Lana Del Rey’s Bluebird: Explore Your Romantic Side with a Break-Up Song

Lana Del Rey has covered a lot of ground in her expansive career. From niche arthouse musician, to pop hit maker, to feminist activist, to Taylor Swift’s best bud and now coming full circle. After the huge critical and commercial hit Norman Fucking Rockwell! she had a couple misses before hitting it back with Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd and the very successful collab with Taylor Swift, Snow on the Beach. Now she has released her latest single Bluebird amidst rumours of a new record on the horizon. If there is a new record coming, this single has me excited to give it a listen.

Singer songwriter guitar and keyboard usher in some late 60s folk / etherial Kate Bush-esque vocals. This is swiftly accompanied by lush strings and warm bass. This is different from her previous work. The edges are rounded off by strings, harmonica and bass lines that boarder on 70s country. This is a very romantic arrangement, as opposed to her usual sharpness and angularity. There is a folky warmth to this track that sits well within that late 60s early 70s country vibe.

I know I have mentioned the late 60s and early 70s country a lot, but the strings and romantic nature of the music reminds me of Glen Fry era tracks. Having said that, this romantic track has a dark side. The track starts with how she wants to hold him in her hands like a bird until you can fly away. There seems to be a push pull conflict in this track where she wants him to fly away, so she can run, but the track itself is so romantic. When looking at this through Lana’s past feminist lens, you can see how she needs to be on her own to find her agency and independence…which she can’t find in her current relationship. Only after the bird can fly away can she become the horse that can run on its own. This is a complex track that can work on a variety of levels.

Above all else, this is Lana’s vocal at its arthouse, romantic and gorgeous best. I adore her vocal on this track and it really sells it to me. You can just drift along with it and forget all your troubles. For me, Lana is back to hitting on all cylinders and I hope this means that those rumours about a new album are true.

Listen to Bluebird