Ram Jams: Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Fordham Lincoln Center
Lana Del Rey’s newest album “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd” feels like a diary recited over piano ballads and the occasional trap beat
April 18, 2023
Genre: Alternative
On a Playlist With: “Songs of Leonard Cohen,” “When The Pawn…,” “French Exit”
“Handmade beauty sealed up by two man-made walls,” Lana Del Rey, Fordham College at Rose Hill ’08, sings on the titular track and first single on her new album, “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd.” The singer’s ninth album was released on March 24.
Del Rey’s newest creation was inspired by the Jergins Tunnel in Long Beach, California. Once an opulent gateway to the beach, it was abandoned and sealed for 55 years. Del Rey worries that the public will discard her one day, like they did the tunnel. “Don’t forget me,” she echoes.
Del Rey, a former philosophy student, must have paid attention in her Rose Hill classes. Her lyrics are metaphorical, morphing into a stunning mosaic of all types of love: familial, friendly and romantic.
However, unlike the Jergins Tunnel, the public will never forget about Del Rey, especially after this release, which some critics have called her magnum opus. The album is an intimate collection of songs, focusing on her personal fears of being forgotten, her legacy and familial relationships.
Del Rey offers glimpses of hope in “Let the Light In,” the 12th song on the track, which features a verse and harmonies from indie rock artist Father John Misty. Misty and Del Rey have a long collaborative history: He brought Del Rey onto his heart-wrenching 2022 EP “Buddy’s Rendezvous” and has opened for her three times. In the song, Del Rey reflects on the good parts of a relationship in the midst of an argument.
“Tunnel” is like a big hug from Del Rey. “So if you don’t know, don’t give up / ’Cause you never know what the new day might bring,” she sings on the track “Margaret” featuring Bleachers, the solo project from Grammy-winning producer and co-producer of the album Jack Antonoff. The song was inspired by Antonoff’s fiancée, Margaret Qualley.
“Kintsugi” is another warm embrace, reminiscent of “Sweet Carolina” from Del Rey’s 2021 record “Blue Banisters.” It features some of the most dreamy lyrics on the album and refers to “kintsugi,” the Japanese art of mending broken pottery. Del Rey sweetens this philosophy with the refrain “That’s how the light gets in,” borrowed from Leonard Cohen, one of her greatest influences.
Rolling Stone called “Tunnel” her most “soul-searching album yet.” The poetic yet energetic trap production is something only she can achieve. Her most iconic trap moment in her career was in this album’s finale, “Taco Truck x VB.”
The song was divided into two parts, with the first part being a sensual love ballad. Then, the first-time listener gets a surprise. The “VB” stands for “Venice Bitch,” the title of the third track on her 2019 album “Norman Fucking Rockwell!” Del Rey’s final gift to her fans is the trap remix of that iconic song.
The second single, “A&W,” is a fan favorite for its alluring romanticism. Del Rey also divided this song into two parts. The first part is lyrical, and the second gracefully drops into a dark, trap production. “But I don’t care, baby, I already lost my mind,” she repeats in the song.
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Del Rey draws on gospel influences, too. The opening track and third single released, “The Grants,” features Melodye Perry and Pattie Howard, former backup singers for Whitney Houston, on the hymnlike intro. “I’m gonna take mine of you with me,” they sing. Del Rey promises to carry the memories of her loved ones with her, even into the afterlife. The lyrics are inspired by John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High,” and the song’s title alludes to Del Rey’s birth name, Elizabeth Grant. This song is about more than just romantic love — it’s about lineage and family.
Del Rey, a former philosophy student, must have paid attention in her Rose Hill classes. Her lyrics are metaphorical, morphing into a stunning mosaic of all types of love: familial, friendly and romantic. Fordham students who are fans of her keep her legacy alive here, in the tunnel under Lincoln Center.
The Bottom Line: “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd” is breathtakingly serene with deep, self-explorative lyrics. It’s a step above “Blue Banisters” and ties with the indulgent “Norman Fucking Rockwell!” for my favorite Del Rey record.
The Peaks: “The Grants,” “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd,” “Margaret (ft. Bleachers),” “Taco Truck x VB”
The Valleys: “Judah Smith Interlude,” “Jon Batiste Interlude,” “Candy Necklace”
The Verdict: 10/10
