Analysis of Lana Del Rey's music video west coast.

1. WEST COAST (05/2014)
ULTRAVIOLENCE
LANA DEL REY
INDIE POP ROCK
MUSIC VIDEO ANALYSIS
By Aminatta Sylva 13H

2. What are they wearing?
The female protagonist (Lana) is wearing a black biker leather jacket with a white V-neck
t-shirt, blue denim jeans and a silver necklace. Minimal if no makeup is visible on
Lana’s face. This is the casual look, this appeals to young people that do not wear heavy
makeup. She may be trying to show her audience that she doesn’t really care about
what she looks like. It also suggests to us that she is young, and not mature in this shot.
Similarly, her lover is wearing similar clothes to her; leather jacket, white t-shirt and
black jeans. This connotes to us that they have a rebellious relationship, perhaps they
are on the verge of coming to age (coming of age films). The leather jacket represents a
tough/gangster side of Lana and her lover. Perhaps, he influenced her wear tough
looking clothing. This kind of clothing can sometimes come across as intimidating.
The female and male protagonists also have tattoos, this makes them physically alike.
Tattoos also make certain people look tougher, fiercer and more masculine, especially
for Lana.

3. What are they wearing?
In the next shot, Lana seems dressed up, with makeup on, and she may
be wearing a dress. Her love interest in this section seems to be an older
man, preferably in his fifties. Her love interest is wearing a suit and
sunglasses this suggests to us that he could be a playboy. Hence, Lana
looks more mature in this section that the other one. The biker scene is
young naïve Lana, the next is the sexually matured Lana. Lana is seen
smoking in this section, which further suggests to us that this is the
grown version of her. The cigarette has some connotations of phallic
imagery, and this makes her seem tougher and more masculine.

4. What are they doing in the videos?
In the first section of the music video, we see the two lovers playing around on the
beach- cuddling, play fighting on the beach. This shows us the playful and affectionate
side of their relationship. Foe found footage is also used to give us a more intimate view
into their relationship. During this section voyeurism is constantly being introduced to
the viewship, because the camera is focused on the protagonist, we are shown close ups
and mid shots of her, and we sometimes see shots of her that are in slow motion. This
makes the video full of emotion and personal.
In the next shot she is riding with her love interest in a 1960s’ convertible (seeing as the
majority of her videos make references to 1960s pop culture). In this shot she seems very
vulnerable, because of her facial expressions (which seem like mood swings), some she
looks happy, in some she looks distant to her lover. She is smoking in this video, this
signifies to us that she is mature in this section.

5. What is the song about?
The song is about living life out on the west
coast, reminds me of the sex, drugs and
rock’n’roll lifestyle.
The lyrics make references to alcohol,
leaving California, feeling the ‘baby blues’
and unpredictable references.

6. The Lyric Analysis
“Boy blue” is a common lyric from Lana, despite
most of the songs featuring the words, or variations
of it, are unreleased.
Down on the West Coast I get this feeling
Like it all could happen that's why I'm leaving
You for the moment, you for the moment, Boy
Blue, yeah, you
Instead of Lana innocently asking if this man has
rhythm, she’s questioning whether he is drunk. As
she has the saying ‘if you’re not playing, you’re not
drinking’.
Lana feels like she can do anything since she’s in
Hollywood. After all, it is the land of opportunity, so
always a chance of success.
"If you're not drinkin' then you're not playin'."
But you've got the music, you've got the music in
you, don't you?
Down on the West Coast I get this feeling
Like it all could happen
Telling her boyfriend that she misses him a lot would be
saying that she’s not having a great time and the fact
he’s not there is bringing her down — but that’s not true.
She’s having a great time with the music (which is why
she left anyway). She’s alive, she’s a-lush.
A-lush also can mean a heavy drinker, especially a
habitual one.
You say you miss me, and I say I miss you so
much
But something keeps me really quiet, I'm
alive I'm a lush
Your love, your love, your love

7. Lyric Analysis
Lana’s lover is swinging due to the music he has in him,
which is another reference to him being drunk.
Parliaments are a reference to the cigarette brand,
Parliament.
His hands are up in the air as if he were on a roller-coaster,
which reflects the up and down nature of their
relationship. These thrills are exactly why Lana is in love
with the West Coast lifestyle.
Their relationship might not have a future but as Lana
knows: on the West Coast anything is possible.
I can see my baby swingin'
His Parliament's on fire and his hands
are up
On the balcony and I'm singing
Ooh, baby, ooh, baby, I'm in love
He is insane and Cuban like me [en Español], love
I can see my sweet boy swayin'
He's crazy y Cubano como yo, my love

8. Cinematography
o Longshots of California beach, they have been filmed using a black and
white filter, this gives the audience a retro feel. This is what draws her
people to her music, they always have a retro touch added to it. We can hear
the diegetic sound of the waves, before the music begins.
o Other shots of places near the beach, that couples and friends would hang
out at.
o Whilst at the beach foe found footage is used to add a personal and vintage
touch to the music video. It gives the video a 90s vibe, as that was the era
that technology began to develop. This was suggested through the use of
the low quality home-video, that zooms in and out.

9. Cinematography
o The lighting throughout this video is between high and mid key lighting, because we can clearly
see everything in the first shot as there were no shadows. However, in the second shot there
were some shadows, this could signify the different sides of the relationship; the good and
happy vs the dark and troublesome side.
o Editing- lots of cross fades, graphic matches were used, this made the video have a sweet and
romantic touch to it. The layering of images; this made the video seem extremely retro,
through the use of the green screen. In this odd colour shot; Lana is wearing a red dress,
surrounded by flames from another shot layering upon her shot. Behind that shot is the black
and white shot of palm trees. This could symbolize, self destruction, as the flames are burning
over her layer and she is slowly dancing around.
o The reason why one could believe this is because the influences of her past (the lovers) may
have lead her onto this track. She is also wearing a red dress, red connotes sex and seduction, it
burning, signifies rejection.
o Most of the shots have been edited to be at a slower pace, to make it more pleasurable and
intimate for the audience to watch. This way of editing also goes with the flow of the interlude
of the songs.