George Boyle
Lana Del Rey's fourth studio album, Honeymoon, was released on September 18, 2015, by Interscope and Polydor Records. The album received positive reviews from critics, with many praising its originality and timelessness. However, some sources suggest that the release was relatively quiet compared to her previous albums, with less interaction with the press and a brief promotional run. Despite the apparent lack of promotion, Honeymoon was a commercial success, topping the charts in several countries and receiving gold certifications in the US and UK. With its themes of tortured romance, resentment, and escapism, it is worth exploring why Del Rey herself might have disliked this album.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Release Date | 18 September 2015 |
| Record Label | Interscope and Polydor Records |
| Producers | Lana Del Rey, Rick Nowels, and Kieron Menzies |
| Previous Album | Ultraviolence |
| Themes | Tortured romance, resentment, lust, escapism, violence |
| Commercial Performance | Certified gold in the US, Australia, and the UK |
| Critical Reception | Positive reviews, including four out of five stars from The Independent and The Guardian |
| Promotional Activity | Separate Instagram account for the album, pre-order on iTunes Store |
| Track Count | 14 |
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What You'll Learn
Lana Del Rey's limited press interaction during the album's release
Lana Del Rey's fourth studio album, Honeymoon, was released on September 18, 2015, by Interscope and Polydor Records. In the lead-up to the album's release, Del Rey had limited interaction with the press. The album was described as a "quiet release" in comparison to her other albums.
During the brief promotional run for Honeymoon, Del Rey gave a small number of interviews, including notable ones with Abel and James Franco. These interviews primarily focused on the sonics of the album rather than its lyrical content, the symbolism behind its aesthetics, or Del Rey's personal interpretation of the album.
Del Rey did, however, provide some insights into the album through her Instagram account and other media platforms. She unveiled the track listing through her Instagram account on August 20, 2015, the day before the record was made available for pre-order on the iTunes Store. Del Rey also released a promotional single, "Terrence Loves You", on August 21, 2015, and the album's title track was released to YouTube on July 14, 2015, accompanied by a video with a short clip of Del Rey and the song's lyrics.
In a January 2015 interview with Billboard, Del Rey announced she had begun work on Honeymoon and revealed that she was covering Nina Simone's "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood." She also provided a glimpse into her creative process by posting a selfie captioned "So tired in the studio" and a photo from her V Magazine photo spread with a caption containing a passage from Alfred Lord Tennyson's 1832 poem "The Lady of Shalott."
Despite the limited press interaction, Honeymoon received positive reviews from music critics and appeared on several 2015 best albums lists. The album topped the charts in Australia, Greece, and Ireland and reached the Top 5 in over 20 countries, including Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
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The album's lyrical content and themes
The album *Honeymoon* by Lana Del Rey explores themes of romance, heartbreak, loneliness, and escapism, with lyrics that are often introspective and melancholy. The songs are characterized by their slow, dreamy atmospheres and Del Rey's signature nostalgic aesthetic. The album's title track, "Honeymoon," sets the tone with its hazy, wistful mood and lyrics about a bittersweet romance: "We both know that it's not fashionable to love me/ But you don't go 'cause I'm fragile." This song introduces the idea of a troubled relationship that is nonetheless enduring and deeply felt.
Across the album, Del Rey delves into the complexities of love and desire, often from a place of sadness or longing. In "Music to Watch Boys To," she sings about the objectification of men with a sense of detachment and loneliness: "I like to watch them in the sun/ Shining like gun metal, rattling my pearls." The song "Freak" continues this exploration of desire, with Del Rey singing about a passionate but potentially destructive relationship: "You're just what I need/ A little bit of love and little bit of touch of your freak."
Heartbreak and loss are also prevalent themes on *Honeymoon*. In "Terrence Loves You," Del Rey mourns the end of a relationship, referencing the classic film *Rebel Without a Cause* to emphasize the tragic, cinematic nature of her grief: "I never really noticed that I had to decide/ To play someone's game or live my own life/ And now I do, I guess I'll just keep on running." Similarly, in "Religion," she compares her devotion to her lover to a religious experience, highlighting the depth of her feelings and the pain of their separation: "You're like a church/ And I'm like a child/ You take my hand/ And lead me inside."
Escapism and fantasy are also woven throughout the album, often as a way to cope with the pain and loneliness expressed in other songs. In "High by the Beach," Del Rey sings about using drugs and alcohol to numb her emotions and escape the reality of a failed relationship: "All I wanna do is get high by the beach/ Get stoned on the beach and screw/ Baby, all night on the beach, yeah." Meanwhile, "Salvatore" finds her fantasizing about a romantic escape to Italy, where she imagines finding true love: "I could get used to this beautiful view/ Lost in the lights, me and you/ I could get used to your crazy face."
Overall, the lyrical content of *Honeymoon* paints a picture of a complex, emotional landscape, where love, desire, heartbreak, and loneliness intertwine. Del Rey's songwriting is deeply personal and often tinged with a sense of melancholy and nostalgia, creating an intimate and atmospheric listening experience. The album's themes resonate with anyone who has experienced the highs and lows of love and the longing for escape that often accompanies heartache.
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The album's jazz influences
Lana Del Rey's fourth studio album, Honeymoon, was released on 18 September 2015. The album has been described as a "retro-styled work of grand, cinematic baroque pop", with a "type of '50s vibe with a bit of soft grunge".
Honeymoon has also been noted for its jazz influences, with Lana Del Rey herself stating that she wanted the album to have a strong jazzy influence. In an interview with Grazia magazine, Del Rey said that she wanted the album to have "beautiful orchestrations" and "majestic choruses". Producer Rick Nowels confirmed this, stating that Del Rey initially wanted to make a jazz album, and that this turned into songs like 'Honeymoon' and 'Terrence Loves You'.
The song 'Art Deco' is a notable example of the album's jazz influences. It has been described as a "slow jazz-styled ballad with hazy beats and saxophone riffs". The lyrics of the song have been said to contain "hollowness and American ennui".
Honeymoon has been praised by critics for its originality and innovation. PopMatters commented that Del Rey is an "artistic innovator who fearlessly draws from style and substance across the past century, whose vision is completely original and not remotely predictable".
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The album's commercial success
Honeymoon, the fourth studio album by Lana Del Rey, was released on 18 September 2015. The album was a commercial success, topping the charts in Australia, Greece and Ireland. It also reached the top 5 in over 20 countries, including Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States, where it debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, selling 116,000 units in its first week. In Australia, the album became Del Rey's third consecutive number one following Born to Die and Ultraviolence. In France, Honeymoon sold 50,000 copies. In the United Kingdom, the album was certified Silver in December 2015 and then certified Gold in March 2017.
The album's two singles, "High by the Beach" and "Music to Watch Boys To", also performed well commercially. "High by the Beach", the lead single, debuted at No. 51 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Music to Watch Boys To" was described as containing a "'narcotic haze'" and was built over synth orchestrations, with flute-like sounds and "crawling" beats.
Honeymoon received positive reviews from music critics, with several considering it Del Rey's best work at the time. The album was described as a "retro-styled work of grand, cinematic baroque pop", "elegantly melancholy dream pop", and a return to the "cinematic trip hop" of Del Rey's debut album Born to Die. The Independent gave the album four out of five stars, with reviewer Andy Gill praising Del Rey's vocals as "multi-layered cooing", airy and ethereal. Gill also noted that the album found Del Rey reverting to a composite persona closer to her Born to Die debut. The Guardian also gave the album four out of five stars, commenting on its "timelessness" and "intrigue". PopMatters praised Del Rey as an "artistic innovator" with a "completely original and not remotely predictable vision".
Prior to its release, Honeymoon was highly anticipated, with Del Rey creating a separate Instagram account for the album in June 2015. She also released a promotional single, "Terrence Loves You", on 21 August 2015.
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The album's critical reception
Honeymoon, the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey, received positive reviews from music critics. At the time of its release, several critics considered the album Del Rey's best work to date. The album topped the charts in Australia, Greece, and Ireland, and reached the Top 5 in over 20 countries, including Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The Independent gave Honeymoon four out of five stars, with reviewer Andy Gill writing that the album "finds Del Rey reverting, after the more atomised, individual characters of last year's Ultraviolence, to a composite persona closer to the dissolute subject of her Born to Die debut." 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, while Rolling Stone also gave the album a positive review.
In addition to its critical acclaim, Honeymoon was a commercial success. The album is certified gold in the US for selling over 500,000 units and has sold 50,000 copies in France. In Australia, Honeymoon debuted at number one on the ARIA Charts, becoming Del Rey's third consecutive number-one album. In December 2015, the album was certified Silver in the United Kingdom and later certified Gold in March 2017.
Despite the overall positive reception, some fans and critics noted that Honeymoon was a quiet release compared to Del Rey's other albums. There was less interaction with the press during its release, and the few interviews she did focused more on the sonics of the album than its lyrical content or symbolic aesthetics. However, the album has gained a cult following, with many fans considering it their favourite.
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