What Is The Soundtrack Of Lana Del Rey

Over decades covers were used by artists to pay tribute to and sometimes even compete with other artists to showcase their perceptive musical ability. With her debut EP Born to Die having sold more than 7 million copies worldwide, followed by her Paradise EP reaching Billboards Top 10 and her song “Young and Beautiful,” for the Great Gatsby soundtrack going platinum, Lana Del Rey has proved that her title as an incredibly skilled singer and songwriter reigns true (Cooper). However, Mary Costa and Bill Shirley, both critically acclaimed singers and actors appeared in productions such as “The Great Waltz”, “I Dream of Jeannie”, and the legendary “Sleeping Beauty”—Ms. Costa winning the Disney Legends award for her contributions to the Disney corporation

Del Rey produced gives “Once Upon a Dream” a whimsical, yet additionally deeper opening due to its production being for the soundtrack of a movie. The use of cymbals and percussion at the beginning of the song formulates this type of haunting effect leaving the listener to anticipate what is to follow. The ease from the depth that the use of percussion creates into the majestic sound that reverberates from the blend of string and percussion instruments arranges the perfect introduction for Ms. Del Rey’s vocals. Throughout the entire piece the air of whimsicality is maintained by the use of string instruments such as violins to lighten up the piece. There are slight transitions in tempo that are created to act as the climax of the song where the strings crescendo. The piece concludes with a transition back to the slower tempo with the use of strings more prominent in the foreground of the

Del Rey’s eerie, yet angelic vocals give “Once Upon a Dream” a jazzy smokiness that Ms. Costa and Mr. Shirley’s version lacked. The impact that the presence of only a female voice has on this piece changes its perspective and makes it more intimate. Though she is singing the same lyrics that Mr. Shirley sang as Prince Philip to Aurora, as a listener one does not feel that craving for romance that was conveyed in the piece when sung by Ms. Costa and Mr. Shirley. Ms. Del Rey’s vintage voice pays enough homage to the original, but with the addition of her own unique flare, accompanied by angelic female vocals, the piece takes on an entirely new essence. The husk warmth of her voice is able to create a smoke cloud effect, lingering with a femme fatale’s yearning for a love she knew “once upon a dream”