Lana Del Rey

F*ck is a word Lana Del Rey knows well. Intimately, even. The expletive is littered all throughout her discography, casually, like she barely notices when it creeps into the slipstream. Like she’s your man. But then: “F*cked my way up to the top,” she sneered in 2014, mimicking the misogynistic cultural assumption that a female pop star without a man behind her must’ve had one between her legs. Or, fans have long treasured the unrecorded alternative lyric, “Let me f*ck you hard in the pouring rain,” regularly trotted out during live versions of “Born To Die.” Ephemera, the explicit version — this is what makes us girls. Sylvia Plath, uncensored. But Lana learned to replace a philandering poet-husband with a manchild who f*cks (press play on the title track), so I think she’s safe for now. Things aren’t any different on Norman F*cking Rockwell! — punctuation is ironic, natch — even if the album title presents problems for old-world traditionalists like The New York Times (and well, this website), who print it as a blank, a choice both surreal and puritanical, and one that probably makes Lizzy Grant cackle with delight. The f*cks don’t end there, though. “Fresh out of f*cks forever,” she croons on her latest album’s introductory and most emblematic track, “Venice B*tch,” because the swears are coming in two’s now. When this song announced a new Lana album was poised to arrive late last fall, I felt all Scissor Sisters: It can’t come quickly enough, and actually stayed up late watching for a surprise drop for a few Thursday nights after. Should’ve known, Lana would be languid. Lana takes her time. Lana f*cks. She’s your man.  -- Caitlin White, UPROXX Pop Critic on Lana Del Rey’s new album Norman F*cking Rockwell, the new frontrunner for album of the year NUMBER ONE STUNNERS If you’ve been following along with this newsletter all summer you know that I really thought Lizzo and the slow-burning “Truth Hurts” would be the ones to knock Lil Nas X off the throne — and while Billie Eilish was the one to actually do it, and the combined power of Camila Cabello/Shawn Mendes took her off a week later, Lizzo is finally having her moment. The truth… feels great actually. Now entering her second week in the No. 1 slot for “Truth Hurts,” this 100% bad b*tch is celebrating her newfound achievement by twerking, loving herself, and expressing her surprise and gratitude all at the same damn time. Check her Instagram for the antics — check the charts for another hit, “Good As Hell,” climbing swiftly to the middle of the pack. CLICK FOR ANTICS BUBBLING UNDER If you haven’t heard of Conan Gray yet, you certainly will soon. While he was still in high school in 2017, he released his first-ever single “Idle Town,” a self-produced music video examining the sleepy Texas town he called home — a clip that went on to amass millions of Spotify and Youtube streams. A practically perfect, super intimate pop song, the track was an instant hit, and only the first indication of Gray’s songwriting abilities. Learn more about his first EP Sunset Season, getting signed by Republic Records, and what else is coming for Gray by reading our feature on him here. THIS TOWN WILL NEVER CHANGE REMEMBER WHEN The second week of September will forever be a week-long tribute to Niall Horan, one of the blockbuster, dreamy, and iconic boy band One Direction’s many wonderful directions, born on September 13 in 1993. Since the band went on hiatus in 2016, Horan released the 2017 record, Flicker, which included the hit singles “This Town” and “Slow Hands.” Celebrate Niall’s 25th birthday this year by listening to literally any 1D record. I’ll be over here listening to all of them… for, uh, research. This is work for me, I swear! LOVE LETTERS All the beautiful queer pop fans in the world have been waiting anxiously for the release of King Princess’ debut album, Cheap Queen, and last week she gave us another taste of how devastating and tender she can be all within a single song. “Ain’t Together” is, according to the one and only Mikaela Straus, “cute and sad, perfect for any occasion. Wedding, funeral, corporate function, lesbian seance.” If anyone has any of those events going on soon — especially that last one — please play this song and please invite me. Thanks. I AIN'T CHILL AT ALL  Warner Music Group 1633 Broadway New York, NY 10019 USA