would go
Dennis' last stop before "Kokomo"
Those nights were on fire
We couldn't get higher
We didn't know that we had it all
But nobody warns you before the fall
And I'm wasted
Don't leave, I just need a wake-up call
I'm facing the greatest
The greatest loss of them all
The culture is lit and I had a ball
I guess I'm signing off after all
I miss New York and I miss the music
Me and my friends, we miss rock and roll
I want you to feel just like you used to
When, baby, I was doing nothing the most of all
The culture is lit and if this is it, I had a ball
I guess that I'm burned out after all
I'm wasted
Don't leave, I just need a wake-up call
I'm facing the greatest
The greatest loss of them all
The culture is lit and I had a ball
But I guess that I'm burned out after all
If this is it, I'm signing off
Miss doing nothing the most of all
Hawaii just missed a fireball
L.A.'s in flames, it's getting hot
Kanye West is blond and gone
"Life on Mars" ain't just a song
Oh, the livestream's almost on
Credits
- Personnel
- Lana Del Rey — songwriting, production, vocals
- Jack Antonoff — songwriting, production, engineering, mixing, programming, acoustic guitar, drums, electric guitar, keyboards, piano
- Laura Sisk — engineering, mixing
- Tate McDowell — assistant engineering
- Jonathan Sher — assistant engineering
- Evan Smith — flute, saxophones
- Phillip Peterson — cello
- Victoria Parker — violin
- Chris Gehringer — mastering
- Will Quinnell — assistant mastering
- Technical
- Mastered at Sterling Sound
- Recorded at Conway Recording Studios, Los Angeles, United States / Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles, United States / House of Breaking Glass, Seattle, United States
- Mixed at Conway Recording Studios, Los Angeles, United States
References
- ↑ Lana Del Rey: The greatest - Music on Google Play
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/B0ZMHk9h4K5/
- ↑ Antonoff, Jack. (2019). "the greatest is my favorite nfr song just wait". Twitter. [Access date: August 15, 2019]
- ↑ Richards, Chris. (October 24, 2019). “Lana Del Rey isn’t trying to fool you.” The Washington Post. [Retrieved October 24, 2019]
- ↑ Pitchfork Media Inc. (October 7, 2019). "The 200 Best Songs of the 2010s". Pitchfork
- ↑ Lana Del Rey (@lanadelrey). "I think you’re gonna love the new double video I did with Rich Lee for two songs off the new record – ‘fuck it I love you!’ And ‘the greatest’". (July 26, 2019) Instagram. [Access date: August 26, 2019]