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"Blue Jeans" is a song written by Lana Del Rey, Emile Haynie, and Dan Heath and produced by Haynie in 2011. Taken from Del Rey's first major-label album Born to Die, the song served as the album's third single worldwide. It was officially released as a single on April 8, 2012.

Background and writing[]

The song was written by Del Rey, Haynie, and Heath in the same sessions as "Video Games" and was originally released with the song as a B-side on October 7, 2011, prior to being released individually as the third single from Born to Die. But before "Blue Jeans" was officially released as an B-side to "Video Games", Del Rey uploaded the original music video for the song onto her personal YouTube channel, on September 11, 2011. Lyrically, it tells a story similar to the narrative in "Dear Elliot", a song from Del Rey's unreleased acoustic first album Sirens.

A stripped version of the song is registered on the Harry Fox Agency.[2] A laptop demo is rumored to exist.

The background vocals, strings and the sample "Sure" stems were leaked on May 13, 2018.

Stems List
  • BlueJeans_Background1 — 3:43
  • BlueJeans_Strings1 — 3:42
  • BlueJeans_Sure — 3:17

Composition[]

Musically, "Blue Jeans" is an down-tempo pop-ballad song with an alternative hip-hop beat and highly orchestrated instrumentation. It is composed in the key of F Minor with Del Rey's vocals ranging from F3 to F5. According to Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian, the composition of the song is "powerfully atmospheric". The song focuses on use of the repeated chorus, which highlights a fragility in Del Rey's voice, and the polarizing hip-hop influenced beat which contrasts the lyrical and vocal content. The song contains heavy use of male background vocals, much like in "Born to Die", and includes coo-like background vocals from Del Rey herself. It samples a spoken line from a live performance of "Mary Jane" by Rick James, also heard in "National Anthem", "Lolita", "Dark Paradise" and "Without You". The instrumental is primarily composed of simple string instruments, guitar, and percussion. The combination of hip-hop and chamber pop featured in the song has become a continuous theme in Del Rey's music.

Commercial performance[]

Weekly charts[]

Chart (2011–12) Peak

position

Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[3] 6
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[4] 4
Brazil Hot 100 Airplay (Billboard)[5] 94
Brazil Hot Pop Songs (Billboard)[6] 60
Croatia (Airplay Radio Chart)[7] 51
Denmark (Tracklisten)[8] 35
France (SNEP)[9] 16
Greece Digital Singles (Billboard)[10] 8
Israel (Media Forest)[11] 10
Italy (FIMI)[12] 49
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[13] 39
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[14] 32
US Rock Digital Songs (Billboard)[15] 41

Certifications[]

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Canada (Music Canada)[16] Gold 40,000
Italy (FIMI)[17] Gold 15,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[18] Silver 200,000
United States (RIAA)[19] 2× Platinum 2,000,000

Critical reception[]

Slant magazine said that Del Rey "uses her impressive range to dazzling effect on, "Blue Jeans", comparing her delinquent lover to both cancer and her favorite sweater in what seems like one swooning breath".[20] NME said that "Blue Jeans' lush Chris Isaakshades shimmer like sea-spume on Helena Christensen’s naked thighs as Del Rey longs for her James Dean".[21] Sputnikmusic stated that it's reminiscent of the music in Quentin Tarantino's films and named it one of the best song on the album.[22] Beats Per Minute said that “Blue Jeans would probably be described by Del Rey as “gangsta spaghetti western,” but, aside from its most basic of forced rhymes (“‘Cause I’mma ride or die / Whether you fail or fly / Well shit at least you tried”), it is still a clever spin on genre, sounding unique, even inspired".[23] DOA magazine said that "The lyrics-centric story-telling “Blue Jeans” slows it down a bit with a deliberate, but swinging beat as Lana delves into a relationship where the guy is a “Big dreams / gangsta…” and the girl wants him to stop living that lifestyle. Midway into the song the pace speeds up and Lana crams in a lot of lyrics, keeping the rhymes tight and the emotions high, until it dissipates into a dreamy chorus with Lana proclaiming “I will love you till the end of time".[24] No Ripcord said that "Just like in the dark ballad 'Blue Jeans', Del Rey sounds more comfortable when she tries to perform as a tough songstress".[25] Music OMH said that "Video Games and Blue Jeans, despite suffering Adele style levels of ubiquity in recent months, still sound achingly beautiful, both of them sounding like the saddest love songs ever written".[26] Consequence of Sound said that “Blue Jeans and “Video Games” inextricably link Del Rey’s flaxen locks with starry-eyed classical instruments, providing the aural and visual irresistibility of a good montage".[27] In 2018, Rolling Stone listed “Blue Jeans” as the 35th greatest song of the century, adding “Del Rey exudes an alluring sense of longing on this slow-melt Cali-goth benediction”.[28]

Accolades[]

Year Awards ceremony Award Results Ref.
2012 UK Music Video Awards Best International Pop Video Nominated [29]
Best Cinematography Nominated
2013 International Dance Music Awards Best Alternative / Indie Rock Dance Track Nominated [30]

Live performances[]

Del Rey performed the song live for the first time publicly on November 4, 2011, in Manchester, United Kingdom, on the first date of her first official concert tour, the Born to Die Tour. It has since been included as part of the setlists for the Born to Die Tour (2011–2012), the Paradise Tour (2013–2014), the Endless Summer Tour (2015), the Festival Tour (2016), the LA to the Moon Tour (2018), the Norman Fucking Rockwell Tour (2019), as well as other miscellaneous live performances, making it one of her most frequently performed live songs.

During the performance of this song, as well as of "Venice Bitch", as part of the Norman Fucking Rockwell Tour, Del Rey would go up to the audience to take selfies, sign autographs and accept gifts, just like she did during the 2019 Festival Tour.

For her promotional television appearances, Del Rey performed the song alongside "Video Games" live on American late-night television show Saturday Night Live, on January 14, 2012, as her American television debut, although the performance was received with a large media reaction and backlash. Del Rey also performed the song live on French talk show Le Grand Journal on January 30, 2012, on Italian talk show Le invasioni barbariche on April 13, 2012, as well as on British television show The Voice UK on April 29, 2012.

Use in media[]

The song was used in an episode of the CW show, Ringer, "It's Easy to Cry When This Much Cash Is Involved". It is often highlighted as a proponent to the launch of Del Rey's career.

The instrumental version of the song is used in both a Nespresso commercial and a commercial for the University of Phoenix.

Music videos[]

Original music video(s)[]

Music video Information
LANA_DEL_REY-BLUE_JEANS Released September 9, 2011
Length 3:58
Director Lana Del Rey
Producer Unknown
Filmed July 22, 2011
Location Miami, Florida
Las Vegas, Nevada
San Francisco, California
Vevo views
Music video Information
Lana_Del_Rey_-_Blue_Jeans_1 Released
Length 3:55
Director Lana Del Rey
Producer Unknown
Filmed July 22, 2011
Location Miami, Florida
Las Vegas, Nevada
San Francisco, California
Vevo views

Background[]

The song was released as a double-A side with "Video Games", which had received a video treatment with Del Rey's previous style of combining webcam clips and older film bits. Stranger Records, who released the single, also asked Del Rey to film a video for Blue Jeans in a similar fashion.

Description[]

Del Rey shot this version of "Blue Jeans" on July 22, 2011, in concurrence with the various Born to Die promotional photoshoots and album photoshoot done with Nicole Nodland. The clips of Lana were shot in Miami, Florida. The clips used show places such as Las Vegas, Nevada and San Francisco, California. The video was posted September 9, 2011. The video contains various shots of Del Rey in multiple outfits, interlaced with her traditional film noir clips. The second version is similar to the first one but with extremely few changes, almost unnoticeable. Also, it is slightly shorter.

Scene #1[]

The video begins with a clip of Lawrence Ferlinghetti reading The Lord's Prayer from the film The Last Waltz. It primarily contains various shots of Del Rey in a white sweater, primarily in black & white. It also shows her in highly desaturated shots sitting in a truck. Very small clips taken from her older videos shot for Lana Del Ray are shown, as well as short clips of her behind-the-scenes of the photoshoots with both photographers Michael Hemy and Heinz Peter Knes. Clips of various locations and people such as Las Vegas strip, rapper Tupac Shakur, and skateboarders are interlaced in between the various shots of Del Rey.

Scene #2[]

Relatively late into the song, the video of Del Rey focuses on the part of her photoshoot with Nicole Nodland that would later be used as the album cover for Born to Die. The video ends with the song fading into The Sword of Truth, a song by Justin Bianco, and clips of Super-8 camera shots of San Francisco, California.

Behind the scenes[]

Official music video[]

Music video Information
Lana_Del_Rey_-_Blue_Jeans Released March 19, 2012
Length 4:21
Director Yoann Lemoine
Producer Oualid Mouaness
Filmed March 2, 2012
Location Los Angeles, California
Vevo views 265+ Million views
Music video Information
Blue_Jeans_2_(leaked_version) Released
Length 4:16
Director Yoann Lemoine
Producer
Filmed March 2, 2012
Location Los Angeles, California
Vevo views N/A

Background[]

Upon official release of "Blue Jeans" as a single, Interscope commissioned Yoann Lemoine, who had previously directed the video for "Born to Die" to shoot a new video for the song. A second version of the video that is slightly shorter and has less special effects surfaced online.

Description[]

The video completes the "K" trilogy, starting with "Video Games" and "Born to Die". The video was shot completely in black & white, and remains the only video of Del Rey's to be so. The video was shot in March 2012. It was leaked 3 days before it was officially released, slightly edited, on March 16, 2012. The official version premiered on March 19, 2012.

Scene #1 (Reflection)[]

The video begins with an orchestral opening of "Blue Jeans" featuring violins. Del Rey is shown blurred on a black water reflection, and she herself ripples as the camera slowly zooms in.

Scene #2 (Poolside)[]

The video cuts to black for a second before the actual song begins. Bradley Soileau is shown smoking by a pool, next to a 50's-style home and palm trees. Del Rey is shown on the ground, and wakes up with the beginning of her singing. She is then shown to be inside the home, looking out upon Soileau. The camera alternates between up-close shots of her and Soileau removing his clothing. During the chorus, the video cuts back to showing her laying poolside singing, while Soileau caresses her and puts his index and middle finger into her mouth. He begins to splash water from the pool onto himself and dives into the pool while Del Rey remains poolside.

Scene #3 (Entering)[]

With the beginning of the second verse, a slightly submerged shot shows Del Rey entering the pool. Short shots of Soileau and an albino crocodile are shown while she submerges with a hesitant look.

Scene #4 (Submerged)[]

Once underwater, the second chorus begins. Various shots, including Del Rey gracefully swimming underwater with the crocodile near her and close-up shots of her singing while water ripples over her are shown. Del Rey and Soileau swim to each other and embrace, before kissing.

Scene #5 (Crocodiles)[]

With the beginning of the bridge, the shot of Del Rey swimming underwater includes many more crocodiles. Soon, shots of Soileau and a crocodile rapidly switch, indicating that they are the same entity. Eventually, Del Rey embraces only the crocodile. Shots of Del Rey rippling against the black pool background, Soileau, Del Rey singing underwater, and Del Rey swimming with the crocodiles begin to rapidly change before Soileau pushes Del Rey underwater.

Scene #6 (Embrace)[]

After coming up for air, Soileau is shown holding Del Rey in an embrace while the two slowly twirl in the water. In the end, Soileau holds Del Rey by the throat while the two begin to sink. The video ends with the music slowed down and them completely submerged.

Behind the scenes[]

Photoshoot by Nicole Nodland (March 2, 2012)[]

  • Camera – EOS 5D Mark II
  • Camera manufacturer – Canon

Cross-references[]

Official versions[]

  • Album version — 3:29
    • Instrumental version — 3:41
  • Remastered version — 3:34
  • Unmastered version — 3:44
  • Radio edit — 3:32
  • Demo version — 2:14
  • Original video version — 3:58
  • Second video version with string introduction — 4:21
  • Paradise Tour version — 3:38

Lyrics[]

Album version[]

Blue jeans, white shirt
Walked into the room, you know you made my eyes burn
It was like James Dean, for sure
You're so fresh to death and sick as ca-cancer

You were sorta punk rock, I grew up on hip-hop
But you fit me better than my favorite sweater
And I know that love is mean, and love hurts
But I still remember that day we met in December, oh baby

I will love you till the end of time
I would wait a million years
Promise you'll remember that you're mine
Baby, can you see through the tears?

Love you more than those bitches before
Say you'll remember, oh baby, say you'll remember, oh baby, ooh
I will love you till the end of time

Big dreams, gangsta
Said you had to leave to start your life over
I was like, "No please, stay here
We don't need no money we can make it all work"

But he headed out on Sunday, said he'd come home Monday
I stayed up waiting, anticipating and pacing
But he was chasing paper
Caught up in the game, that was the last I heard

I will love you till the end of time
I would wait a million years
Promise you'll remember that you're mine
Baby, can you see through the tears?

Love you more than those bitches before
Say you'll remember, oh baby, say you'll remember, oh baby, ooh
I will love you till the end of time

You went out every night, and, baby, that's alright
I told you that no matter what you did I'd be by your side
'Cause I'ma ride or die, whether you fail or fly
Well shit, at least you tried

But when you walked out that door a piece of me died
I told you I wanted more, but that's not what I had in mind
I just want it like before, we were dancing all night
Then they took you away, stole you out of my life
You just need to remember

I will love you till the end of time
I would wait a million years
Promise you'll remember that you're mine
Baby, can you see through the tears?

Love you more than those bitches before
Say you'll remember, oh baby, say you'll remember, oh baby, ooh
I will love you till the end of time

Demo version[]

Blue jeans, white shirt
Walked into the room, you know you made my eyes hurt
It was like James Dean, for sure
So-so fresh to death and sick as ca-cancer

You were sorta punk rock, I grew up on hip-hop
But you fit me better than my favorite sweater
And I know that love's mean (Uh-oh), and love hurts, (Uh-oh!)
But I still remember that day we met in December, oh baby!

I will love you till the end of time
I would wait a million years
Promise you'll remember that you're mine
Baby, can you see through the tears?

Love you more, than them tricks before
Say you'll remember, (Oh baby), say you'll remember, (Oh baby, hoo)
I will love you till the end of time

Big dreams, gangsta
Said you had to leave to start your life over
I was like, "No please, stay here
We don't need no money, we can make it all work"

Headed out on Sunday, said he'd come home Monday
I stayed up waiting, anticipating and pacing
But he was chasing paper
Got caught up in the game, it was the last I heard

I will love you till the end of time
I would wait a million years
Promise you'll remember that you're mine
Baby, can you see through the tears?

Love you more than them tricks before
Say you'll remember, (Oh baby), say you'll remember, (Oh baby, hoo-o!)
I will love you till the end of time

Commercial release[]

"Blue Jeans" was originally released as the B-side on Del Rey's first single, "Video Games". Please look at its article for the releases it was included on.

Physical releases[]

United Kingdom (BLUEJ02) (Promotional)
BJ promo Label: Polydor
Format: CD in slimcase
Released: March, 2012
Barcode: None
Photography: N/A
Design: Unknown
United Kingdom (Promotional)
BJ single Label: Polydor
Format: Promotional
Released: April 8, 2012
Barcode: None
Photography: Nicole Nodland
Design: Unknown
United Kingdom (3700310)
BJ 12-2 Label: Polydor
Format: 7" picture disc vinyl in plastic sleeve
Released: April 9, 2012
Barcode: 602537003105
Photography: Nicole Nodland
Design: Unknown
France (371 080–6)
BJ itunes Label: Interscope, Polydor
Format: CD in cardsleeve
Released: July 23, 2012
Barcode: 602537108060
Photography: Nicole Nodland
Design: Unknown    

BJFR

France (371 080–7)
BJ 12 Label: Polydor
Format: 12" picture disc vinyl in plastic sleeve
Released: Unknown, 2012
Barcode: 602537108077
Photography: Nicole Nodland
Design: Unknown    

BJ12IN


Side A

Side B (33RPM)

Digital releases[]

Worldwide (Promotional)
BJ KM Label: RAC Records
Format: BeatPort digital single
Released: May 23, 2012
Barcode: N/A
Photography: N/A
Design: Unknown
Worldwide (Promotional)
BJ RAC Label: RAC Records
Format: BeatPort digital single
Released: May 29, 2012
Barcode: N/A
Photography: N/A
Design: Unknown
United Kingdom (Promotional)
BJ single Label: Polydor
Format: BeatPort digital single
Released: July 3, 2012
Barcode: N/A
Photography: Nicole Nodland
Design: Unknown
Worldwide (Promotional)
VG Omid Label: Alola Records
Format: BeatPort digital single
Released: December 24, 2012
Barcode: N/A
Photography: N/A
Design: Unknown

Official remixes[]

  • Alpines Remix — 4:04
  • Blood Orange Remix — 3:31
  • Club Clique 'Nothing Is Real' Remix — 4:11
  • D/R/U/G/S Remix — 4:29
  • Gesaffelstein Remix — 4:35
  • Kris Menace Remix — 6:41
  • Maribou State Remix — 5:20
  • MK Dark Blue Dub — 6:17
  • MK Darkest Mix — 6:17[31]
  • Moonlight Matters Remix — 6:22
  • Odd Future's the Internet Mix — 4:00
  • Omid 16B Remix — 6:32
  • Omid 16B Dub — 4:15
  • Omid 16B Club Mix — 7:56
  • Omid 16B Club Reprise — 4:13
  • Penguin Prison Remix — 5:37
  • RAC Mix — 3:38
  • Smims & Belle Remix (feat. Azealia Banks) — 3:01
  • Smims & Belle Extended Remix (feat. Azealia Banks) — 3:44

Promotional release[]

Blue Jeans CD by Interscope Records and Polydor in UK[]

Blue Jeans CD by Interscope Records and Polydor in France[]

Blue Jeans CD by Polydor in UK[]

Blue Jeans CD by Stranger Records and Universal Music in UK[]

Blue Jeans CD by Polydor and Interscope Records in UK & Europe[]

Blue Jeans CD by Interscope Records in US[]

Credits[]

Personnel
  • Lana Del Rey — vocals, songwriting
  • Emile Haynie — songwriting, production, guitar, drums
  • Dan Heath — songwriting, strings arrangement, strings conduction
  • Dan Grech Marguerat — mixing
  • Duncan Fuller — mixing assistance
  • John Davis — mastering
Technical
  • Published by EMI / Heavycrate / ASCAP / Yorkshire Moors
  • Mastered at Metropolis Matering, London, United Kingdom

References[]

  1. https://www.songwriteruniverse.com/john-ehmann-123.htm
  2. HFA Song code: B8605C
  3. http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=Blue+Jeans&cat=s
  4. http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=Blue+Jeans&cat=s
  5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Brasil
  6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Brasil
  7. http://hrt.hr/fileadmin/video/ARC100_26032012.xls
  8. http://www.danishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=Blue+Jeans&cat=s
  9. http://www.lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=Blue+Jeans&cat=s
  10. http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2012-12-22/greece
  11. http://www.mediaforest.biz/WeeklyCharts/HistoryWeeklyCharts.aspx?year=2012&week=16
  12. http://www.fimi.it/classifiche#{%22id%22:1024,%22s%22:%223%22}
  13. http://www.swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Lana+Del+Rey&titel=Blue+Jeans&cat=s
  14. http://www.officialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/1/2012-05-12/
  15. http://www.billboard.com/artist/306420/lana+del+rey/chart?f=902
  16. "Canadian single certifications – Lana Del Rey – Blue Jeans". Music Canada. https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=Blue+Jeans%20Lana+Del+Rey.
  17. "Italian single certifications – Lana Del Rey – Blue Jeans" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/certification-form.kl#/certificationform/2850.
  18. "British single certifications – Lana Del Rey – Blue Jeans". British Phonographic Industry. https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/13629-3320-1.
  19. "American single certifications – Lana Del Rey – Blue Jeans". Recording Industry Association of America. https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Lana+Del+Rey&ti=Blue+Jeans&format=Single&type=#search_section.
  20. http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/lana-del-rey-born-to-die/2720
  21. http://www.nme.com/reviews/lana-del-rey/12692
  22. http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/47721/Lana-Del-Rey-Born-to-Die/
  23. http://beatsperminute.com/reviews/album-review-lana-del-rey-born-to-die/
  24. http://www.adequacy.net/2012/02/lana-del-rey-born-to-die/
  25. http://www.noripcord.com/reviews/music/lana-del-rey/born-die
  26. http://www.musicomh.com/albums/lana-del-rey_0112.htm
  27. http://consequenceofsound.net/2012/01/album-review-lana-del-rey-born-to-die/
  28. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-songs-century-so-far-w521935/blue-jeans-lana-del-rey-w522003
  29. http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/19880389/uk-music-video-awards-2012-nominations-are-announced
  30. http://www.wintermusicconference.com/events/idmas/index.php?wmcyear=2013
  31. ISRC: GBUM71204095


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