Video Games (song)
| "Video Games" | ||||||||||
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| Single by Lana Del Rey | ||||||||||
| from the album Born to Die | ||||||||||
| B-side | "Blue Jeans" | |||||||||
| Released | October 7, 2011 | |||||||||
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| Genre | Baroque pop | |||||||||
| Length | 4:42 | |||||||||
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| Producer(s) | Robopop | |||||||||
| Lana Del Rey singles chronology | ||||||||||
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"Video Games" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Lana Del Rey for her second studio album, Born to Die (2012). The song was produced by Robopop while the lyrics were written by Del Rey and Justin Parker. It was first released to the Internet on June 29, 2011, was later released on her extended play, Lana Del Rey, and re-released as the lead single from her second studio album, Born to Die on October 10, 2011, through Interscope Records. "Video Games" is a baroque pop ballad that speaks of the protagonist who, despite being ignored by her significant other, resolves to love him regardless.
"Video Games" was acclaimed by critics, who praised the song's unique production and Del Rey's vocals. It became her breakthrough hit and was a commercial success, peaking at number one in Germany and Luxembourg, reaching a top ten position in Belgium, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom and peaked at 91 on US Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified gold. The song's accompanying music video was directed and edited by Del Rey herself, combining scenes of her performing the song filmed on a webcam with clips of archive footage. The song won an Ivor Novello Award for "Best Contemporary Song" in 2012 and was nominated for several other awards shortly after release.
"Video Games" is four minutes and 42 seconds long (4:42). The song was written and composed by Elizabeth Grant (Lana Del Rey) and Justin Parker in the key of F♯ minor. Set in time signature of common time with a tempo of 123 beats per minute, Del Rey's vocal range spans from E3 to A4. Lindsey Johnstone of The Scotsman described the song as an "ode to being ignored and the exquisite pain of clutching at an illusion of happiness". Alexis Petridis of The Guardian praised how Del Rey's vocal performance, against ballooning orchestration and pizzicato strings, overlapped the subdued theme of an aloof, beer-drinking boyfriend figure. Del Rey described her music and day-to-day style as "gangsta Nancy Sinatra", with contemporary critics noting the song as a doom-filled ballad that unapologetically displays vulnerability.
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