In accordance with the great change of presidenty in the United States, an artist who has always pondered a lot about the light and dark sides of the “American Dream”, which has recently moved further into reach again, is now back. “Chemtrails Over The Country Club” is the great return of Lana del Rey!
CHEMTRAILS OVER THE COUNTRY CLUB
The native New Yorker announced the release of her eagerly-awaited seventh studio album. It’s called “Chemtrails Over The Country Club” for 2021.
The unique US music and style icon is back with a new record! Lana Del Rey had already given the first hints in recent weeks with mysterious posts on her social media channels.
Now the countdown to Lana Del Rey’s new album has officially begun with the release of the title track “Chemtrails Over The Country Club”.
Alongside the title track, which Lana Del Rey once again composed with her ancestral co-writer Jack Antonoff, the 35-year-old also released the accompanying video, as well as the tracklist and artwork for her upcoming album.
While the second preview track after “Let Me Love You Like A Woman” is now available everywhere to stream and download, the full album “Chemtrails Over The Country Club” will be released on March 19.
LANA DEL REY – THE ART FIGURE
Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, which is her real name, has not only succeeded in creating an extraordinary art figure. There’s a real cult around Lana Del Rey!
Both Lana’s social criticism and her satiric metaphors or personifications delight fans all over the world. Her unconventional storytelling – with its captivating dramaturgy – attracts people even far beyond her fan base. Therefore, her new and older songs are regularly and repeatedly trending on Instagram, Tik Tok, and Co.
Lana Del Rey fascinates, touches, opens eyes, and exposes deep-seated emotions. Moreover, she achieves all of this with an incredibly profound range of themes.
The melancholic, oppressive, and at the same time, beautiful tunes of her songs also play an important role.
However, that’s exactly why Lana Del Rey is even more than just an art figure or alter-ego.
She’s a force to be reckoned with, using unique music to address current politics, society, and herself in a way that no one else can.
Her incredibly multifaceted individualism is considered the mouthpiece of the Millennials generation. But it resonates with younger members of Gen Z at least as much. That’s because the themes Lana addresses are meaningful and timeless.
They are simply true to life since the 35-year-old often makes fictitious, often failed, and always special personalities the protagonists of her songs. These are just such taboo-breaking stories that, performed with heartbreak and soul, practically can’t help but polarize.
Lana reveals that the nature of people and the “American Dream” concept are at the same time deeply repulsive, and in turn totally fascinating and attractive in their tragedy. The effect of this portrayal in combination with her dreamy, melancholic sound is something that no one can imitate easily.
LANA DEL REY’S VERY OWN SUBURBAN IDYLL
In “Chemtrails Over The Country-Club” Lana indulges in romanticized memories of prosperous country life. It lists many everyday activities and ventures. Thereby, the protagonist finds it “beautiful how this deep normality settles down over me.“
The deceptive idyll
The music video exactly reflects this. It begins with the typical Lana del Rey vintage vibe. Pearl necklaces, retro filters, simple but stylish clothes, and a fast car.
But the idyll is misleading. The main character of the song, in the visuals embodied as usual by Lana herself, is in fact “not bored or unhappy, [She’s] still so strange and wild”.
The Wild Nature
The latter becomes especially obvious when the music turns more and more subliminal. And with it, the mood in the video changes abruptly at the same time. Gone are the suburban idyll and pleasant everyday routine, as in the night Lana and her privileged girlfriends become scantily dressed werewolves.
They express their wild nature, free of conventions, regulations, or a fake world. The video horror greatly contrasts with the melancholic yet very light music and its only crooned lyrics.
With the dawn, however, normality returns. So, only the viewer is left on tenterhooks.
THE ALBUM CHEMTRAILS OVER THE COUNTRY CLUB
In combination with this video, Chemtrails Over The Country Club is obviously the ideal teaser for the forthcoming full album.
The song itself is simply beautiful, just like many of its successful predecessors.
Lana’s rather deep, full voice recounts old days with effortlessness and a dash of nostalgia. Gentle piano music with soft violin accents completes the overall tone.
The melody of the chorus is charming and catchy. It’s therefore certain that “Chemtrails Over The Country Club” will join songs like “Radio”, “Summertime Sadness” and “Video Games” in the long list of Lana’s landed hits.
So altogether, Lana Del Rey is one of the most influential female artists of her generation. That goes far beyond music.
Her sense of style, awareness of fashion, design, and digital communication have left a lasting mark on contemporary pop culture.
Self-directed work in the songwriting process and studio production are as much a part of this as her own personal definition of “retro.”
After 2019’s previous album “Norman Fucking Rockwell!” earned another GRAMMY nomination, the seventh studio album “Chemtrails Over The Country Club” will finally be released on March 19, 2021.
In addition to digital formats, the long-player, which combines a total of 11 songs, is also available for pre-order as of this week on CD, cassette as well as in other exclusive vinyl configurations.
For more information, click Lana Del Rey’s store.
Pictures: © Universal Music
Text: Ronja Buchin
