Lana's Honeymoon: A Flop Or Not?

Lana Del Rey's fourth studio album, Honeymoon, was released on September 18, 2015, by Interscope and Polydor Records. The album was produced by Del Rey, alongside Rick Nowels and Kieron Menzies, and marked a departure from the guitar-driven instrumentation of her previous album, Ultraviolence. Honeymoon received positive reviews from music critics, with several considering it Del Rey's best work at the time. The album topped the charts in Australia, Greece, and Ireland and reached the Top 5 in over 20 countries. However, some fans considered Honeymoon a quiet release compared to Del Rey's other albums, with less interaction with the press and a brief promotional run.

Honeymoon's commercial success

Honeymoon, the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter and producer Lana Del Rey, was released on September 18, 2015, by Interscope and Polydor Records. The album marked a departure from the guitar-driven instrumentation of Del Rey's previous album, Ultraviolence (2014), and a return to the baroque pop of Born to Die (2012) and Paradise (2012). Lyrically, the album explores themes of tortured romance, resentment, lust, escapism, and violence.

Honeymoon was a commercial success, topping the charts in Australia, Greece, and Ireland, and reaching the top 5 in over 20 countries, including Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom. In France alone, Honeymoon sold 50,000 copies. The album was certified Silver in the United Kingdom in December 2015 and later certified Gold in March 2017.

The album received positive reviews from music critics, with several critics considering it Del Rey's best work at the time of its release. Honeymoon appeared on many publications' "Best Albums of 2015" lists. The Independent gave the album four out of five stars, with reviewer Andy Gill praising Del Rey's vocal delivery and the album's timelessness. The Guardian also gave the album four out of five stars, commenting on its "timelessness" and "intrigue." PopMatters praised Del Rey's artistic innovation and original vision. Rolling Stone agreed, stating that Honeymoon contained Del Rey's "most genuinely thrilling music." The Telegraph gave the album four out of five stars, describing it as "an ambient album for broken hearts."

The title track, "Honeymoon," was released as a promotional single on September 7, 2015, and received critical acclaim. NME called the track "cinematic" and "emotionally thrilling", while The Verge described it as "six minutes of meandering bliss" with "sweeping strings and stuttering snares." TIME characterised the song as "characteristically broody" and "cinematic."

Despite the album's commercial and critical success, some fans considered Honeymoon a "quiet release" compared to Del Rey's other albums, with less interaction with the press and a brief promotional run. However, the album's understated release may have been intentional, as Del Rey herself described it as a more personal and reflective project.

Critical acclaim for the title track

The title track of Lana Del Rey's fourth studio album *Honeymoon* received critical acclaim. NME called the track "cinematic" and "emotionally thrilling", describing it as "perhaps her most heart-stopping ballad yet". The Verge also praised the song, describing it as "six minutes of meandering bliss" and commending the "sweeping strings and stuttering snares" that "float through the background of the song". TIME characterised the song as "characteristically broody" and "cinematic", noting that it "leans closer to the sounds of her breakthrough LP *Born to Die* than the material she cooked up with the Black Keys' Dan Auderbach".

One reviewer described "Honeymoon" as a ballad that frames the concepts of the overall album: "The title track opens the album with a cello moan and high, creeping violins and then floats for nearly six minutes as Del Rey promises glorious, aimless freedom. But she sounds utterly alone. You suspect she’s singing to someone who’s long gone."

Del Rey herself described the song as where the record begins and ends, encapsulating "all of the things that come naturally" to her. She also described the album as having a ""muddy trap energy" and being inspired by "late-night Miles Davis drives".

The album *Honeymoon* was released on 18 September 2015 and was met with positive reviews from music critics, appearing on many publications' 2015 best albums lists. At the time of its release, several critics considered the album Del Rey's best work to date.

Lack of press interaction

The release of Lana Del Rey's fourth studio album, Honeymoon, was notably understated, with minimal interaction with the press. In the lead-up to its release, Del Rey gave few interviews, and those that did occur focused more on the album's sonics than its lyrical content, symbolism, or the artist's own interpretation.

This lack of press interaction may have contributed to a perception of Honeymoon as a "quiet release" in comparison to Del Rey's other albums. Indeed, some fans have expressed curiosity about the inspiration and meaning behind the album, which remains somewhat enigmatic even years after its release.

Despite the limited press engagement, Del Rey did provide some insights into the album's creative process and themes. In an interview with Billboard in January 2015, she revealed that she had written and recorded nine songs that could potentially be featured on the album, including a cover of "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" by Nina Simone. Del Rey also hinted at the album's overall sound, suggesting it would be similar to her earlier releases, Born to Die and Paradise, while marking a departure from the guitar-driven instrumentation of Ultraviolence.

In subsequent interviews, Del Rey described Honeymoon as a reflection of her life and headspace at the time. She touched on themes of fame, love, and emotional trauma, suggesting that the album explores a more mature and reflective perspective than her previous work.

While the lack of extensive press interaction surrounding Honeymoon may have left some fans with unanswered questions, it is also indicative of Del Rey's enigmatic persona and her preference for letting the music speak for itself. Ultimately, Honeymoon received positive reviews from music critics and was commercially successful, topping the charts in several countries and appearing on many 2015 "best albums" lists.

Lyrical themes

The lyrical themes of Lana Del Rey's Honeymoon revolve around tortured romance, resentment, lust, escapism, and violence. The album explores more mature subject matter, reflecting on her life and career, including her boredom with fame and the transient nature of love.

The title track, "Honeymoon," sets the tone for the album, with lyrics like "We both know that it's not fashionable to love me/But you don't go 'Cause truly there's nobody for you but me," capturing the complex dynamics of a relationship. The song has been described as a cinematic ballad, with sweeping strings and layered vocal harmonies, creating an emotionally thrilling atmosphere.

"High by the Beach," the lead single, showcases Del Rey's interest in exploring "muddy trap energy." The song blends an Andrews Sisters-style melody with trap-influenced vocals, further showcasing the album's blend of classic and modern influences.

Del Rey also covers "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" by Nina Simone, adding her own interpretation to the jazz standard. This cover reflects the overall timelessness and intrigue of the album, which draws on styles and influences from across the past century.

The album's lyrical content has been described as more subdued and introspective compared to her previous releases, with a focus on exploring the complexities of love, the weight of the past, and the search for meaning. While the album did not receive as much press interaction as her other albums, it was well-received by critics, who praised its originality, innovation, and Del Rey's unique artistic vision.

Musical influences

Lana Del Rey's Honeymoon marked a departure from the more guitar-driven instrumentation of her previous album, Ultraviolence, and a return to the baroque pop of Born to Die and Paradise. The album touches on themes of tortured romance, resentment, lust, escapism, and violence.

Honeymoon has been described as having a timelessness to it, with a strong jazzy influence and a 50s vibe with a bit of soft grunge. Del Rey herself said that she was still looking for something different, with majestic choruses, beautiful orchestrations. The album has also been described as having classical and jazz influences with modern beats, with jazzy/filmic influences.

The title track, "Honeymoon", has been described as having a super-hero chord, with pulsing piano chords, string highlights, and light percussion. The song "Freak" is a soprano ballad, while "Music to Watch Boys To" has eerie call-and-response verses with distorted vocals. "High by the Beach" has been described as having an Andrews Sisters melody set to droning trap-fuelled vocals.

The album has received positive reviews from music critics, appearing on many 2015 best albums lists. Critics have called it Del Rey's best work to date, with Rolling Stone commenting that "whatever her intentions, they've led to her most genuinely thrilling music ever". The album has also been described as "an ambient album for broken hearts", with a lot of classical and jazz influences with modern beats.

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