"The Grants" is a song written by Lana Del Rey and Mike Hermosa, and recorded by Del Rey for her ninth studio album, Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd (2023). Del Rey served as one of the song's producers, along with Drew Erickson and Zach Dawes. It was released through Interscope and Polydor Records on March 14, 2023 as the third single from the album. The song debuted on BBC Radio 1's Future Sounds with Clara Amfo as Radio 1's Hottest Record.[1]
| "The Grants" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Lana Del Rey | ||||
| from the album Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd | ||||
| Released | March 14, 2023 | |||
| Genre | Gospel | |||
| Length | 4:55 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Lana Del Rey singles chronology | ||||
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| Licensed audio | ||||
| "The Grants" on YouTube | ||||
Background and release
editOn December 7, 2022, American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey said her ninth studio album, Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, was due for release sometime in early 2023.[2] To accompany the announcement, she made the album available for preorder and released its title track, "Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd", as a single.[3]
Del Rey announced the album's cover art and list of songs the following month. Apart from the title track, which is the second on the list, a song named "A&W" appears as the fourth track and "The Grants" as the opener.[4] "A&W" was the next single from the album, released on February 14, 2023,[5] and "The Grants" was the first promotional single.[6][7][8] Del Rey released it on March 14.[9]
Music and lyrics
edit"The Grants" was written by Del Rey alongside Mike Hermosa.[10] The gospel song is built around soft piano chords alongside harmonizing background vocals.[11][12] Melodye Perry, Pattie Howard, and Shikena Jones provide the background vocals, all of whom appeared in 20 Feet from Stardom, a 2013 documentary that focused on the lives of background vocalists.[13] The song begins with their attempts to sing the chorus, with some instruction among one of them: "One more time, you ready?"[14][15]
In "The Grants", Del Rey reinforces the gospel-influenced composition through the lyrics. She uses religious imagery to address either a lover or a family member who might disappear from her life soon and says she will always remember her memories of them.[11][14]
Do you think about Heaven? Do you think about me?
My pastor told me, 'When you leave, all you take is your memories.'
And I'm gonna take mine of you with me.
Del Rey spoke to Billboard that much of her album revolves around her family affairs;[11] "The Grants" derives the name after the family of Del Rey, whose real name is Elizabeth Grant.[10] It references her uncle who died during a climb to the Rocky Mountains through the lyrics "Like 'Rocky Mountain High' / The way John Denver sings".[16] An ode to her other family members can be found in the bridge:[14]
My sister's first-born child, I'm gonna take that too with me.
My grandmother's last smile, I'm gonna take that too with me.
It's a beautiful life. Remember that too for me.
Charts
edit| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[17] | 35 |
| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[18] | 31 |
References
edit- ^ "BBC Radio 1 - Radio 1's Future Sounds, Lana del Rey Hottest Record".
- ^ Young, Alex (December 7, 2022). "Lana Del Rey Announces New Album Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd". Consequence. Archived from the original on February 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ Garcia, Thania (December 7, 2022). "Lana Del Rey Announces New Album with Surprise Single Drop". Variety. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
- ^ Curto, Justin (January 13, 2023). "Did You Know That There's a Lana Del Rey Album Coming This March?". Vulture. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ Strauss, Matthew (February 14, 2023). "Lana Del Rey Shares New Song 'A&W'". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
- ^ Duncan, Charlie (March 15, 2023). "Heartbreaking meaning behind Lana Del Rey's new song 'The Grants', explained". PinkNews. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- ^ "Read All The Lyrics To Lana Del Rey's New Album 'Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd'". Genius. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- ^ O'Neill, Claire. "Lana Del Rey's drops her enthralling ninth album". Hotpress. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- ^ Strauss, Matthew (March 14, 2023). "Listen to Lana Del Rey's New Song 'The Grants'". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ a b Richards, Will (March 14, 2023). "Listen to Lana Del Rey's Sweeping New Song 'The Grants'". NME. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ a b c Bell, Sadie (March 14, 2023). "Hear Lana Del Rey's Stunning, Surprise Single About Her Family, 'The Grants'". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ Small, Sam. "Lana Del Rey: Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd {Interscope} - Review". Under The Radar. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
- ^ "Lana Del Rey Shares New Track 'The Grants'". DIY. March 14, 2023. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ a b c Mier, Tomás (March 14, 2023). "Lana Del Rey Embraces the Sweet Memories on Surprise Single 'The Grants'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ Curto, Justin (March 14, 2023). "Lana Del Rey Takes It to Church on 'The Grants'". Vulture. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ Fu, Eddie (March 14, 2023). "Lana Del Rey Gets Sentimental About Family on New Song 'The Grants'". Consequence. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
- ^ "Lana Del Rey Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2023.