Love (Lana Del Rey song)

"Love" is a song by the American singer Lana Del Rey. It was released on February 18, 2017, by Polydor Records and Interscope Records, as the lead single from her fifth studio album, Lust for Life (2017). The song was written and produced by Del Rey, Benny Blanco, Emile Haynie and Rick Nowels, with additional production by Kieron Menzies. Its release was first teased with promotional posters hung in Los Angeles on February 17, after which the release date was pushed up due to leaked versions of the song surfacing online the same day.^[1] The song incorporates alternative pop,^[2] bubblegum pop,^[3] dream pop,^[4] and rock with a 50s style.^[5]

"Love"
Single by Lana Del Rey
from the album Lust for Life
B-side	"Lust for Life"
Released	February 18, 2017 (2017-02-18)
Genre	Alternative pop bubblegum pop dream pop rock
Length	4:32
Label	Polydor Interscope
Songwriter(s)	Lana Del Rey Benjamin Levin Emile Haynie Rick Nowels
Producer(s)	Lana Del Rey Emile Haynie Benny Blanco Rick Nowels Kieron Menzies
Lana Del Rey singles chronology
"Music to Watch Boys To" (2015) "Love" (2017) "Lust for Life" (2017)
Music video
"Love" on YouTube

Critical reception

Eve Barlow of Pitchfork wrote that "'Love' is an ode to allowing yourself to feel" and that it "reassures the listener that the feeling can still lift, that love can still conquer". Barlow also gave the song the Best New Track designation.^[6] Daniel Kreps of Rolling Stone called the song "anthemic"^[7] and Frank Guan of Vulture called "Love" "marvellously good".^[8]

Pitchfork listed "Love" as the 28th-best song of 2017 in their annual ranking.^[9]

Commercial performance

"Love" debuted at No. 44 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it her highest-charting song on the chart since Ultraviolence's lead single, "West Coast". It also debuted at No. 2 on Hot Rock Songs, exceeding the No. 3 peak of "Young and Beautiful" in 2013. "Love" also launched as her first No. 1 on Rock Digital Song Sales (46,000 downloads sold, according to Nielsen Music) and at No. 5 on Rock Streaming Songs (6.6 million domestic streams). The song also peaked at No. 9 on the Digital Songs chart.

Music video

The music video was in production in June 2016. Del Rey's hairstylist, Anna Cofone, also shared photos of her makeup kit on set on Instagram, which she later deleted.^[10]

On February 20, 2017, Del Rey announced the music video on an Instagram livestream. Shortly after the livestream it was made available on YouTube. The music video garnered over 19 million views within a week.^[11]

The music video begins in black and white, showing Del Rey singing on stage in front of a small audience, intercut with young adult couples getting ready for a day at the beach. As Del Rey sings the chorus, the video fades into color, and scenes of the couples floating through the Solar System in their cars and alone. Towards the end of the video, Del Rey is also seen performing with her band on the surface of the Moon, with the camera turning to the sky, where a symbolic black hole can be seen. It was directed by Rich Lee.

Daniel Kreps of Rolling Stone called the video "dreamy", while writing that the clip "alternates between black-and-white and washed-out color, Del Rey sings "Love" juxtaposed with footage of people "young and in love".^[12] Kelsey J. Waite of A.V Club wrote that "'Love' sends you tumbling through space", calling it a "stunning sci-fi video".^[13] Luke Morgan Britton of NME wrote that "The video sees Del Rey dramatically performing in Space",^[14] while Ben Kaye of Consequence of Sound called the clip "romantic".^[15]

Live performances

Del Rey first performed "Love" at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas on March 17, 2017.^[16]

Use in media

The song can be heard in the pilot episode of the television show Siesta Key.^[17] Los Angeles music producers DJDS and Empress Of also released a collaborative synth-pop cover of the song on December 1, 2017, via Loma Vista Recordings^[18]

Track listing

Digital download^[19]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Love"	4:39

10" vinyl – "Love" / "Lust for Life" LP^[20]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Love"	4:32
2.	"Lust for Life" (featuring the Weeknd)	4:24

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[21]

Management

• Published by Heavy Crate Publishing (ASCAP) / Universal Music Publishing Group
• Published by Sony/ATV Music Publishing
• Published by Please Don't Forget to Pay Me Music.
• All rights administered by EMI April Music Inc. and Universal Music Publishing Group

Personnel

• Lana Del Rey – vocals, production
• Benny Blanco – production, keyboard, drums, mixing
• Mike Bozzi – mastering
• Emile Haynie – production, mixing, synthesizer
• Kieron Menzies – production, engineering, mixing
• Rick Nowels – production, keyboard, bass guitar, drums, mellotron, vibraphone
• Dean Reid – engineering, electric guitar

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2017) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[22] 41 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[23] 43 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[24] 41 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[25] 9 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[26] 48 CIS (TopHit)[27] 261 Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[28] 17 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[29] 25 France (SNEP)[30] 84 Germany (GfK)[31] 68 Greece Digital Songs (Billboard)[32] 3 Hungary (Single Top 40)[33] 4 Iceland (RÚV)[34] 9 Ireland (IRMA)[35] 35 Italy (FIMI)[36] 53 New Zealand Heatseekers (RMNZ)[37] 3 Portugal (AFP)[38] 47 Scotland (OCC)[39] 16 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[40] 13 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[41] 86 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[42] 49 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[43] 27 UK Singles (OCC)[44] 41 US Billboard Hot 100[45] 44 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[46] 2 US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[47] 29

Year-end charts Chart (2017) Position US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[48] 20

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[49]	Platinum	70,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[50]	2× Platinum	120,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[51]	Gold	25,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[52]	Gold	25,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[53]	Silver	200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[54]	Platinum	1,000,000‡
Streaming
Sweden (GLF)[55]	Gold	4,000,000†
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. † Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Worldwide	February 18, 2017	Digital download	Polydor Interscope	[19]
United Kingdom	February 24, 2017	Contemporary hit radio		[56]
Italy			Universal	[57]
United States	March 28, 2017	Alternative radio	Interscope	[58]

References

1. Frankel, Jillian (February 17, 2017). "Lana Del Ray Cinematic "Love" Posters Around L.A. Stir New Album Speculation". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
   - Yoo, Noah (February 18, 2017). "Lana Del Rey Releases New Song "Love"". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
   - Maine, Samantha (February 18, 2017). "Lana Del Rey shares new song "Love"". NME. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
   - Gaca, Anna (29 March 2017). "Lana Del Rey Releases Trailer for New Album Lust for Life, Which Is "Coming Soon"". Spin.com. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
2. Young, Kevin (22 February 2017). "TODAY'S SONG: LANA DEL REY IS NOT ENOUGH, BUT YOUNG AND IN "LOVE"". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 18 June 2020. Lana Del Rey makes a resounding triumphed return to alternative-pop music with the surprise release of new ballad "Love"
3. He, Richard (March 31, 2021). "Every Lana Del Rey Song, Ranked: Critic's List". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2022. Like "Love," "Lust For Life" is a bubblegum pop song at heart.
4. White, Caitlin (April 11, 2017). "Lana Del Rey looks like a California flower child on the "Lust For Life" album cover". Digital Spy. Retrieved May 25, 2022. cosmic dream-pop of the lead single "Love"
5. Garvey, Meaghan (July 25, 2017). "Lana Del Rey: Lust for Life". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 25, 2022. "Love" — a warm, grainy, '50s-rock anthem
6. ""Love" by Lana Del Rey Review". Pitchfork. 2017-02-21. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
7. Kreps, Daniel (2017-02-18). "Hear Lana Del Rey's Anthemic New Single "Love"". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
8. "Review: Lana del Rey's 'Love'". Vulture. Archived from the original on 2017-02-25. Retrieved 2017-03-20.
9. "The 100 Best Songs of 2017". Pitchfork. December 11, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
10. "Lana Del Rey Is Reportedly Shooting A New Music Video". 28 June 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
11. "Lana Del Rey – Love". Retrieved 28 December 2021 – via YouTube.
12. Kreps, Daniel (2017-02-20). "Watch Lana Del Rey's Dreamy "Love" Video". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2017-03-30. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
13. Waite, Kelsey J. (2017-02-20). ""Love" sends you tumbling through space in Lana Del Rey's new music video · Newswire · The A.V. Club". Avclub.com. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
14. "Watch Lana Del Rey perform from space in "Love" video". NME. 2017-02-20. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
15. Geslani, Michelle (2017-02-20). "Lana Del Rey shares romantic video for "Love" — watch". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
16. Dandridge-Lemco, Ben (March 18, 2017). "Watch Lana Del Rey Perform "Love" For The First Time At SXSW". The Fader. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
17. "Music from Siesta Key S1E01". Tunefind. Retrieved 2017-08-08.
18. "DJDS & Empress Of – "Love" (Lana Del Rey Cover)". Spin.com. 1 December 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
19. Worldwide digital release of "Love":

    • "Love – Single by Lana Del Rey on Apple Music". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved February 24, 2017.
    • "Love – Single by Lana Del Rey on Apple Music". iTunes Store (UK). Retrieved February 24, 2017.
    • "Love – Single av Lana Del Rey på Apple Music" (in Swedish). iTunes Store (SE). Retrieved February 24, 2017.
    • "Love – Single by Lana Del Rey on Apple Music". iTunes Store (ZA). Retrieved February 24, 2017.
    • "Love – Single by Lana Del Rey on Apple Music". iTunes Store (AU). Retrieved February 24, 2017.
20. "Lana Del Rey - Love". Urban Outfitters. Archived from the original on October 7, 2017. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
21. ""Love" by Lana Del Rey on Tidal". Tidal. February 18, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
22. "Lana Del Rey – Love". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
23. "Lana Del Rey – Love" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
24. "Lana Del Rey – Love" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
25. "Lana Del Rey – Love" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
26. "Lana Del Rey Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
27. Lana Del Rey — Love. TopHit. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
28. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 26. týden 2017 in the date selector. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
29. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 08. týden 2017 in the date selector. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
30. "Lana Del Rey – Love" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
31. "Lana Del Rey – Love" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
32. "Greece Digital Songs – May 6, 2017". Billboard. Retrieved March 11, 2017.(subscription required)
33. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
34. "Lana Del Rey Chart History". RÚV. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
35. "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
36. "Lana Del Rey – Love". Top Digital Download. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
37. "NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. February 27, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
38. "Lana Del Rey – Love". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
39. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
40. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 08. týden 2017 in the date selector. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
41. "Lana Del Rey – Love" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
42. "Lana Del Rey – Love". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
43. "Lana Del Rey – Love". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
44. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
45. "Lana Del Rey Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
46. "Lana Del Rey Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
47. "Lana Del Rey Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
48. "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
49. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
50. "Brazilian single certifications – Lana Del Rey – Love" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
51. "Italian single certifications" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved October 16, 2018. Select "2018" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
52. "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 28, 2024. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Love in the search box.
53. "British single certifications". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
54. "American single certifications – Lana Del Rey – Love". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
55. "Sverigetopplistan – Lana Del Rey" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
56. "BBC – Radio 1 – Playlist". BBC Radio 1. February 24, 2017. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
57. "LANA DEL REY "Love" - (Radio Date: 24/2/2017)". radiodate.it. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
58. "Future Releases on Alternative Radio Stations, Independent Artist Song Releases". AllAccess Music Group. March 28, 2017. Archived from the original on March 6, 2017. Retrieved March 6, 2017.