Lana Del Rey - Say Yes To Heaven
Lana Del Rey treated fans with the release of her previously unreleased track, "Yes To Heaven," a longtime fan favorite. But can it be seen as more than just a gift?
Personally, I tend to dismiss unreleased material, preferring to trust the artist's original creative choices. If a song didn’t make the cut, I believe there’s usually a reason for that. Meanwhile, her most dedicated fans, who have combed through hundreds of Del Rey's unreleased tracks, may already be sighing in collective nostalgia.
This allowed me to approach "Yes To Heaven" without any preconceived bias, and, truthfully, I listened to it in full for the first time. Let’s pretend, for the sake of discussion, that we aren’t aware of the speed-up version that’s been circulating.
My initial thought was: "This could easily have been included on any album between Ultraviolence and Lust For Life, perhaps even Blue Banisters." A quick Google search confirmed that the song was originally intended for one of those earlier projects (though Blue Banisters is an exception).
My second thought: "It would make a good B-side on any of these records, but it’s hardly a standout track." So, why does it hold such a special place in the hearts of her fans?
I can only speculate that for many who have long cherished this track, "Yes To Heaven" serves as a nostalgic link to the Lana Del Rey of 2012-2016—an era that many loved but will never see return. It's no secret that her fanbase is split into two camps: those who believe her early work, with its cinematic, languid portrayal of a quintessential American archetype, represents her peak; and those who appreciate the more reflective, mature persona she's developed in recent years.
"Yes To Heaven" echoes the early version of Lana that some fans miss dearly. It feels like a nostalgic blueprint of her earlier sound—almost as if it was generated by AI to capture that essence. The song is smooth, slow-burning, and undeniably beautiful, but ultimately, it offers little more than a warm reminder of a past romance with an artist who has long since moved on.
7.0/10
