Brooklyn Baby

"Brooklyn Baby" by Lana Del Rey is a satirical and affectionate critique of the hipster subculture, particularly as it was perceived in the early 2010s. The song is filled with lyrical clichés associated with this group: a boyfriend in a band, a love for Lou Reed, an affinity for Beat poetry, a rare jazz collection, and getting high on hydroponic weed. Del Rey uses these stereotypes to create a caricature of a young, self-consciously cool individual living in Brooklyn. However, the song is not merely a straightforward mockery. It's delivered with a sense of genuine fondness and even a degree of self-awareness, as Del Rey herself has often been associated with the very aesthetics she's parodying. The line "Yeah, my boyfriend's pretty cool, but he's not as cool as me" is a key moment of tongue-in-cheek humor and self-assertion that encapsulates the song's playful tone. The song also serves as a commentary on authenticity and the criticism Lana Del Rey faced early in her career. Lines like "They judge me like a picture book, by the colors, like they forgot to read" can be interpreted as a direct response to critics who dismissed her as a manufactured persona without delving into the substance of her music. Therefore, the song operates on multiple levels: as a cultural satire, a personal statement on artistic identity, and an exploration of youthful rebellion.

The song's narrative unfolds from the perspective of a young woman who feels misunderstood by an older generation. She embraces a persona that is deeply entrenched in a specific, romanticized subculture. She describes her life through a series of vignettes that paint a picture of a quintessential "cool girl." Her boyfriend is in a band, and together they indulge in the music of Lou Reed. She adorns herself with feathers in her hair and immerses herself in the world of Beat poetry, a literary movement known for its nonconformity and stream-of-consciousness style. The mention of her rare jazz collection and her ability to play various instruments further solidifies her identity as a cultured and artistic individual. She proudly identifies as a "Brooklyn Baby," a label that encapsulates this entire aesthetic.

The narrator also touches upon the way she is perceived by others. She feels that people, particularly those who are older, dismiss her as too young and naive to understand the world, especially the cultural and social freedoms of the 1970s. She feels judged superficially, like a book judged solely by its colorful cover without anyone bothering to read the content. This suggests a frustration with being stereotyped and not seen for her true self. There's a sense of defiance in her tone as she contrasts her own perceived coolness and self-awareness with the judgments of others. She describes her relationship as a dynamic of opposites, like fire and water, or the wind and the sea, highlighting a passionate and perhaps tumultuous connection.

A significant part of the narrative is the assertion of her own coolness and independence. She talks about her generation as a "newer nation" and dismisses those who don't understand her with a nonchalant "if you don't get it, then forget it." This line, delivered with a sense of weary confidence, underscores her refusal to explain or justify her identity to her critics. The song culminates in a playfully arrogant declaration: while her boyfriend is admittedly cool, she is even cooler. This final statement solidifies her self-assured and somewhat self-aware persona, leaving the listener with a clear image of this modern, bohemian character who is both a product of her time and a timeless archetype of youthful rebellion and artistic expression.

"Brooklyn Baby" was written by Lana Del Rey (credited as Elizabeth Grant) and her then-boyfriend, Barrie-James O'Neill. The song was produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys and was included on Del Rey's third studio album, Ultraviolence, released in 2014. A significant and poignant part of the song's creation story involves the legendary musician Lou Reed. Del Rey had written the song with Reed in mind for a collaboration. She flew to New York City with the intention of recording with him. Tragically, Lou Reed passed away on the very day she arrived. In an interview with The Guardian, Del Rey recounted, "I took the red eye, touched down at 7 a.m. and two minutes later he died." The reference to Lou Reed in the lyrics, "He plays guitar while I sing Lou Reed," became a tribute to the artist she had hoped to work with. The male backing vocal at the end of the song is performed by Seth Kauffman, who was a last-minute replacement for the intended collaboration with Reed. The song was recorded at Easy Eye Sound in Nashville, Tennessee. It was released as a single on June 8, 2014.

The rhyme scheme in "Brooklyn Baby" is relatively straightforward, often following an AABB or ABCB pattern in the verses, which gives the lyrics a simple, song-like quality. For example, in the first verse, "you" rhymes with "need" (as a near rhyme), and "seventies" is meant to be a near rhyme with "need". The chorus has a more consistent rhyme scheme. The song's rhythm is a key component of its overall mood. It is set in a slow tempo, with a laid-back and slightly hypnotic drum beat that drives the song forward at a leisurely pace. This slow rhythm, combined with the dreamy instrumentation, creates a sense of languor and nostalgia. The lyrical rhythm is often conversational, with Del Rey's phrasing flowing naturally over the music. There's a notable shift in the bridge where she sings, "Talkin' 'bout my generation," where the rhythm becomes more assertive and declarative, matching the defiant tone of the lyrics. The interplay between the relaxed musical rhythm and the sometimes pointed lyrical delivery is a key feature of the song's style.

"Brooklyn Baby" employs a range of stylistic techniques, both musically and lyrically, to create its distinctive atmosphere. Musically, the song is characterized by its dreamy and hazy production, a hallmark of the dream pop genre. The use of reverb-heavy electric guitars, a slow and steady drum beat, and a languid tempo contribute to a sense of nostalgia and melancholia. The melody is reminiscent of 1960s girl-group hits, which adds to the song's vintage feel. Lana Del Rey's vocal delivery is breathy and ethereal, floating over the instrumentation. Lyrically, the song's primary technique is satire, achieved through the accumulation of hipster clichés. Del Rey's use of a persona, the titular "Brooklyn Baby," allows her to comment on this subculture from both an insider's and an outsider's perspective. The lyrics also feature a direct and confrontational tone at times, such as in the line, "If you don't get it, then forget it, 'cause I don't have to fucking explain it," which serves as a defiant response to her critics. The song concludes with a spoken-word-like outro where the simple, repeated phrase "Yeah my boyfriend's pretty cool, but he's not as cool as me" provides a final, humorous twist.

Upon its release, "Brooklyn Baby" was met with widespread critical acclaim. Rolling Stone magazine praised it as a "dreamy song" and later included it in their list of the 50 Best Songs of 2014. The song is considered a standout track on the album Ultraviolence. While it didn't achieve massive mainstream chart success in the US, it did chart in several other countries, including Switzerland and Austria. The song's cultural impact lies in its sharp and timely satire of hipster culture, which was at its peak in the early 2010s. It has been praised for its witty lyrics and its nuanced take on a much-discussed subculture. The song has become a fan favorite within Lana Del Rey's discography and is often cited as an example of her lyrical prowess and her ability to blend social commentary with her signature cinematic style. The tragic story of the planned collaboration with Lou Reed also added to the song's mystique and cemented its place as a tribute to the iconic artist.

"Brooklyn Baby" is rich with symbolism and cultural references that create a vivid, albeit stereotypical, portrait of a certain milieu. The various elements mentioned in the lyrics are not just descriptive but are symbolic of a particular hipster identity:

• Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground: Referencing Lou Reed is a significant cultural signifier. Reed and his band, The Velvet Underground, are icons of a raw, artistic, and bohemian New York City scene that has been heavily romanticized. His inclusion in the song immediately aligns the narrator with this legacy of cool.
• Beat Poetry: The mention of "Beat poetry on amphetamines" evokes the Beat Generation of the 1950s, with writers like Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg, who championed non-conformity, spiritual seeking, and a spontaneous, stream-of-consciousness style of writing. This reference symbolizes a rejection of mainstream values and an embrace of a more chaotic and intellectually-driven artistic life.
• Feathers in her hair: This image can be seen as a nod to a bohemian, almost neo-hippie aesthetic, popular at the time of the song's release. It symbolizes a carefree and artistic nature.
• Rare jazz collection: This detail points to a curated taste and a sense of cultural superiority. It suggests that the narrator is not a passive consumer of pop culture but a connoisseur of more esoteric and historically significant art forms.

The most prominent recurring phrase in the song is the title itself, "I'm a Brooklyn Baby." This phrase acts as a refrain and a declaration of identity, encapsulating the entire persona the narrator has adopted. Its repetition reinforces the central theme of the song. Another recurring motif is the reference to music and art, such as Lou Reed, Beat poetry, and jazz. This motif is central to the character's identity as a cultured and artistic individual. The theme of being misunderstood by an older generation is also a recurring element, expressed in lines like "They say I'm too young to love you" and "They judge me like a picture book." The concept of being "cool" is a recurring idea, from her dismissive attitude towards those who don't "get it" to the final, self-assured declaration that she is cooler than her boyfriend. These recurring elements work together to build a cohesive and satirical portrait of the song's protagonist.