Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: pop
Song Meaning of “Bel Air” by Lana Del Rey
Bel Air by Lana Del Rey is a classic example of Lana’s signature style; melancholic yet seductive, bereft of hope yet imbued with a touch of nostalgia. The song is a tale of status anxiety: the irony of wanting something so desperately without having anything to show for it. The title of the song – Bel Air – refers to the wealthy area of Los Angeles, and its luxurious lifestyle and abundance of wealth that Lana can only dream of.
The lyrics in the song show that Lana’s view of success is more than just wealth as the song talks about ‘luxury’, ‘beauty’, ‘youth’ and ‘sophistication’ – things that come with high society but can’t necessarily be bought. It alludes to a life of envy and impossible standards of perfection that Lana can never quite reach.
The chorus speaks of the idea of striving for something beyond reach – “But I don’t want it if it’s not mine, I just want to be bel air” – she wants the same glamourous lifestyle but without the necessary wealth or connections to succeed in it.