1. LANA DEL REY

2. Background information
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Name: Elizabeth Woolridge Grant
Stage name: Lana Del Rey
Born June 21, 1985 (age 28)
Signed with Interscope, Polydor and Stranger records in July 2011
Interscope: an American record label owned by Universal Music Group based in
Santa Monica
Polydor: also owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the UK
Her debut single “video games” had a music video and was posted on Youtube in
August 2011 and became a viral internet hit (20 million views)
Her second album ‘Born to Die’ sold over 3.6 million copies worldwide making it
the fifth best-selling album of 2012
Lana’s music has been noted for its cinematic sound and its references to various
aspects of pop culture, particularly that of the 1950’s and 60’s Americana
She draws influence from what she deems to be the masters of each genre,
including Elvis Presley, Amy Winehouse, Bruce Springsteen and Britney Spears

3. Analysis of music video
BORN TO DIE
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The start of music video shows Lana and a man holding each other in front of the American flag with
Lana looking straight into the camera and the male’s eye’s closed suggesting that they are in a
relationship but it could also suggest that he has done something to jeopardize the relationship. The
male’s image is shown to be quite dangerous portrayed by his tattoos and hair, also suggesting that he
is not beneficial for her. Also this is actually an animated version of the single cover art
She is then sitting in a throne in what seems to be a palace with two tigers next to her which could
portray her in heaven, however this would only be clear to the audience after her death in the ending.
The fact that the tigers are shown to be so calm next her could suggest that she is some kind of
authority and control. While she is singing it is some what recalling memories of being with her beloved
and creates a narrative
The scene is followed by the singer leaving her home and joining her boyfriend for a long car trip. As
they enter the car, they start to smoke marijuana together portraying their adventurous side
While on the road, the relationship of the couple is revealed to be unstable as she is forced to kiss her
boyfriend while expressing sadness
The trip intercuts with scenes of the couple staying at a luxurious hotel, where they are seen lying on a
bed together with the boyfriend ominously holding Del Rey's throat at one point; suggesting the
threatening aspect of the relationship
As Del Rey makes her way out the hotel, the scene cuts back to an apparent car accident, with the
singer's bloodied corpse being carried by her lover as a huge fire burns behind them. The portrayal of
the male just standing there with her body shows that he is shocked and somewhat has a sense of guilt
and also suggests that his plan to kill himself with Lana failed as she is the only one dead

4. Analysis
BORN TO DIE
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The clip intercuts many times to Lana at the palace, the suggestion that she is in heaven is also shown
through her clothes as she is in pure white. Although she has no wings to show she is an angel, we
get the feeling that she is through the setting and her costume.
Right before she is shown in the apparent car crash, she is walking towards a door with a bright light
behind it, again suggesting she is about to go to heaven before it intercuts to her death. She is
wearing a long white dress which hints purity
Throughout the music video there are many tracking shots, for example, at the start a tracking shot is
used to show the extent of how grand the palace is which is set in the Palace of Fontainebleau in
Paris. After this is shown, the shot tracks downwards to show Lana in her throne
The basic story line of this video is that the relationship that these two people have is so terrible but
neither of them want to leave, this is shown for example, in the scene where they are in the car; she
is wiping the car window looking sad and distant but her boyfriend is still trying to get her attention

5. BADLANDS 1973
The born to die video is seen to be quite
cinematic. An example to show this
would be the relation between the music
video and the film badlands from 1973.
They are quite similar through their story
lines and also some scenes. Although
Lana’s is a music video and badlands is a
movie they still have many similarities as
born to die has a narrative.
The plot of both are alike in the sense
that it is about a male and a female
running away together but the male
character is dangerous/threatening to the
female. In the ending both couple’s come
to an end; in badlands the couple get
arrested and the male executed and in
the born to die video the female dies and
the male is left with guilt and distress
BORN TO DIE MUSIC VIDEO

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Who is the target audience?
The target audience is more for indie lovers aged between 18 to 28
It is targeted at females as they can relate to the video because there is love, abusive and and
argumentative elements involved
The audience will see the music video in a narrative as it tells a story which intrigues the
audience but also allows them to picture a story whilst listening
How is it typical of a pop video?
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There is lip syncing in the video which immediatley makes the audience realise it is a pop
video as it is an element typical of one
The setting is very visually effective such as the palace which grabs the audience’s attention
and makes them remember it whenever they hear the song

7. Lana is looking straight at the camera
whereas her boyfriend is looking down,
giving the audience the suggestion that
there may be something wrong with
their relationship
The use of the
American flag
could be a
representation of
the type of music
she sings and is
influenced by
which is generally
1950’s and 70’s
Americana or she
could just be being
patriotic
He has many
tattoos across his
body which could
connote that he is
somewhat of a
dangerous or
rebellious person
and has that kind
of influence on
Lana in the video
They are both topless which adds
quite a sexy representation of
them as individuals but also as a
couple