“Video Games” is one of the more unusual pop songs of the era. But it’s also one of the most defining tracks of our time as well. While everything else went electronic, Lana Del Rey went with string arrangements. They went ecstatic, she went melancholic. Her vocals brought us back to another era. Her lyrics brought us into a vulnerable, awkward picture of a one-sided relationship. It’s these tensions within “Video Games” that make me listen to it over and over again.
“Open up a beer and you say, ‘Get over here and play a video game’.”
Is this another case of the soundtrack outshining the movie? Tabbing Lana Del Rey to write and sing this song for “The Great Gatsby” just made total sense. Lana’s voice feels like it belongs in the roaring twenties. And she sang it like she could’ve been Daisy Buchanan herself. Except Lana escapes West Egg and shoves the narrative into a 21st century dystopian L.A. An unexpected interpretation of the film’s storyline. That’s the mark of a great soundtrack song.
“Dear Lord, when I get to heaven please let me bring my man. When he comes tell me that you'll let him in. Father, tell me if you can.”
