Lana Del Rey – Norman F*cking Rockwell!
Hawaii just missed that fireball
L.A. is in flames‚ it's getting hot
Kanye West is blond and gone
Life on Mars" ain't just a song
By the time Norman Fucking Rockwell! was released, Lana Del Rey had already cemented herself as a musical icon with a devoted fanbase, a unique style, and a string of hits. But few could have predicted the extent of her artistic growth or that she was about to deliver not just a great album, but a monumental one. NFR is a work of two distinct yet intertwined parts: its profound lyricism and its impeccable musical composition. Together, they create one of the most celebrated records of our time.
First, let’s talk about the lyrics. By the time NFR came around, Lana had stopped worrying about creating songs destined for radio airplay or catering to the immediate tastes of her fans. She let her poetry take over, letting her words flow naturally, with the confidence that comes from being older, wiser, and more sure of herself. She chose to craft art—delving deep into her thoughts and emotions, unfiltered and unapologetic. At this point in her life, she’d left behind the dreamy, baroque world she used to live in, and instead, embraced something more real, more grounded. But here’s the thing: reality turned out to be even more cinematic and heart-wrenching than her old, glamorized fantasies.
Lana’s lyrical storytelling in NFR is some of the finest of our century. Whether she’s reflecting on immature masculinity in the title track “Norman Fucking Rockwell” or laying her soul bare in the aching “Cinnamon Girl,” her words carry an emotional weight that is hard to shake. Tracks like “The Greatest,” with its epic scope and melancholic beauty, feel like complete emotional landscapes, drawing you into her world, even if you’ve never experienced the glamorous yet gloomy American romance she so often evokes.
The second key element of NFR is its music, crafted by none other than Jack Antonoff. And oh boy, did he do something special here. Fresh off his triumph with Lorde’s Melodrama, Antonoff was the perfect collaborator to take Lana’s raw poetry and shape it into musical form. And what a partnership it proved to be. The production throughout NFR is nothing short of masterful, with Antonoff’s touch enhancing, rather than overshadowing, Lana’s artistry. The music is lush, textured, and perfectly in tune with the album’s lyrical depth.
Tracks like “Venice Bitch,” with its sprawling bridge, or the subtle piano ballads like “Happiness Is a Butterfly,” pull the listener into a sonic landscape that feels both ethereal and grounded. Antonoff’s production is restrained yet powerful, a delicate balance of atmospherics and emotion that complements Lana’s vocals beautifully. His work here stands as one of his best—if not the best—achievements in his career.
Ultimately, Norman Fucking Rockwell! is a multi-layered masterpiece, rich with meaning and depth. It offers not just a compelling narrative but also a crushing tragedy wrapped in hope. The American Dream, in all its glory and deception, is laid bare, and when Lana Del Rey tells you this truth, you have no choice but to believe her.
10.0/10
