Pop

Review: Lana Del Rey – National Anthem (Single)

Lana Del Rey’s new track ‘National Anthem’ is out now! Find out how HTF rates it, HERE!

Verity Vincent

Published

July 12, 2012

Artist: Lana Del Rey

Release: National Anthem

Release Date: Out now

Lana Del Rey has quickly become one of the industry’s most sought after stars and after the success of her first two singles, has released National Anthem from the critically acclaimed album Born To Die.

The song itself is not a million miles from what we’ve heard on Video Games and Born To Die; dripping with Lana’s sultry vocals that drift through the verses into a catchy chorus. But there’s something not as genuine about this track.

Written by Fame Academy’s David Sneddon*, National Anthem is a gangster-esque love song which see’s the star try her hand at a bit of light rapping. This can leave you confused. Is she trying out a more Beyonce circa ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ vibe rather than the usual waif queen Kate Bush? Lana has a very distinct sound and image, and venturing from that seems a little forced. At one point her voice even sounds Barbadian.

The visual cogs are all too important in the Del Rey machine, and the strongest thing about this release is undoubtedly the video, which is stunning. Written by Lana and directed by Anthony Mandler, it depicts the John F.Kennedy/Jackie Onassiss love story and assassination of the President. Rapper A$AP Rocky stars as JFK while Lana takes on Jackie O with a Michelle Pfeiffer in ‘Scarface’ twist. The emotions of the story are transferred outstandingly and you find yourself watching the video with the song taking a back seat. At 7 minutes 40 it unwillingly sucks you in and is already tipped to be the video of the year.

5/10 (However the video gets a firm 9/10)

Reviewer: Verity Vincent

*If, like us, you were confused as to how and why David Sneddon has come to pen a Lana Del Rey track,he’s actually been working as one half of “The Nexus”. Alongside guitarist James Bauer-Mein, they have worked together for nearly ten years to write and produce songs for Hurts, Newton Faulkner and Nicole Sherzinger, to name a few! Who knew?!