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☆Lana Del Rey ☆ By Clara Wise and Katie Rosseel
☆✿
☆Lana Del Rey☆
By Clara Wise and Katie Rosseel
Early Life-birth name: Elizabeth Woolridge Grant
-born on June 21, 1986 in New York City, NY
to Pat & Rob Grant
-Grew up in Lake Placid, NY
-went to the Kent boarding school in Connecticut
at age 15 to cope with alcohol dependence
-Attended Fordham University in New York City at
age 18 - “that was when my musical experience began. I kind of found people for myself”
- “I was always singing, but didn’t plan on pursuing it seriously”
-stated career under the name “Lizzy Grant”
Rise to Fame-When she was a senior at Fordham, she was signed by
Five Points Records
-2008-released first EP titled Kill Kill with producer David Kahne
(taken off the market after name change)
-2011- renamed herself “Lana Del Rey”
-wrote the song Video Games with composer Justin Parker
-uploaded a video of her singing the song to youtube.com in June 2011
-”I just put that song online a few months ago because it was my favorite.
To be honest, it wasn’t going to be the single but people have really
responded to it”
-”Video Games” received upwards of 20 million views within the first five
months of it’s posting
-She signed with Interscope Records in October 2011
-2012-Released the album Born to Die and the EP Paradise
“Video Games” Music Video
Lana Del Rey produced the video herself using a webcam and clips from home movies
Audience-Lana Del Rey mainly appeals to young adults (especially female), primarily ones who take interest in indie pop music
-Del Rey is loved for her original fashion sense and her style can be described as an “american sweetheart”-flower headbands, denim cutoffs, cropped tops, flowy dresses, high waisted shorts
-She is a style icon for teenage girls
-Her song lyrics are usually taken from her own personal experiences which make her songs relatable to listeners
-She has a very distinct and unique sound which is well liked by the masses
How is Lana Del Rey a Part of Pop Culture?
-Lana Del Rey is a very popular singer with multiple famous songs and albums
-She is very popular among the masses
-Lana Del Rey is a large part of American popular culture
-She has been nominated for 2 Grammys and has won 2 Brits
-Her album Born to Die is certified platinum and her EP Paradise is certified gold
Reflection of Society-Lana Del Rey is a powerful independent female pop culture figure
-Lana is reflective of how society values the exploitation of reckless behavior: drinking, staying out all night partying and “sleeping around”
-She preaches a “wild and free” lifestyle
-She reflects the lifestyle that teenagers and young adults are commonly associated with
Cultural Ancestors-Lana’s music is heavily influenced by many of her
favorite artists
-these artists include Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra,
Elvis Presley, Amy Winehouse, Leonard Cohen,
Jeff Buckley, Janis Joplin, The Eagles,
Anthony and the Johnsons and many more
-she is described as a “self-styled gangsta Nancy
Sinatra” or “Lolita lost in the hood”
-Del Rey has also been appreciated for her cinematic sound and her references to aspects of popular culture, especially those of the 1950s and 1960s
Works Cited "Lana Del Rey Biography." AceShowbiz. AceShowbiz.com, n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2014.
"Last.fm." Last.fm. CBS Interactive, n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2014.
Ayers, Mike. "Why Lana Del Rey’s First Album Disappeared." MTV Hive. Viacom International Inc, n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2014.
Sowray, Bibby. "Lana Del Rey." Vogue UK. N.p., 10 Feb. 2012. Web. 16 Mar. 2014.
Blanning, Lisa. "Paradise Lost: An Interview With Lana Del Rey." Elecrtonic Beats. EB, 19 June 2013. Web. 16 Mar. 2014.
Grow, Kory. "Who's Tanking Lana Del Rey's Oscar Bid?" Rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone, 19 Dec. 2013. Web. 17 Mar. 2014.
