In 2019, Lana Del Rey closed out the 2010s with her fifth — and best — album, a stunning collection of folk pop titled Norman Fucking Rockwell.
As the cheeky title implies, the record again finds her tweaking traditional American ideals and iconography. It’s a darkly romantic soundtrack to the end of the world, with Del Rey yearning for connection against the backdrop of a Los Angeles that’s literally on fire (I’m talking about the music, but the gorgeous album cover depicts exactly this as well).
This feels like the perfect pandemic album, even though it was released several months before any of us had heard of COVID-19. The melancholy mood is a reflection of three years of Trump and a worsening climate crisis, problems that seem almost quaint compared to the hellscape to come in 2020. Norman Fucking Rockwell was a welcome balm through the tough years that followed its release.
Sonically, the album is rooted in the Laurel Canyon sound, and references to Joni Mitchell, Eagles and Neil Young in the lyrics drive the point home. Del Rey teamed up with super-producer Jack Antonoff for this release and the result was her best-sounding album yet. Every song is gorgeous.
Norman Fucking Rockwell topped many year-end critics lists and made at least a dozen decade-best lists (including mine), impressive given that it came out just a few months before the cut-off. It’s a rare instant classic.
Do you want me or do you not?
I heard one thing, now I’m hearing another
Dropped a pin to my parking spot
The bar was hot, it’s 2 AM, it feels like summer
[Refrain 1]
Happiness is a butterfly
Try to catch it, like, every night
It escapes from my hands into moonlight
Every day is a lullaby
Hum it on the phone, like, every night
Sing it for my babies on the tour life, ah
[Pre-Chorus]
If he’s a serial killer, then what’s the worst
That can happen to a girl who’s already hurt?
I’m already hurt
If he’s as bad as they say, then I guess I’m cursed
Looking into his eyes, I think he’s already hurt
He’s already hurt
[Chorus]
I said, “Don’t be a jerk, don’t call me a taxi”
Sitting in your sweatshirt, crying in the backseat, ooh
I just wanna dance with you
Hollywood and Vine, Black Rabbit in the alley
I just wanna hold you tight down the avenue
I just wanna dance with you
I just wanna dance with you
[Post-Chorus]
Baby, I just wanna dance (Dance)
With you (Dance)
Baby, I just wanna dance (Dance)
With you
[Verse 2]
Left the canyon, drove to the club
I was one thing, now I’m being another
Laurel down to Sunset in the truck
I’ll pick you up if you’re in town on the corner, ah
[Refrain 2]
Happiness is a butterfly
We should catch it while dancing
I lose myself in the music, baby
Every day is a lullaby
Try to catch it like lightning
I sing it into my music, I’m crazy
[Pre-Chorus]
If he’s a serial killer, then what’s the worst
That can happen to a girl who’s already hurt?
I’m already hurt
If he’s as bad as they say, then I guess I’m cursed
Looking into his eyes, I think he’s already hurt
He’s already hurt
[Chorus]
I said, “Don’t be a jerk, don’t call me a taxi”
Sitting in your sweatshirt, crying in the backseat, ooh
I just wanna dance with you
Hollywood and Vine, Black Rabbit in the alley
I just wanna hold you tight down the avenue
I just wanna dance with you
I just wanna dance with you
[Post-Chorus]
Baby, I just wanna dance (Dance)
With you (Dance)
Baby, I just wanna dance (Dance)
With you
Meet Me In Montauk 
I heard at least some of this album when it was released and featured on your blog, but perhaps we will give it another spin on our next long drive.
Yay! This is when I started to fully appreciate Lana – I’m a big fan of this album.
I’ve tried to deep dive into the others and found that nothing quite compares to what she was able to capture here. But I do enjoy some standout singles from the rest of her collection!
This is the album I’ve heard the most about, and I’ve enjoyed the songs I’ve listened to. Looking forward to giving it a full listen. Started with Honeymoon as you suggested and liked it but didn’t find that I wanted to hear it again, which is sometimes the hallmark of music I come to love – that desire to deepen your understanding and familiarity with repeated listenings. Curious to see if Rockwell will be the one for me, too, as it was for Maddie.