Lana Del Rey confirms new album while sparking fierce debate about race and the music industry’s double standards for women
Lana Del Rey in 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Michael Tran/FilmMagic)
Lana Del Rey has confirmed her new album in an Instagram post that also hit back at claims her songs have “glamourised abuse”, which went on to spark a debate about feminism and the treatment of women in the music industry.
The singer confirmed the follow-up to her last iconic effort, Normal F**king Rockwell, will be released on September 5.
Lana Del Rey hasn’t officially named the new album, but said last August that she’d “already written parts” of an opus titled White Hot Forever.
She has also written another two books of poetry, published by Simon and Schuster, with proceeds going to Native American charities – which she called “personal reparations”.
News of the album has been like the sound of water falling in the desert for sad queers, who are still mourning Lana Del Rey cancelling her whole tour, pre-pandemic, back in February.
Lana Del Rey says she’s ‘not not a feminist’ while addressing criticism of her past albums.
Announcing the new album on Instagram, the singer began by addressing previous criticisms of her music.
“Now that Doja Cat, Ariana, Camila, Cardi B, Kehlani and Nicki Minaj and Beyoncé have had number ones with songs about being sexy, wearing no clothes, f**king, cheating, etc – can I please go back to singing about being embodied, feeling beautiful by being in love even if the relationship is not perfect, or dancing for money – or whatever i want – without being crucified or saying that I’m glamorising abuse???????” she wrote.
“I’m fed up with female writers and alt singers saying that I glamorise abuse when in reality I’m just a glamorous person singing about the realities of what we are all now seeing are very prevalent abusive relationships all over the world.
“With all of the topics women are finally allowed to explore I just want to say over the last ten years I think it’s pathetic that my minor lyrical exploration detailing my sometimes submissive or passive roles in my relationships has often made people say I’ve set women back hundreds of years.”
Lana Del Rey added: “Let this be clear, I’m not not a feminist – but there has to be a place in feminism for women who look and act like me – the kind of woman who says no but mean hear yet – the kind of women who are slated mercilessly for being their authentic, delicate selves, the kind of women who get their own stories and voices taken away from them by stronger women or by men who hate women.”
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Black women take issue with Lana’s post.
The post prompted much discussion on Twitter about feminism, double standards for women in the music industry and Lana’s comments about other female artists.
Predictably, many of the people wading into the conversation were men.
My two cents on the whole Lana Del Rey situation is that a lot of cis male stans are doing the talking about their thoughts on feminism, and women haven't had a word in edgeways. You don't have to speak.— David Chipakupaku 🏴🇿🇲 (@David_Chippa) May 21, 2020
But Black women have been making serious points about Lana’s post – specifically in how she appeared to be claiming to be the first woman to sing about abusive men.
Jessy Wilson, a singer who’s toured with Alicia Keys and written songs with John Legend, commented on Lana’s Instagram post: “I love your music, BUT.”
“Black women,” Jessy continued, “have been singing about sex, abuse, being submissive and aggressive in relationships, and being glamorous FOR DECADES.”
She went on to provide a list of receipts, and finally asked Lana to “stop the damsel in distress routine”.
WHY I GASP …. THIS CLOCK pic.twitter.com/BNUGklgnC6— ♋︎ (@raiyaaaa_) May 21, 2020
Her brand is literally quintessential white woman I have never understood it. Seems a tad antebellum to ME. Her reference to being "delicate" in that bonkers missive looool, truly a white woman manifesto— Bolu Babalola is technically on leave 🍯&🌶 (@BeeBabs) May 21, 2020
Lana Del Rey ‘against the critics, not fellow artists’.
Others read Lana’s post slightly differently.
“I understood her frustrations,” one person wrote on Twitter. “She’s against the critics not against fellow artists. But she’s stressing me.”
I read her post. I understood her frustrations. She’s against the critics not against fellow artists. But she’s stressing me. September 5th album release. Fingers crossed #LanaDelRey
— God’s baby (@_wallflower_98) May 21, 2020
https://twitter.com/eashapatelx/status/1263405759339077633?s=20
One thing that the internet could agree on: The only thing to do is to wait for the album. September 5.
https://twitter.com/blindingrep/status/1263374800057057282?s=20
