Lana Del Rey Releases Her Ninth Studio Album
Lana Del Rey’s new album, Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd continues her vulnerable yet inspirational themes on love and life. This album follows Blue Banisters and fans have erupted with both positive and negative feedback. Photo courtesy of Interscope Records.
On March 24, 2023, singer Lana Del Rey released her new album, Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd. The highly anticipated ninth studio album has caused an uproar in the media from teasing the singles to the actual release. The artist is known for her cinematic and melancholy themes which continue through Ocean Blvd.
Before the release, Del Rey released three singles: “Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd,” “The Grants,” and “A&W,” and just from these three songs, the fandom grew even more impatient for the entire album. But overall, the commentary on the release varied.
“I loved it, I think it was so pretty to listen to and her songs are really deep and relatable,” said junior Jasmine Camejo.
On the other hand, some fans have had the opposite reaction to the album release.
“Honestly, I didn’t think it was that good. Most of the songs are just too long, and they take five minutes to get to the parts that are enjoyable,” said sophomore Abigail Mcnamara.
In the past, Del Rey has created iconic interludes including “The Trio” on Blue Banisters. But the newest interludes on Ocean Blvd have caused controversy, specifically the “Judah Smith Interlude” since it includes openly homophobic pastor Smith preaching about lust and love. Many fans thought it seemed out of place; however, it was strategically put on the discography because like Smith, Del Rey’s newest creation is made for herself and not the audience, much like Smith’s preaching.
Aside from that, fans have openly adapted to Del Rey’s new sound and aesthetic.
“I like ‘Candy Necklace’ because it’s perfect and ‘Let The Light In’ because it’s so sweet and sorrowful,” said senior Tyler Wood.
The last track on her album, “Taco Truck x VB” features a mashup of a fan favorite from her 2019 album NFR. Including VB in Ocean Blvd has created a nostalgic feeling and brought fans back to the beloved NFR album.
“I loved it, anything that mentions that [song] I know it’s going to be good,” said Camejo.
The fan reviews on Ocean Blvd have been all over the place, but they continue to stay loyal to Del Rey as she makes her mark in the music industry.
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My name is Olivia Montgomery and I’m a senior at Steinbrenner. This is my third year on The Oracle and second year as Opinion Editor. At school I’m...
