NFR Analysis- "Venice Bitch"

I really like your interpretation of 'Crimson and Clover'! I think the allusion to the song might add an extra layer of meaning. The love interest likes the unfamiliar, meeting new people, and importantly the (exciting) start of a relationship. But she likes diamonds, which as you point out, are forever. This suggests that she wants a committed relationship, while the love interest does not. So it might hint that this will not actually work out for them.

Sonja K.

That is so interesting! I've heard the Tiffany version of "I think We're Alone Now", but I didn't realize it was a cover as well! Also, I lhad not made "The Great War" connection, so thank you for pointing that out!

English Teacher KP

Geezer here. I remember Tommy James and the Shondells as having a kind of bubble gum sound, but with teenager lyrics ("Hanky-Panky," "I Think We're Alone Now". "Crimson and Clover" was also considered an early example of psychedelic music. I'm sure you realize Taylor Swift sings "crimson clover" in her "Midnights" song, "The Great War," where I assume it's meant to imply blood on the battlefield as well as the romantic element.

Jim Lent

I agree with you! I love the bits of nostalgia in the first part of the song, and I'm really enjoying the motif of the "American Dream" throughout the album. That being said, I really like your take on the second part of the song. It's certainly experimental, and I like what you say about it being almost dreamlike!

English Teacher KP

I think there are several parts that make a direct reference to the essentially American and consequently nostalgic atmosphere, and I think that's what she wants to bring in this song, an air of nostalgia on this past relationship. “I dream in jeans and leather” - first refers to this dream (the American dream and fantasy typical of the national culture - and it brings back the memory of the relation as a dream, as if she had embarked on a parallel reality by reliving that experience ), linked precisely with one of the greatest American symbols: jeans and leather. In "give me hallmark" may be referring directly to what you said about the romantic and perfect movies (also follows this idealized American ideal) but it is also a metaphor for the "American dream chase of fame" that puts people in a "hall", and she wants the relationship to be just as meaningful and remarkable. In “me myself i like diamonds”, she again takes another symbol of the classic American culture of the 50s, popularized by the great stars of Hollywood (again referring to California itself as that idyllic place where she can relive her perfect relationship). And she almost embodies California by calling herself the Venice bitch, personifying and uniting this famous place with herself. And even the instrumentation of the second half of the song, being so experimental, is almost dreamy, and that is united with the idea that she is embarking on this dream in order to relive these nostalgic and special moments with her ex lover.

Pedro Medeiros

So many allusions! I love it!

English Teacher KP

Enjoy ❤️😊❤️

English Teacher KP

Something that lyric video missed out on (I haven’t reached the end so you might have heard it) is her actually saying (l-l-l-l-l-losers, beautiful losers) which is an allusion to the novel :). Bang bang kiss kiss is also an allusion to the movie Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and I totally agree that the switching of the order has deeper meaning.

45 Minutes! Ooh we are getting fed! Can't wait to see the vid :)

I had SO MUCH FUN with this one!!!

English Teacher KP

WHEN I TELL YOU I JUMPED WHEN I SAW THE NOTIFICATION 😭 this is my all-time favorite Lana song, so so so excited to see what you have to say!!

Stephens

Note- After finishing the video, my curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to re-listen to the entire song "Crimson and Clover" to see what I was missing. It's not long at all. I listened to the Tommy James and the Shondells version. There's definitely a strong sense of the beauty of youth and romance in the song that I never really picked up on in the Joan Jett version (I think because the JJ version has a heavier rock sound). There's almost like this sweet nostalgia regarding the feeling of falling in love for the first time and dealing with those powerful, almost magical feelings, of infatuation and longing. I can definitely see how LDR plays with these same themes in "Venice Bitch"; moreover, it was cool to see how much of the song's phrasing LDR directly alludes to in "Venice Bitch". I think it's also important to note that the Tommy James' version has a very distinct 60s sound that goes along with the more experimental sound of "Venice Bitch".

English Teacher KP