Top 10 Lana Del Rey tracks you need to hear

Few artists have created a musical identity as unique and recognizable as Lana Del Rey. She appeared in the early 2010s under her now-famous stage name. Elizabeth Grant didn't just enter the spotlight; she built an entire cinematic world to live in. Her music is based on nostalgia but mixed with a clear modern sadness, blurring the line between glamour and sorrow.

Instead of following mainstream trends, Lana Del Rey has always listened to her own inspiration. She has built a collection that feels like a slow-burning story of heartbreak, faded Americana, and disappointment with fame. Her breakthrough song, Video Games, wasn't just a track; it changed culture. It introduced listeners to a new type of pop star: one who whispered instead of yelled and who made despair sound romantic instead of hiding it.

Through albums like Born to Die, Ultraviolence, and Norman F**king Rockwell!, she has grown while staying true to a world of rich orchestration, moody storytelling, and vulnerable torch songs. Lana Del Rey's effect goes beyond her music; she has redefined how pop sadness sounds in the 21st century. Her impact continues to spread through the work of many new artists who see her not just as a singer but as a model to follow.

What makes Del Rey stand out goes beyond her sound palette or lyrical themes; it's how she's turned being vulnerable into a way to push back. In a time when culture often wants catchy slogans about confidence and empowerment, Lana Del Rey doesn't shy away from being fragile, yearning, or head-over-heels in love.

She embraces the mixed-up parts of being a woman, often showing characters who know themselves but also give in, who look great but are broken inside, who have it together and still fall apart. Some critics didn't understand her at first.

But as time went on, her work showed itself to be a deep look at who we are, what we want, and what it costs to be beautiful when everyone's obsessed with fame. With each new album, she peels back more layers, asking listeners to step into a world where being sad is special, beauty doesn't last, and telling stories through all the pain and disappointment is the most important thing.

By doing this, Lana Del Rey hasn't just kept up with how fast pop music changes; she's become her own genre of music.

Disclaimer: This article contains the writer's opinion. Reader discretion is advised!

Here are the top 10 Lana Del Rey songs of all time

Picking just ten key tracks from Lana Del Rey's vast catalog is tough. Her songs have depth, a rare cinematic quality, and often pack an emotional punch; each one tells part of a bigger love story, looking back and searching for meaning. From sad, slow songs to longer, trippy ones that build, Lana Del Rey creates whole worlds in her music.

Lana Del Rey might sing about doomed love with lots of strings or float through dreamy American scenes with a psychedelic twist, but she always nails the feeling and mood. This list doesn't just show her biggest hits. It also includes lesser-known gems that show off all she can do, songs that have shaped her sound, changed pop music today, and made her the voice of her time.

1) Summertime Sadness

When Lana Del Rey put out Summertime Sadness in 2012 as part of her first studio album, Born to Die, she didn't just make another pop ballad; she bottled a brief emotional intensity into a spooky, movie-like experience. The song doesn't just look back on a past love; it pulls listeners into the foggy aftermath of a romance that burned too bright to stick around.

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The production mixes moody electronic beats with big orchestral swells, creating a dreamlike vibe that matches the emotional mix-ups at its heart: joy tangled with sorrow, closeness haunted by the end. Lana Del Rey's voice, bold yet delicate, drips with a sadness that feels glamorous, turning personal hurt into something legendary. Words like "I just wanted you to know that baby, you're the best" sound more like desperate admissions whispered as summer light fades.

Even though Cedric Gervais's remix did well, the original version packs the emotional punch, a slow, painful dive into the loneliness that can come after even the most passionate times. Summertime Sadness isn't just about summer heartbreak; it grabs the feeling of wanting something that was never meant to last, and Lana Del Rey's skill lies in making that pain feel both universal and unforgettable.

2) Young and Beautiful (2013)

Lana Del Rey's Young and Beautiful, which was made for the movie The Great Gatsby, is more than a regular soundtrack tune because it takes all of them right out of this painfully haunting sort of window; it sticks with you. The questions ain't just who's got it on that's messing everything up; it is supposed to be if the glitz all disappears.

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Her voice, almost like it's a ghost floating around quietly, is put over music that sounds pretty old-fashioned and big, and this sound could be something you'd hear echoing down lonely halls in Gatsby's big old house when the party's finished and no one is left. The song is not just about getting older or being good-looking; it’s about that odd, silent feeling that maybe love depends on the shiny parts more than the real parts.

Lana Del Rey doesn't sound like she's begging for someone to sing as if she already knows what's coming; she just sounds kind of tired but is asking anyway. This way, there's not just death in the song, but that sort of slow sadness in everybody, which Fitzgerald wrote about. Young and Beautiful keeps getting played because it says you lose your pretty shine, probably nobody is going to look at you at all.

3) West Coast

When Lana Del Rey dropped West Coast back in 2014 as the first sign of her Ultraviolence phase, people were surprised because she left behind that big movie-like style pop that everyone knew. The change became noticeable fast, and her fans didn't really expect her to go down that road.

The track doesn't stick out as the mood as well as the speed shifts around; smoky guitar sounds are coming in while the tempo goes up and down, a bit like how waves go by. You'll feel it, but there isn't any one feeling. It was an odd song for Lana Del Rey; there was a certain feeling, and the song didn’t let go of you so quickly. It got listeners interested, but it also sounded a bit off balance.

The back-and-forth rhythm in the song shows the shifting feeling at its heart, just kind of flashing between loving someone and feeling nothing for long. Her voice was soaked with want but mixed with not really caring, and it slides over the music kind of like that feeling you can't stay in one place, always feels distant.

The track weaves in sounds that are more experimental than regular pop rules say, while she made a place in music at the same time.

4) Video Games

When Video Games emerged in 2011, it didn't just introduce Lana Del Rey; it defined her. With its hushed production, lush orchestration, and aching vulnerability, the song didn't sound like anything dominating the airwaves at the time. A faded Hollywood story is felt in the music, the sadness in it floats around like it belongs to another time, all dressed up but never happy, the romantic parts just mixing with old movies almost.

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Instead of trying to copy what other singers were doing, Lana Del Rey brought her unique style; the song both echoes an older world and somehow doesn't feel like it belongs just to the past. The song is on her debut album, Born to Die.

In this song, Lana Del Rey sings about loving someone too much even when feeling almost invisible; she tries her best for someone only interested in things like video games. The heartbreak is noticeable, and instead of leaving, she's right by his side as he enjoys his games, and she wonders how much he loves her.

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Simple lines where she describes sitting on backyard swings and wearing his favorite dress, they aren't just information; they put the listener straight into her world, a movie being shown but falling apart slowly.

The song didn't only become a part of her life; the way she would cry and the way she whispers her pain created the 'sad glamour' image for Lana Del Rey, and that same style would keep showing up in her music after. The song made something clear: Lana Del Rey wasn't going to sing about happy endings in love; she would rather sing about the beautiful things that fall apart.

5) Love (2017)

When Lana Del Rey released Love in 2017 as the lead single from Lust for Life, something shifted. You can't help but notice it wasn't her usual tragedy and sadness she often gives us but more like a pure feeling instead, and fans picked up on it straight away. Lana Del Rey doesn't mourn missing innocence here.

Innocence was being held onto, like she wants to preserve a moment, like she's trapping a moment inside, so it won't fade.

The song kind of floats with its sound, you get those light synths with drums that sound far away and some guitar that's almost lost in the mix. Its power is in holding back; not everything sounds so slow. She sings like it's wrapped up in something, so it doesn't really feel like you’re going to drift away, and this is something that really matters in the song.

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Lana Del Rey sings, "You're part of the past, but now you're the future," and somehow she is not just singing to someone close but to everybody who is feeling lost or trying to do what they're supposed to do, feeling the weight of just existing. The track isn't about being flashy but still about being strong somehow. It's a kind of lullaby for anyone who feels tired from everything, and it's also like a quiet song of hope if you listen.

By being more open than usual, she's showing us that being soft or open can still feel as big as anything dramatic, and we think that's something people tend to forget. This song brings a bit of light in, and it stands out in that way.

6) Ride (2012)

Lana Del Rey released Ride in 2012 as part of Born to Die: The Paradise Edition. This track feels like more than a song, it comes across as a piece of personal storytelling blending confession, defiance, and heartbreak. Instead of sticking to the usual flow of a ballad, Ride unfolds more like a sweeping reflection on identity and freedom.

Backed by grand cinematic sounds, it feels like it belongs in a forgotten tale of Americana. Lana Del Rey's voice moves between sounding fragile and strong, as though she carries the spirit of someone always journeying, not just across places but through her own inner worlds.

Lana Del Rey doesn't search for approval or an endpoint; she craves raw, untamed experiences. When she says, "I just ride," it’s not about escaping but about refusing to stay still in a world that craves labels.

The accompanying short film takes the track to new heights, turning it into a larger story. With its mix of narration, rugged biker scenes, and moments of solitude on the open road, the visuals paint a poetic yet surreal picture of womanhood that defies convention. Ride doesn't ask you to analyze it, it urges you to feel it.

This is Lana Del Rey at her most legendary, weaving a vision of freedom soaked in sadness and splashed with imagery of stars and gasoline. For listeners who have ever felt disconnected or restless, Ride serves as more than music; it feels like a cinematic place to retreat.

7) Doin' Time (2019)

Lana Del Rey released her version of Doin' Time in 2019, putting her unique touch on Sublime's '90s classic. She didn’t just cover the track but reimagined it. While Sublime's original captured a rebellious, sun-soaked vibe, Lana Del Rey replaced that energy with a soft, bittersweet charm. The song featured on Norman F**king Rockwell! feels more like a dreamy overhaul than a standard cover.

It strips away the raw reggae-rock feel and layers it with a vintage cinematic glow. Instead of the edgy grit, Lana Del Rey adds her signature sorrowful elegance, drawing out every lyric with a slow, almost lazy allure that feels like both an invitation and a goodbye.

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This version builds a moody, hazy atmosphere, blending mellow beats with her haunting vocals. She transforms the cheeky boldness of Sublime into something more introspective. It feels like music for quiet drives under the stars or moments spent lost in thought.

Lana Del Rey avoids copying the dynamic energy of the original. Instead, she digs into the emotional depth, highlighting an undertone of loss and impermanence in the lyrics. The reworked song becomes less about carefree summers and more about their unavoidable end.

8) Blue Jeans (2012)

Blue Jeans, from Lana Del Rey's 2012 album Born to Die, paints a picture of a romance lost in time. The song doesn't just tell a story of heartbreak. It pulls listeners into a world where love seems like a myth, risky, all-consuming, and bound to fade. The music strips down to echoing beats and simple guitar lines, letting Lana Del Rey's voice take center stage, soft yet strong. She doesn't beg or fight; she looks back.

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Her words bring to life a lover wrapped in the mystery of worn denim and rebellion, hinting at James Dean singing, "Walked into the room you know you made my eyes burn/It was like, James Dean, for sure." The song feels more like a memory than a story, floating in a mix of longing and old-school glamour. The video, shot in black and white, matches this feeling, bringing to mind a time when love stories played out like sad movies.

In Blue Jeans, Lana Del Rey doesn't just sing about love; she keeps it alive, like a piece of the past from a love that blazed bright before it vanished.

9) Born to Die (2012)

With Born to Die, Lana Del Rey showed the world more than a song. She revealed the movie-like narrative style that would shape her art. The 2012 track opens her breakthrough album of the same name. It feels like the start of a sad fairy tale, romantic, spooky, and big. The song builds with an orchestra and hints of trip-hop. This rich sound backs Lana Del Rey's deep voice. She sings about love as both a safe place and a way to hurt yourself.

The song doesn't fight against loss. Instead, it finds beauty in giving up to fate. The music video cements this mood. It shows Lana Del Rey with American symbols and a tattooed lover. This song didn't just start her career. It built the world Lana Del Rey would rule, a place where heartbreak looks good and being open becomes strength.

10) Mariners Apartment Complex (2018)

Out in 2018 as the first single from Norman F**king Rockwell!, Mariners Apartment Complex showed a clear change in Lana Del Rey's artistic style. Instead of showing herself as the delicate character we often saw in her early songs, she takes on a more caring, down-to-earth role. The song feels like a soft reassurance, with gentle piano and subtle guitar bringing to mind Americana without trying to be grand.

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Her words don't talk about needing rescue but about giving support. "You lose your way, just take my hand" sounds like a quiet promise. We can hear a new clarity and emotional growth here, hinting that Lana Del Rey has looked inside herself, not to run away, but to learn. Set in a real place in Los Angeles, the song trades movie-like drama for something more open and honest, pointing to a move towards self-reflection and realness in her songwriting.

Lana Del Rey's music catalog showcases a vast lyrical journey through love, self, and the American ideal, always changing yet always hers. From the movie-like grandeur of Born to Die to the bare, raw feel of Norman F**king Rockwell! and the soul-searching depth of Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, she has changed our view of what it means to be both legendary and real in pop music.

Her growth hasn't focused on chasing fads but on uncovering layers, moving from the sad beauty to a woman facing her history, her nation, and her inner self. Through rich tunes, gripping words, and a voice that sounds both ageless and hurt, Lana Del Rey has made her own unique place in music: a space where joy and pain live side by side and where telling stories becomes a way to live on.