When asked in a 2019 KISS FM interview, “Why are they obsessed with you?”, Lana replied by saying, “I think I have a little bit of a connection with young women in a way, or women, that some people might not expect, or see right off the bat.”
This got me thinking, what is it about Lana Del Rey that this generation of teenagers, women specifically, are so drawn to?
Now, I myself am a teenage fan of Lana so before doing any research I tried to figure out why I am so drawn to her and what makes me such a fan. A key reason for Lana’s rapid success amongst young people would have to be her distinctive aesthetic. I recently listened to an episode of Emma Chamberlain’s podcast “Anything Goes” in which she talked about the obsession with having an “aesthetic”, and I felt it strongly resonated with what I’m going to be talking about in this section. (If this is something you are interested in then I highly recommend giving this episode a listen!) In this episode, Emma described an online aesthetic as “a consistent personality on social media” and I think that’s exactly what Lana Del Rey has achieved over the past 11 years.
One of Lana’s most identifiable aesthetics would be that of the “old money” aesthetic. So what is the “old money” aesthetic? By definition, this aesthetic is “based around a wealthy, classic style” and women such as Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Onassis and Blair Waldorf are often linked to this aesthetic. Lana effectively creates this aura through her music, career and - most significantly in my opinion - her music videos. This “old money” aesthetic is clearly demonstrated in music videos such as “Chemtrails Over The Country Club”. In fact, Lana Del Rey even has her own song which goes by the title of “Old Money”. Although Lana and her family are wealthy, the lyrics discuss how she still feels alone and distant, which makes her long for a love that goes beyond the material world.
A lot of the lyrics in this song heavily coincide with Lana’s, perhaps more identifiable, aesthetic of the American Girl. Specifically 50s-60s America. Lyrics from her song “Old Money” to demonstrate this would be the introduction itself:
“Blue hydrangea, cold cash divine
Cashmere, cologne, and white sunshine
Red racing cars, Sunset and Vine”
It is clear to see, in this verse alone, that Lana’s music is very patriotic as she lists the colours of the American flag. In addition to this, Lana was frequently pictured holding the traditional American flag. Whilst this aesthetic was promptly dropped after Donald Trump’s presidency, themes of American nostalgia have still overall built her career. Songs such as “National Anthem” and - of course - “American” strongly suggest the idea of nationalism and the country that was once “great”.
Linking back to the original question, you may be asking what this has to do with teenagers' fascination with the singer. It has become quite popular on many social media platforms such as TikTok, Pinterest, Instagram and even Spotify, the idea of people being “born into the wrong generation”. A large group of teenagers today feel as though their generation (usually the 2010s) is not aesthetic and has been ruined by social media. Through hit TV shows such as Stranger Things, and music such as Lana Del Rey’s herself, teenagers can often be transported back in time, a time they see as much simpler and aesthetic. Young girls who align with this aesthetic are often seeking individuality and an escape from the chaos of modern society, which can be found in Lana’s breathy voice, retro visuals and her looks. Numerous “vintage” trends have come back around such as record players, hair rollers and countless more. Lana Del Rey’s music and aesthetic alone represent this idea flawlessly, which is most likely an important reason as to why teenagers are so drawn to her.
Another key aspect of Lana’s growing success amongst young adults would be her lyrics and the topics in which she sings about. Often, she sings about dramatic situations including love, heartbreak and more sensitive topics such as drugs and sex. Overall, a key theme within a lot of Lana’s work is the feeling of freedom and irresponsibility which Lana’s lyrics often represent. Inevitably, a fraction of teenagers hope, or even expect, to experience things of this nature and desire to grow up. When Lana sings about these things, it can take teens into a different reality in which they can experience these feelings and emotions through her music. Lana has been frequently criticised for her bold lyric choices however I personally feel that this is what makes Lana Del Rey. An example would be a song from her debut album as Lana Del Rey, “Diet Mountain Dew”. In this song she sings the lyrics:
“Says he’s gonna teach me just what fast is
Say it’s gonna be alright.”
In this lyric she talks about how this man lives an extremely fast-paced life, one Lana is yet to experience. In an effort to make them more similar, he is attempting to teach her how to live like him, but she fears the negative effects that leading this life will have. This is the type of lifestyle that the majority of teens will not have experienced due to the simplicity of teen life. Teenage life can be seen and repetitive and filled with school and hanging out with friends. Therefore, this new and dangerous way of life that they hear about in Lana’s music is foreign to them and they wish to seek more.
Releasing her first studio album in 2010, it’s fair to say Lana Del Rey (or Lizzy Grant to others) has been around for a long time. In fact, Lana actually wrote and recorded an unreleased album in 2006 called “Sirens” under the pseudonym May Jailer. She then went on to release the album “Lana Del Rey” in 2010, under her birth name Lizzy Grant; before releasing her first album under the name Lana Del Rey, “Born To Die” in 2012.
The idea of her releasing music in the mid and late noughties often contradicts why teenagers of today are still captivated by Lana Del Rey.
I think that it’s also important to note that Lana’s fanbase is in no way completely made up of teenage girls. A large part of her fans are those who were once teenagers and have grown with Lana and her music. However, a lot of the older generation find enjoyment in Lana’s music; this is often due to the ethereal and nostalgic sound.
But what is it that makes teens, and even pre-teens of today, still transfixed with Lana? Along with the other topics previously discussed, I think that a large reason for this is simply that Lana Del Rey has stayed relevant. As formerly stated, Lana recorded her first album in 2006, and here we are, 17 years later and Lana Del Rey’s ninth studio album “Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd” has just been released and debuted at number one in the UK with over 40,000 sales. Over the years, Lana has consistently released mesmerising music that is well-loved by both her fanbase and the general public.
Another way that has helped Lana to stay relevant, most specifically within the past few years and especially to a younger audience, would be social media, specifically TikTok. For those who aren’t aware, TikTok is a highly popular social media platform in which users can post videos. A handful of Lana’s songs have gone viral on this app such as “Summertime Sadness”, “Doin’ Time” and “West Coast” to name a few. Consequently, this means that when teens and younger audiences are continuously scrolling through the addictive app, they are frequently being presented with these songs which enables them to be opened up to a whole new genre of music.
Furthermore, throughout her career Lana Del Rey has had her fair share of collaborations. She has collaborated with the likes of Stevie Nicks, The Weeknd, Taylor Swift, A$AP Rocky, Kacey Musgraves and countless more. Through these crafted collaborations, Lana Del Rey has reached a variety of different fan bases and fans of different genres. Artists such as Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and The Weeknd specifically would’ve had a large impact on Lana’s exposure to teenagers and younger listeners. Whilst those artists have explored other genres, they are mostly known for their pop music and are often played to younger audiences through radio stations and apps such as TikTok. Therefore, Lana Del Rey and her distinctive sound is frequently shown to these pop-listening teenagers.
After having a conversation with a family member about if there was anyone making music today who could fit into the same style and genre as Lana Del Rey, we came to the conclusion that there’s simply no one. Lana’s individuality within the music industry is a large reason why she has had such a long and successful career.
In 2012, around the time of the release of “Born To Die” rock/pop music was highly popular; and whilst Lana’s music could fit into these categories, she managed to put her own unique twist on these genres with her album “Born To Die” and those following. During this time, there was a gap in the market for this style of music that we had rarely seen before.
Lana’s music can often be described as whimsical and ethereal that has the power to send listeners into a different world. This trait works hand in hand with the idea of teenagers willingly listening to Lana’s music. Teenage life is frequently presented as stressful and dramatic, filled with education and drama. Undoubtedly, teenagers sometimes long for an escape from this never ending lifestyle, and many can find that in Lana Del Rey’s music.
Since the rise of social media platforms such as TikTok, there has become a negative view on girls being “basic”. To begin with, what defines a “basic girl”? Well, a “basic girl” is a girl who prefers mainstream products, trends and music. Whilst I do not, in any way, tolerate or agree with these harmful views and stereotypes, (in fact, I would say that in certain aspects, I somewhat fit into this category) many people especially “angsty teens” try to stray away from this persona that is often built in pre-teens. The idea of the “not like other girls” stigma works closely with teenagers listening to Lana Del Rey.
As previously discussed, Lana’s music could, technically, be included in the pop genre, however, Lana manages to put a spin on that and creates more of an alternative sound. Meaning that, Lana Del Rey’s music is a perfect solution for those teens who are trying to explore different styles of music and stray away from generic pop as it links closely to the music they’re used to, yet it is not generic pop. Teenagers have often started with Lana’s more eccentric sound, before going on to discover their own defining taste in music, which could, as does for many, include Lana Del Rey. By listening to this slightly more alternative sound teenagers are able to feel a sense of individuality and soon become transfixed with Lana and her music.
Overall, I think it is a combination of her aesthetic, lyrics, relevancy, sound and teenagers desire to be different that has caused countless teenagers of today to feel enchanted by Lana Del Rey. Or perhaps, it could just be Lana’s pure talent!
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