Revisiting Del Rey’s”Blue Banisters”

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Guest Contributor Chaewon Han shares revisits Lana Del Rey’s ‘Blue Banisters’ album that was released October of 2021.

Chaewon Han, Guest Contributor
February 17, 2022

Bringing back her style of alternative rock and blues, Lana Del Rey released her second album of 2021. 7 months since her last album, Chemtrails over the Country Club. Lana Del Rey released ‘Blue Banisters’ on Oct. 22.

A total of 15 tracks were released on the album, 14 not counting “Interlude-The Trio”, which was an instrumental.

Listening to her tracks in order tells a well organized story. The album starts at “Arcadia”, the beginning. The transitions into next tracks which continue the similar message.

“If You Lie Down With Me” and “Dealer” are both extremely dark. Both have unique lyrics that can be interpreted to resonate with anyone. It could first be interpreted as freeing or feeling trapped.

“Dealer” definitely has had the best response out of the entire album, as it has gone viral on TikTok. The song has two sets of vocals one monotoned throughout the songs, then at the chorus Lana pulls out her wild card and belts out the lyrics, “I don’t wanna live”. The goosebumps this part gives is truly amazing.

The album ends with Sweet Carolina which gives a much happier and sunnier feeling. The more upbeat sound and cheerful lyrics concludes a journey and thus closes this chapter of Lana’s story.

The meaning of the album can be derived from the title itself. Blue is a color often associated with sadness, and a banister, a sort of safety net that you hold on to so you don’t fall, which was definitely something that was noticeable throughout the album.

The other tracks enhance the feeling in between each major song. Inflating either sadness or relief in between each gut punch that came with the main tracks.

Compared to other albums, like “Born to Die” or “Ultraviolence”, this one definitely cannot compete. Unlike her other albums, Blue Banisters only stuck to two types of genres not giving us the diversity that usually comes with Lana Del Rey’s usual albums.

This album was said to be one of the most anticipated releases this year, according to The Rolling Stone, and it did not disappoint, but it will not blow anyone away either.