About a week ago, one of my sweet sweet 7th graders approached me on the ice skating trip to tell me that I gave her Lana Del Rey vibes. And let me tell you: I dress like a 1990s elementary school teacher so I don’t know where that came from.
But I did accept a list of her song recommendations. I greatly enjoyed the angst of late teenage years that swept over me as I listened to the songs. Here is her list in its exact order, along with my own personal reflections on each song.
“Black Beauty:” One line that stood out to me was “My wedding dress black leather too. You have no room for light, love is lost on you.” Hearing those words, I could be crammed into the back corner of the 5th floor of Calvin’s library while my friend told me about the black leather dress she was nervous (tinged with excitement) to impress her boyfriend with for Valentines Day.
“Brooklyn Baby:” The opening beat to this song sounds like it belongs on my favorite mix CD from my freshman year of college. Wow, I once had a boyfriend who was in a band. And let me tell you, I spent way too many hours of my life playing groupie on a beanbag chair during band rehearsals.
“Arcadia:” My favorite line was “Trace with your fingertips like a Toyota.” The first car I drove around was my parents 2002 Toyota minivan. Something about the illusory thread that flows between bodies and places was captured in this song.
“Cherry Blossom:” Angelina really came out of nowhere in that last chorus. Who is she? I like to imagine her as a younger sister that the speaker has become especially emotionally intertwined with.
“Let the Light In:” I’ve always wanted to be the kind of person who lives a second life of spontaneity in the dark of the night. This song has a sort of soft yellow porch light quality to it. It helps me to imagine that I could be one of those people who is ready for adventure at any time of the night.
“Chemtrails Over the Country Club:” I was really lulled into a false sense of security by the lines “this deep normality settles down over me” thinking this song was just your regular suburban wife discontent. But then the jarring transition into insanity in the video shocked me into a much deeper sense of the unwellness that can be spurred by purposeless monotony.
“Margaret:” I love the choral style of this song. It could be quite an isolating song about “when your love is in trouble” and you think you need to solve your partner’s mental health with the sheer power of your love (good God, please do not). But the chorus of voices gives it a much warmer tone of camaraderie. This doesn’t need to be a struggle of isolation.
“Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Boulevard?” Oh man, am I a sucker for abandoned places and mosaic tiles. But I also love the line “I can’t help but feel somewhat like my body marred my soul.” There’s a loneliness that comes with feeling a disconnect with one’s physical body. A disconnect that screams to be closed by the current of another person’s touch.
“Art Deco:” This was the perfect song to end on. Art Deco style makes me think of The Great Gatsby. And the first time I ever knew who Lana Del Rey was, when I was on North Manitou on a camping trip in high school. And the coolest girl on the trip wouldn’t stop singing “Young and Beautiful” from The Great Gatsby film. She couldn’t hold a tune, but I learned each and every word. It perfectly closes the circle.
Sincerely, your favorite long-denim dress Lana Del Ray teacher.
Susannah currently lives in New Jersey and works as a 7th grade ELA teacher in East Harlem. When she is not teaching or writing, she can be found exploring independent bookstores, going backpacking, and trying to roller-skate on all the cool trails in the city. She is also recently experienced in the art of citrus skunk repellent (I know you’re impressed).
