Track Review: Lana Del Rey's "Young and Beautiful" from "The Great Gatsby"

                It’s been at least three weeks since my last post, and since I have some extra time today, I am hoping to get at least two posts up this weekend.

        

           In honor of Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby’s theater release today, here is a track review of Lana Del Rey’s hauntingly excellent “Young and Beautiful.” The track is one of a score (pun intended) of phenomenal songs put together for the remake’s soundtrack. The group of songs masterfully balances Top 40 pop (Fergie, Q-Tip & GoonRock’s “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)” is one example), with more vintage stylings (listen for “Love is the Drug” by Bryan Ferry & The Bryan Ferry Orchestra. ) This diversity will surely add to the film’s originality, and will play to a wide range of audiences.

                

          “Young and Beautiful” opens with melancholy piano and subtle percussion, quickly making way for Del Rey’s astounding alto, detailing “Hot summer nights, mid July/ When you and I were forever wild/ The crazy days, the city lights/ The way you’d play with me like a child.” The chorus picks up tempo, with pounding timpani and yearning strings complimenting the vocalist’s plea “Will you still love me when I’m no longer young and beautiful/Will you still love me when I got nothing but my aching soul.” While I cannot provide exact details as to the placement of the song in the film itself, the track certainly encompasses Gatsby’s themes of love, lust, loss, and extravagance. Take a listen below and drop a comment with your thoughts on the track.

~TJM