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"Young and Beautiful" (also registered as "Will You Still Love Me") is a song by Lana Del Rey featured on the soundtrack of the movie The Great Gatsby. It was released as a single on April 23, 2013.

Background

The song was written and recorded some time in 2012 by Lana Del Rey and Rick Nowels. It was intended for use on Paradise, the re-release of Born to Die. On June 19, 2012, Lana Del Rey sung an acapella of the chorus on radio when asked what music would be on her new album. The song failed to make the final tracklist of Paradise. The song is registered on ASCAP as "Will You Still Love Me" and "Young and Beautiful" and on ISWC as "Will You Still Love Me". An alternate orchestral version titled "Young and Beautiful (DH Orchestral Version)" produced by Dan Heath was released alongside the Rick Nowels version of the single. A demo of the song leaked on June 9, 2013 and a higher quality leaked on August 6, 2015 (leaked as "Alt. Mix"). The acapella of the demo leaked on July 2, 2016.

Composition

The song is composed in the key of B minor. Del Rey's dreamy vocals, ranging from D3 to A4, are draped over sedated strings and canned percussion. The lyrics rotate around the themes of pleasing a lover, nostalgia, and the gloom of aging.

In The Great Gatsby

The_Great_Gatsby_Trailer_w_new_music_by_Beyoncé_x_André_3000,_Lana_Del_Rey,_Florence_The_Machine

The Great Gatsby Trailer w new music by Beyoncé x André 3000, Lana Del Rey, Florence The Machine

First trailer confirming "Young and Beautiful" to be featured in The Great Gatsby. (0:41)

On November 24, 2012, Del Rey teased at being featured on a soundtrack during an interview on the Dutch show Langs De Leeuw, explaining "one thing that I have been doing [...] is helping composers write scores for movies." She went on to say "there's a movie coming out this summer that's set in the 1920s, and it's been fun for me to write love songs for the woman." On February 7, 2013, Del Rey tweeted "GATSBY" [sic], confirming fans' suspicions. On April 4, 2013, the first studio snippet of the song was released in a trailer for the film, with media outlets confirming the song to be released as a single on April 23, 2013. The song was available to buy in Australia on April 21, and was unofficially released onto the internet shortly afterwards.

Critical reception

The song was met with widespread acclaim from critics. Hip hop magazine Rap-Up called the single "haunting",[1] while MTV called it "somber-sounding".[2] Jason Lipshutz of Billboard called the ballad, "typically lush", paralleling the single with Del Rey's previous hits, "Video Games" and "Born to Die".[3] Canadian journal National Post said "Young and Beautiful" picks up where "Video Games" left off, stating the song was relevant to the book because of "...its obsession with decay and the fleeting nature of the good life certainly resonate."[4] The journal continued to call it an "artifact" of Del Rey's consistently dark tone, adding that by the second play-through "its bald directness becomes its appeal."[5] MTV commented that the track "falls very much in-line with what Lana Del Rey's fans have come to expect" from Del Rey.[6] Jeff Benjamin of Fuse said the track featured "a big, sweeping ballad with piano, violins and Lana's warbly delivery." He added that "if the single takes off, perhaps the songbird can finally scrub her image clean of that 'Girl that totally f-cked [sic] up her Saturday Night Live debut' tag."[7] Rolling Stone '​s Jody Rosen recognized "Young and Beautiful" as the album's centerpiece, calling it "inert" and "a drag" despite its symmetry with the album's entire theme.[8] Finding the track restrained in comparison to her earlier work, August Brown, writing for The Los Angeles Times, called the single "clean" and "classy".[9] "Young and Beautiful" was given a positive review by Stereogum '​s Tom Breihan, although he disapproved of the vapidity of the line: "make me wanna party".[10]

The song was nominated for Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.

Live performances

Del Rey publicly performed the song live for the very first time on April 30, 2013, in Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg, at Rockhal as part of the 2013 Paradise Tour. The song continued to be included in the setlist for the 2013 and 2014 legs of the Paradise Tour. Del Rey has also performed the song live at select shows and appearances since then.

Cross-references

  • The phrase "like a child" also appears in "American" and "Fake Diamond".
  • Many of the lyrics directly reference "Bel Air".
  • The phrase "electric soul" is reminiscent of "Body Electric".
  • The line "had my cake now" anaphorically references to the line "I want my cake and I wanna eat it too" in "Lolita "; the same line crops up in "Girl That Got Away".
  • The phrase "new age" is also in "National Anthem".
  • The line "Will you still love me when I'm no longer young and beautiful?" is similar to "Will you still love me when I shine from words but not from beauty?" from "Old Money".
  • Joplin is also mentioned in "Hollywood", though it's possible that it's Scott Joplin rather than Janis.

Music video

Music video Information
Lana_Del_Rey_-_Young_and_Beautiful Released May 10, 2013
Length 3:58
Director Chris Sweeney
Producer Adam Smith
Jacob Swan-Hyam
Filmed April 26, 2013
Location
Vevo views 238+ Million views

Background and description

The official music video to the song was released on the 10th of May 2013. She is shown singing the song in a dark room with glittery diamond-tears on her cheek which look like tattoos.

Photoshoots by Sophie Muller and Matthew Walder

The Orchestral Score From Baz Luhrmann's Film The Great Gatsby

Craig Armstrong's The Orchestral Score From Baz Luhrmann's Film The Great Gatsby features three orchestral scores that sample "Young and Beautiful". The album was released on January 1, 2013 and the tracks 4, 6, and 11 feature Del Rey. Two of them sample lyrics too.

No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
4. "Hotel Sayre"  Craig ArmstrongArmstrong 3:22
6. "Two Minutes to Four and Reunited"  ArmstrongArmstrong 3:48
11. "Magic Tree and I Let Myself Go"  Lana Del Rey, Walter De Backer, Rick Nowels, ArmstrongArmstrong 5:17

Official versions

  • Single version – 3:56
  • Dan Heath Orchestral version – 3:52
  • Bryan Ferry's "Young and Beautiful (Salon)" Jazz Instrumental version – 2:30
  • Demo version 1 (Paradise version) – 3:56
  • Demo version 2 (snippet) – 0:12
  • Jazz Foxtrot version – 2:18
  • Acapella version – 3:48
  • "Two Minutes to Four and Reunited" – 3:48
  • "Magic Tree and I Let Myself Go" – 5:17
  • "Hotel Sayre" – 3:22

Lyrics

Final version

(Mm, mm)

I’ve seen the world, done it all, had my cake now
Diamonds brilliant and Bel Air now

Hot summer nights, mid-July
When you and I were forever wild
The crazy days, city lights
The way you’d play with me like a child

Will you still love me when I’m no longer young and beautiful?
Will you still love me when I got nothing but my achin’ soul?
I know you will, I know you will
I know that you will
Will you still love me when I’m no longer beautiful?

I’ve seen the world, lit it up as my stage now
Channeling angels in the new age now

Hot summer days, rock and roll
The way you’d play for me at your show
And all the ways I got to know
Your pretty face and electric soul

Will you still love me when I’m no longer young and beautiful?
Will you still love me when I got nothing but my achin’ soul?
I know you will, I know you will
I know that you will
Will you still love me when I’m no longer beautiful?

Dear Lord, when I get to heaven,
Please let me bring my man
When he comes, tell me that you’ll let him in
Father, tell me if you can

All that grace, all that body
All that face, makes me wanna party
He’s my sun, he makes me shine like diamonds

And will you still love me when I’m no longer young and beautiful?
Will you still love me when I got nothing but my achin’ soul?
I know you will, I know you will
I know that you will
Will you still love me when I’m no longer beautiful?

Will you still love me when I’m no longer beautiful?
Will you still love me when I’m not young and beautiful?

Demo version

(Mm, mm)

I’ve seen the world, done it all, had my cake now
Diamonds brilliant and Bel Air now

Hot summer nights, mid-July
When you and I were forever wild
The crazy days, city lights
The way you’d play with me like a child

Will you still love me when I’m no longer young and beautiful?
Will you still love me when I got nothing but my achin’ soul?
I know you will, I know you will
I know that you will
Will you still love me when I’m no longer beautiful?

I’ve seen the world, lit it up as my stage now
Channeling Joplin, Jimmy Page now

Hot summer days, rock and roll
The way you’d play for me at your show
And all the ways I got to know
Your pretty face and electric soul

Will you still love me when I’m no longer young and beautiful?
Will you still love me when I got nothing but my achin’ soul?
I know you will, I know you will
I know that you will
Will you still love me when I’m no longer beautiful?

Dear Lord, when I get to heaven
Please let me bring my man
When he comes, tell me that you’ll let him in
Father, tell me if you can

All that grace, all that body
All that face, makes me wanna party
He’s my sun, he makes me shine like diamonds

And will you still love me when I’m no longer young and beautiful?
Will you still love me when I got nothing but my achin’ soul?
I know you will, I know you will
I know that you will
Will you still love me when I’m no longer beautiful?

Will you still love me when I’m no longer beautiful?
Will you still love me when I’m not young and beautiful?

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2013-2014) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[11] 8
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[12] 57
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[13] 34
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[14] 33
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[15] 45
France (SNEP)[16] 31
Germany (Official German Charts)[17] 50
Greece Digital Songs (Billboard)[18] 2
Hungary (Single Top 40)[19] 9
Ireland (IRMA)[20] 16
Israel (Media Forest)[21] 7
Italy (FIMI)[22] 8
Lebanon (The Official Lebanese Top 20)[23] 16
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[24] 79
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[25] 23
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[26] 12
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[27] 21
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[28] 53
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[29] 24
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[30] 39
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[31] 31
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[32] 23
US Billboard Hot 100[33] 22
US Rock Songs (Billboard)[34] 3
US Heatseeker Songs (Billboard) 2
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[35] 46

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[36] 4× Platinum 280,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[37] Platinum 80,000^
Italy (FIMI)[38] 2× Platinum 60,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[39] Gold 7,500
United Kingdom (BPI)[40] Silver 200,000
United States (RIAA)[41] Platinum 1,000,000[26]
  • sales figures based on certification alone^shipments figures based on certification alone

xunspecified figures based on certification alone

References

  1. http://www.rap-up.com/2013/04/04/jay-z-calls-on-beyonce-andre-3000-fergie-lana-del-rey-for-great-gatsby-soundtrack/
  2. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1704988/great-gatsby-soundtrack-jay-z-beyonce-lana-del-rey.jhtml
  3. http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/1559084/lana-del-reys-great-gatsby-track-young-beautiful-hits-the-web
  4. http://arts.nationalpost.com/2013/04/22/first-impressions-lana-del-rey-young-beautiful/
  5. http://arts.nationalpost.com/2013/04/22/first-impressions-lana-del-rey-young-beautiful/
  6. http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2013/04/22/lana-del-rey-young-and-beautiful-from-great-gatsby-soundtrack-online/
  7. http://www.fuse.tv/2013/04/lana-del-rey-young-beautiful-great-gatsby
  8. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/the-great-gatsby-music-from-baz-luhrmann-s-film-20130503
  9. http://articles.latimes.com/2013/may/10/entertainment/la-et-ms-lana-del-rey-video-gatsby-young-and-beautiful-20130510
  10. http://www.stereogum.com/1327672/lana-del-rey-young-beautiful/mp3s/
  11. http://www.australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=Young+and+Beautiful&cat=s
  12. http://www.austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=Young+and+Beautiful&cat=s
  13. http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=Young+and+Beautiful&cat=s
  14. http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=Young+and+Beautiful&cat=s
  15. http://www.billboard.com/artist/306420/Lana+Del+Rey/chart?f=793
  16. http://www.lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=Young+and+Beautiful&cat=s
  17. http://www.officialcharts.de/song.asp?artist=Lana+del+Rey&title=Young+and+Beautiful&cat=s&country=de
  18. http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2013-06-01/greece
  19. http://zene.slagerlistak.hu/single-track-top-40-lista/2014/1
  20. http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2013&year=2013&week=21
  21. http://www.mediaforest.biz/WeeklyCharts/HistoryWeeklyCharts.aspx?year=2013&week=20
  22. http://www.italiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=Young+and+Beautiful&cat=s
  23. http://www.olt20.com/Lana_Del_Rey#fragment-2&panel1-5
  24. http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=Young+and+Beautiful&cat=s
  25. http://www.charts.org.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=Young+and+Beautiful&cat=s
  26. http://bestsellery.zpav.pl/airplays/top/archiwum.php?year=2013&idlisty=1107#title
  27. http://www.officialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/22/2013-06-01/
  28. http://www.ifpicr.cz/hitparadask/index.php?hitp=R
  29. http://www.spanishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=Young+and+Beautiful&cat=s
  30. http://www.swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=Young+and+Beautiful&cat=s
  31. http://www.swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=Young+and+Beautiful&cat=s
  32. http://www.officialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/1/2013-06-01/
  33. http://www.billboard.com/artist/306420/Lana+Del+Rey/chart?f=379
  34. http://www.billboard.com/artist/306420/lana+del+rey/chart?f=902
  35. http://www.billboard.com/artist/306420/Lana+Del+Rey/chart?f=359
  36. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupagesaria-charts-accreditations-singles-2014.htm
  37. http://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?fwp_gp_search=%22Young+and+Beautiful%22%20%22Lana+Del+Rey%22
  38. http://www.fimi.it/certificazioni/
  39. https://web.archive.org/web/20140221223621/http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/singles
  40. http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards/search.aspx
  41. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Young+and+Beautiful%22
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