| "West Coast" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Lana Del Rey | ||||
| from the album Ultraviolence | ||||
| Released | April 14, 2014 | |||
| Recorded | 2013 | |||
| Studio | Easy Eye Sound (Nashville, Tennessee) The Bridge (Glendale, California) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:16 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Dan Auerbach | |||
| Lana Del Rey singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "West Coast" on YouTube | ||||
"West Coast" is a song by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey from 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. A psychedelic rock and soft rock ballad, the song was noted to be an evolution and more guitar-orientated in sound for Del Rey and was produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys. Described as a two-in-one song, its shifting tempo transitions downward by nearly 60 beats per minute at the chorus in a rhythmical shift reminiscent of The Beatles' 1965 single "We Can Work It Out", introduced by the guitar lick that begins The Beatles' 1964 single "And I Love Her". In the song, Del Rey's vocals comprises a more sensual and demented tone than in her previous releases, and are often sung in an anxious "breathy" style.
Released as the lead single from Ultraviolence on April 14, 2014, "West Coast" received widespread acclaim from music critics who commended its unconventional composition and Del Rey's uncharacteristic vocal delivery. Several news media sources went on to list it as one of the best songs of 2014, including Consequence of Sound, NME and Spin. "West Coast" debuted at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Del Rey's highest debut and third highest-charting single in the United States, while also being her first single to enter Billboard's Rock Airplay chart where it reached No. 26. "West Coast" marked Del Rey's eighth Top 40 hit in the United Kingdom where it peaked at No. 21 on the UK Singles Chart.
The accompanying black-and-white music video, directed by Vincent Haycock, was released on May 7, 2014. Filmed at Marina del Rey and Venice, California, it uses a minimalist and melancholy approach to depict Del Rey torn between two love interests, one of which is portrayed by Hollywood tattoo artist Mark Mahoney. The music video was well received by critics and was nominated for a 2014 MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography. Del Rey promoted "West Coast" with live performances at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Austin City Limits Music Festival and Glastonbury Festival 2014. The song has also been covered by James Vincent McMorrow, Royal Blood, Missio,[1] Kungs[2] and Max Jury.[3]
- ^ "MISSIO-West Coast". Youtube. MISSIO. March 4, 2016. Archived from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
- ^ "Kungs – West Coast ft. Molly". Youtube. MrRevillz. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ "West Coast Cover". Youtube. Max Jury. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2016.