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"The Next Best American Record" (also known as "Best American Record" and "Architecture") is a song by Lana Del Rey. It serves as the tenth track on Del Rey's album Norman Fucking Rockwell!. The song was originally intended for Lust for Life, but the track did not make the final track list.[1]

Background[]

The song was first recorded sometime between early 2016 and November 26, 2016. On February 27, 2017, a demo of the song leaked online under the title "Best American Record". In an interview with Beats 1 Radio on July 12, 2017, Del Rey was asked about the song, under the title "Architecture," and she described it as the "yin to the yang" to "Yosemite," another outtake from Lust for Life. She described the relationship between these songs as "brother and sister" tracks, comparing the relationship to that of "Groupie Love" and "Summer Bummer".[2] Later that month at her Amoeba Hollywood show, Del Rey responded to a fan question asking if she would ever release any of her leaked or unreleased songs. She referred to the song as "The Next Best American Record" and expressed her desire to potentially release the song along with "Yosemite" as "folk singles" as they would not "start the new record." She went on to add that she has thought about releasing a record of her 25 favorite "leaked songs," but wasn't sure if it would be a good idea.

The song was confirmed to be a track on Norman Fucking Rockwell! on July 31, 2019, when Del Rey revealed the tracklist on her Instagram account. On Instagram live she stated that she "always loved" the song but she didn't think it fit Lust for Life, so she decided to rework it for Norman Fucking Rockwell!.

Music video[]

After the release of the music video for "White Mustang" on September 13, 2017, many fans came to the conclusion that the footage from the video was originally intended for a "The Next Best American Record" music video. This theory is supported by the fact that many of the visuals and themes used in the "White Mustang" music video seem to be strongly connected to lyrics found in the original version of "The Next Best American Record."[3] Throughout the music video, no lyrics are lipped by Del Rey and unsubtle transitions, such as slowed down footage, are featured, possibly suggesting that the original "The Next Best American Record" video was re-edited to accommodate the lyrics and run time of "White Mustang." Del Rey posted a video that was taken behind the scenes of "White Mustang" where she can be heard singing lyrics of "The Next Best American Record," further supporting this theory. Del Rey has also mentioned that "White Mustang" was one of the last songs written for Lust for Life, and since the first behind the scenes clip of the "White Mustang" video was posted during February 2017, this heavily implies that the video was shot before "White Mustang" was written.

Live performances[]

Del Rey performed "The Next Best American Record" live for the first time during her show at Sioux Falls, South Dakota on November 6, 2019. She only sang a part of it a cappella during the Norman Fucking Rockwell Tour.

Cross-references[]

Official versions[]

  • Album version — 5:49
    • Instrumental version — 5:51
  • Demo version — 6:05

Lyrics[]

Album version[]

My baby used to dance underneath my architecture
To the Houses of the Holy, smoking on them cigarettes
My baby used to dance underneath my architecture
He was cool as heck, he was cool as heck

And we were so obsessed with writing
The next best American record
That we gave all we had 'til the time we got to bed
'Cause we knew we could
We were so obsessed with writing
The next best American record
'Cause we were just that good
It was just that good

Whatever's on tonight
I just wanna party with you
Topanga's hot tonight
I'm taking off my bathing suit
You made me feel like
There's something that I never knew I wanted

My baby used to dance underneath my architecture
He was seventies in spirit, nineties in his frame of mind
My baby used to dance underneath my architecture
We lost track of space, we lost track of time

And we were so obsessed with writing
The next best American record
That we gave all we had 'til the time we got to bed
'Cause we knew we could
We were so obsessed with writing
The next best American record
'Cause we were just that good
It was just that good

Whatever's on tonight
I just wanna party with you
Topanga's hot tonight
I'm taking off my bathing suit
You made me feel like
There's something that I never knew I wanted
We played Eagles down in Malibu
And I want it

It's you, all the roads lead to you
Everything I want and do
All the things that I say
It's true, all the roads lead to you
Like the 405 I drive through
Every night and every day
I see you for who you really are
Why the thousands of girls love the way Bill plays guitar

Whatever's on tonight
I just wanna party with you
Topanga's hot tonight
I'm taking off my bathing suit
You made me feel like
There's something that I never knew I wanted
We played Eagles down in Malibu
And I want it
That something that I never knew I wanted

Demo version[]

My baby used to dance underneath my architecture
To the Houses of the Holy, smoking on them cigarettes
My baby used to dance underneath my architecture
He was cool as heck, he was cool as heck

But you were so obsessed with writing
The next best American record
That there was nothing left by the time we got to bed
Baby, that's a shame
You were so obsessed with writing
The next best American record
You did it all for fame
You did it all for fame

You did it all for fame
Tell me how it treats you now
You did it all for fame
How does that taste coming out?
You did it all for fame
Baby, how's life treating you now it's over?

My baby used to dance underneath my architecture
He was seventies in spirit, nineties in his frame of mind
My baby used to dance underneath my architecture
We lost track of space, we lost track of time

But you were so obsessed with writing
The next best American record
That there was nothing left by the time we got to bed
Baby, that's a shame
You were so obsessed with writing
The next best American record
You did it all for fame
You did it all for fame
You know what I'm talking about

You did it all for fame
Tell me how life treats you now
You did it all for fame
How does that taste coming out?
Now that you lost the game
Honey, how's life treating you now that it's over?
Baby, how you feeling now that I told ya?

It's you, all the roads lead to you
Everything I want and do
All the things that I say
It's true, all the roads lead to you
Like the 405 I drive through
Every night and every day
I see you for who you really are
Why the thousands of girls love the way Bill plays guitar

You did it all for fame
Tell me how life treats you now
You did it all for fame
How does that taste coming out?
You did it all for fame
Honey, how's life feeling now that it's over?
Baby, how's life treating you now that I told ya?
Honey, how's it feeling now that I told you?
Honey, how's it feeling? I told you

Credits[]

Personnel
  • Lana Del Rey — songwriting, vocals
  • Rick Nowels — songwriting, production, acoustic guitar, piano
  • Kieron Menzies — production, engineering, mixing, programming, drums, sound effects
  • Dean Reid — production, engineering, mixing, programming, keyboards, electric guitar, sound effects
  • Mighty Mike — additional production, programming, drums
  • Trevor Yasuda — engineering
  • David Levita — electric guitar
  • Zac Rae — keyboards
  • John Christopher Fee — assistant engineering
  • Chris Rockwell — assistant engineering
  • Chris Gehringer — mastering
Technical
  • Published by R-Rated Music (GMR) administered by Universal Music Works
  • Mastered at Sterling Sound

References[]

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