"Shades of Cool" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Lana Del Rey | ||||
from the album Ultraviolence | ||||
Released | May 26, 2014 | |||
Recorded | Easy Eye Sound (Nashville) | |||
Length | 5:42 | |||
Label | Interscope | |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | Dan Auerbach | |||
Lana Del Rey singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Shades of Cool" on YouTube |
"Shades of Cool" is a song by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey, taken from her third studio album, Ultraviolence (2014). It was written by Del Rey and Rick Nowels, and produced by Dan Auerbach. The song was released on May 26, 2014 by Interscope Records as the second single from Ultraviolence. Lyrically, the single talks about an "unfixable" man.
"Shades of Cool" received general acclaim from music critics, who praised its musical style. Commercially, the single peaked at number 79 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and entered the top 40 of a few record charts in Europe. A music video for "Shades of Cool" was directed by Jake Nava and was described as a film noir visual.
"Shades of Cool" was written by Del Rey and Rick Nowels, and produced by Dan Auerbach. [1] Composed in the key of D minor, the song runs at a moderate slow tempo of 46 beats per minute. [2] It was described as a waltz instrumented by "slow-burn" bassline, guitar, and string instruments; the track features a guitar solo delivered by Auerbach. [3] [4] [5] Del Rey's vocals span from A3 to B5. [2] Her "operatic" soprano vocals blending with "trademark wailing vibrato" create a ghostly atmosphere on "Shades of Cool". [3] [4] Chris Coplan from Consequence of Sound described the song as "a slow and slightly gloomy ballad." [6] Meanwhile, "Shades of Cool" was characterized as a "seeping, atmospheric" ballad that contrasts the more "pop-savvy swaggering 'West Coast'" by Billboard 's Colin Stutz. [7] On the single, Del Rey sings about an "unfixable" man: "But you are unfixable / I can’t break through your world / ‘Cause you live in shades of cool / Your heart is unbreakable."
"Shades of Cool" received positive reviews from music critics. Coplan of Consequence of Sound complimented the song for its "grace and sophistication". [6] Saran Shetty of Slate called "Shades of Cool" "a beautiful, brooding return to form [for Del Rey]", and opined that the single would "fit perfectly" in a James Bond theme track. [5] Likewise, Rolling Stone 's Calyn Ganz wrote that the track "would be perfect for a James Bond film directed by Quentin Tarantino." [4] Lathan Ryan from PopMatters positively compared Del Rey's vocals on "Shades of Cool" to those of Cocteau Twins vocalist Elizabeth Fraser, observing that "Del Rey has never sounded better". [8]
The single peaked at number 79 on the US Billboard Hot 100. [9] It managed to enter the top 40 of a few record charts: Belgian Wallonia (number 40), [10] France (number 37), [11] Hungary (number 19), [12] and Spain (number 31). [13] The single peaked at number three on the Greece Digital Songs, a chart operated by Billboard magazine. [14]
The music video for "Shades of Cool" was directed by Jake Nava and was released on June 17, 2014. [15] The video features tattoo artist Mark Mahoney, who also appeared in the music video for "West Coast", as Del Rey's love interest. [16] Filmed in Los Angeles, California, the clip is a "romantic" visual depicting the streets of Los Angeles at night, a 1970s-themed neighborhood, and a pool. [15] [17] In the video, Del Rey dances for her love interest in "flowing" dresses. [15] An alternative version of the visual for "Shades of Cool", which was also directed by Nava, was released in July 2014. This version, in which Del Rey is seen drowned in a pool, was described as "darker" than the original video. [18]
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Ultraviolence. [1]
Chart (2014) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [20] | 50 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) [10] | 40 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [21] | 52 |
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100) [22] | 79 |
Greece Digital Songs ( Billboard ) [14] | 3 |
France (SNEP) [11] | 37 |
Hungary (Single Top 40) [12] | 19 |
Italy (FIMI) [23] | 35 |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [13] | 31 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [24] | 43 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [9] | 79 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [25] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [26] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Country | Date | Format | Label |
---|---|---|---|
Belgium [27] | May 26, 2014 | Digital download | Universal Music Group |
France [28] | |||
Luxembourg [29] | |||
Portugal [30] | |||
Spain [31] | |||
Switzerland [32] | |||
United States [19] | Interscope Records |
Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, known professionally as Lana Del Rey, is an American singer-songwriter. Her music is noted for its cinematic quality and exploration of tragic romance, glamour, and melancholia, with frequent references to contemporary pop culture and 1950s–70s Americana. Her vintage Hollywood glamour aesthetic is presented not only in her music, but also in her music videos. She is the recipient of various accolades, including an MTV Video Music Award, three MTV Europe Music Awards, two Brit Awards, two Billboard Women in Music, and a Satellite Award, in addition to nominations for eleven Grammy Awards and a Golden Globe Award. Variety honored her at their Hitmakers Awards for being "one of the most influential singer-songwriters of the 21st century". Rolling Stone placed Del Rey on their list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time (2023), and Rolling Stone UK named her The Greatest American Songwriter of the 21st century (2023).
"Born to Die" is a song by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey, taken from her debut major-label and second studio album of the same name. The song was released as the singer's second single on December 30, 2011, through Interscope Records. Musically, "Born to Die" is a pop and trip hop ballad that speaks of a doomed relationship. Critics noted that it features apocalyptic lyrics and strings similar to John Barry compositions. It received a mixed to positive reception from contemporary critics, who praised the song's cinematic arrangement and haunting vocal performance by Del Rey. In 2019, Billboard included the song as one of the 100 songs that defined the 2010s, adding that it influenced "a sonic shift that completely changed the pop landscape". In the United Kingdom, "Born to Die" became Del Rey's second top 10 single, when it peaked at No. 9 for the week ending February 4, 2012.
Born to Die is the second studio album and major-label debut by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey. It was released on January 27, 2012, through Interscope Records and Polydor Records. A reissue of the album, subtitled The Paradise Edition, was released on November 9, 2012. The new material from the reissue was also made available on a separate EP titled Paradise.
American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey has nine studio albums, three extended plays, 38 singles, 18 promotional singles and one box set. She also has one leaked demo album, which was not released officially. According to Universal Music Group (UMG), Del Rey has sold over 41 million albums worldwide and has garnered over 58 billion streams worldwide. In the United States, Del Rey has sold over 48 million certified singles according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Billboard ranked her as the 37th Top Rock Artist of the 2010s. Del Rey has also sold 7.1 million singles units, and 4 million albums in United Kingdom.
"Blue Jeans" is a song by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey and the third single from her second studio album, Born to Die (2012). Interscope Records released the track to Italian radios on March 30, 2012. Del Rey wrote it with Dan Heath and producer Emile Haynie. The song combines sadcore, trip hop, and gothic pop over a balladic production.
"Summertime Sadness" is a song by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey from her second studio album, Born to Die (2012). The pop ballad was released on June 22, 2012, by Interscope Records as the fourth single of the album. In the spring of 2013, "Summertime Sadness" reached number one in Poland, Ukraine and Armenia. Charting across Europe, the single reached the top 10 in Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. Trap and house remixes of "Summertime Sadness" helped Del Rey break into the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart. That chart is where Del Rey's song became a modest hit and marked her first foray into the chart. On the accompanied Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart, the single gave Del Rey her first US number-one single in August 2013. In September 2021, the song was ranked number 456 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
"Dark Paradise" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey for her second studio album, Born to Die (2012). It was written by Lana Del Rey and Rick Nowels, while production was handled by Emile Haynie. Nowels and Devrim Karaoglu produced the radio mix of the song. The song was released on March 1, 2013, by Universal and Vertigo Records, as the sixth and final single from Born to Die.
"Cola" is a song by American singer and songwriter Lana Del Rey, taken from her third extended play, Paradise (2012), and the reissue of her second studio album, Born to Die: The Paradise Edition (2012). "Cola" first appeared in a teaser trailer posted to her official YouTube account as a snippet. The lyrics were considered controversial, causing major media outlets to respond.
Paradise is the third extended play (EP) by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey. It was released on November 9, 2012, in Australasia and November 11, 2012, worldwide by Polydor & Interscope. It was additionally packaged with the reissue of her major-label debut studio album, Born to Die (2012), titled Born to Die: The Paradise Edition. Grant enlisted collaborators including producers Rick Nowels, Justin Parker and Rick Rubin. The album's sound has been described as baroque pop and trip hop.
Ultraviolence is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey, released on June 13, 2014, by Polydor and Interscope Records. Originally dismissing the possibility of releasing another record after her major-label debut Born to Die (2012), Del Rey began planning its follow-up in 2013. Production continued into 2014, at which time she heavily collaborated with Dan Auerbach to revamp what she initially considered to be the completed record. The album saw additional contributions from producers such as Paul Epworth, Greg Kurstin, Daniel Heath, and Rick Nowels, and features a more guitar-based sound than Del Rey's previous releases.
"West Coast" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey for her third studio album, Ultraviolence (2014). Written by Del Rey and Rick Nowels, it is a melancholy love song about a woman torn between love and ambition, and as a dedication to the West Coast of the United States.
"Ultraviolence" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Lana Del Rey for her third studio album, of the same name (2014). It was co-written by Del Rey, and Daniel Heath, and produced by Dan Auerbach. The song was released on June 4, 2014, by Polydor and Interscope Records, as the third single from Ultraviolence. A music video, directed by Francesco Carrozzini, was released on July 30, 2014.
"Brooklyn Baby" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey for her third studio album Ultraviolence (2014). It was written by Del Rey, and Barrie O'Neill, while production was handled by Dan Auerbach. The song was released on June 8, 2014, by Polydor Records and Interscope Records. The song's lyrical content is notable for its satirical elements targeting the New York hipster subculture: its chorus highlights "a stable of cliches about hipsters, Brooklyn, millennials and other things Del Rey herself is known to idolize".
The Endless Summer Tour was the third headlining concert tour by American recording artist Lana Del Rey in support of her third studio album, Ultraviolence (2014). The tour began on May 7, 2015, in The Woodlands, Texas and concluded on June 16, 2015, in West Palm Beach, Florida finishing with a total of twenty shows over the span of two months. The first seven shows of the tour were supported by fellow alternative rock singer Courtney Love, while the majority of the remaining tour dates were supported by synthpop singer and producer, Grimes. Most of the tour dates were sold out instantly.
"Honeymoon" is a song by American singer and songwriter Lana Del Rey co-written by Rick Nowels. It was uploaded to her YouTube channel on July 14, 2015 and was released for purchase as the second promotional single on September 7, 2015 from her fourth studio album of the same name.
Honeymoon is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey. It was released on September 18, 2015, by Polydor Records and Interscope Records, and was produced by Del Rey alongside longtime collaborators Rick Nowels and Kieron Menzies. The album marked a departure from the more guitar-driven instrumentation of Del Rey's previous album Ultraviolence and a return to the baroque pop of Born to Die and Paradise. Lyrically, the album touches on themes of tortured romance, resentment, lust, escapism, and violence.
"Love" is a song by the American singer Lana Del Rey. It was released on February 18, 2017, by Polydor Records and Interscope Records, as the lead single from her fifth studio album, Lust for Life (2017). The song was written and produced by Del Rey, Benny Blanco, Emile Haynie and Rick Nowels, with additional production by Kieron Menzies. Its release was first teased with promotional posters hung in Los Angeles on February 17, after which the release date was pushed up due to leaked versions of the song surfacing online the same day. The song incorporates alternative pop, bubblegum pop, dream pop, and rock with a 50s style.
"Lust for Life" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey featuring Canadian singer the Weeknd. The song was written by the artists, Rick Nowels, and Max Martin and produced by Del Rey, Nowels, Dean Reid and Kieron Menzies. Martin handled the additional production. It was released on April 19, 2017, through Polydor Records and Interscope Records, as the second single from her fifth studio album of the same name (2017). A dream pop and bubblegum pop song, "Lust for Life" is reminiscent of 1960s music, especially from girl groups like the Shangri-Las and the Angels; the latter's 1963 song "My Boyfriend's Back" is referenced in the lyrics. It also quotes the poem "Invictus" by the English poet William Ernest Henley (1849–1903).
"Say Yes to Heaven" is a song by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey. It is an outtake from the sessions of her third studio album, Ultraviolence (2014). After the song was leaked online and went viral on TikTok, it was surprise-released as a single on May 19, 2023. The song was written by Del Rey and Rick Nowels, who also produced it. "Say Yes to Heaven" is an ambient and downbeat ballad about a narrator's attempt to escape with her lover.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)