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Song of the Day #5,383: ‘Candy Necklaces’ – Lana Del Rey

Continuing my track-by-track appreciation of Lana Del Rey’s newest album, Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd…

Track 5: ‘Candy Necklaces’

This song features the first of two collaborations with recent Album of the Year Grammy winner Jon Batiste. Batiste’s contributions here include some sweet piano playing throughout and a rather eerie recitation of the title phrase in the outro.

‘Candy Necklaces’ is one of the most lyrically oblique songs on the album. References to “Rockafella” and “my umbrella” suggest Jay-Z and Rihanna, right? But why? Del Rey also alludes to A Tribe Called Quest, the Young and the Restless, and the Bible.

And what does the title metaphor mean? I’ve read interpretations both sexual and pharmaceutical, as well as suggestions that it refers to a noose. This is one of several songs on the album that mention suicide so perhaps that’s not far off.

Whatever the meaning, this is a gorgeous and unsettling song.

Batiste’s piano is a great addition that leaves you wanting more. And you’re in luck, because the next track is titled ‘Jon Batiste Interlude.’ I wish I didn’t have to wait until Monday to cover that one because it flows naturally from today’s song, but that’s how the track like broke down. See you on the other side of the weekend…

[Verse 1: Lana Del Rey]
White fire, cinnamon on my teeth
And I’m sittin’ at the stoplight northern town
I feel lucky
I drive somewhere out of range, I don’t know where
White noise comin’ out of my brain
Turns off for nothing

[Pre-Chorus: Lana Del Rey]
Rockafella, my umbrella
God, I love you, baby
Storyteller, us forever
Is my favorite song

[Chorus: Lana Del Rey]
You’ve been actin’ pretty restless
Dancin’ like the young and restless
And I’m obsessed with it
Candy necklaces
You’ve been actin’ pretty reckless
Dancin’ like the young and restless
And I’m obsessеd with this
All his candy necklaces

[Verse 2: Lana Del Rey]
Sittin’ on the sofa, feelin’ supеr suicidal
Hate to say the word, but, baby, hand on the Bible, I do
Feel like it’s you the one who’s bringin’ me down
Thought that we were cool and we were kickin’ it like Tribe Called Quest
You the best, but, baby, you’ve been bringin’ me down
I can see it now

[Pre-Chorus: Lana Del Rey]
Rockafella, my umbrella
God, I love you, baby
Fortune teller, favorite ever
That’s the story of us

[Chorus: Lana Del Rey]
You’ve been actin’ pretty restless
Dancin’ like the young and reckless
And I’m obsessed with this
Candy necklaces
I think that we should address this
Actin’ like the young and restless
I’m obsessed with this
All his candy necklaces

[Piano Solo]

[Chorus: Lana Del Rey]
We’ve been actin’ pretty restless
Dancin’ like the young and restless
I’m obsessed with this
Candy necklaces

[Outro: Jon Batiste, Lana Del Rey]
Candy necklaces
Candy necklaces (Mm)
Candy necklaces (Mm, hmm)
Candy necklaces (I’m obsessed with this)
Candy necklaces (‘Cause I’m obsessed with this)
Candy necklaces (Mm)
Candy necklaces, oh

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Song of the Day #5,382: ‘Judah Smith Interlude’ – Lana Del Rey

Continuing my track-by-track appreciation of Lana Del Rey’s newest album, Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd…

Track 5: ‘Judah Smith Interlude’

The fifth song on Lana Del Rey’s new album is likely to be the most controversial and divisive thing on it. This is a five-minute sermon by megachurch pastor Judah Smith set to lovely piano and guitar accompaniment by Jack Antonoff.

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Song of the Day #5,381: ‘A&W’ – Lane Del Rey

Continuing my track-by-track appreciation of Lana Del Rey’s newest album, Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd…

Track 4: ‘A&W’

Four and a half songs into the album, people looking for a musical change of pace will find it in the bracing second part of this fascinating track.

First, Del Rey delivers a brilliant, brooding song driven by acoustic guitar, piano and her aching falsetto. Special praise must be paid to producer Jack Antonoff, who plays all the instruments here.

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Song of the Day #5,380: ‘Sweet’ – Lana Del Rey

Continuing my track-by-track appreciation of Lana Del Rey’s newest album, Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd…

Track 3: ‘Sweet’

Three tracks into this album, it seems clear we’re in for a predominantly strings-and-piano soundscape, which I could see turning off some casual fans while exciting diehards like me.

Some Lana Del Rey fans have spent the 11 years since Born to Die came out waiting for her to recreate the trip-hop smorgasbord of that album. A few tracks aside, I think it’s clear she has little interest in doing that.

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Song of the Day #5,379: ‘The Grants’ – Lana Del Rey

Buckle in for a track-by-track appreciation of Lana Del Rey’s newest album, Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd. The album contains 16 tracks, including “interludes” by Judah Smith and Jon Batiste (the former is Del Rey’s pastor, so that should be interesting), and I’ll write a post about each of them.

The one exception is the title track, which I’ve already included on the blog, but I’ll cover that one in today’s post.

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