Lana Del Rey
The singer behind “Video Games” on her boyfriend’s World of Warcraft habit, and why the song is really about belonging.
Lana Del Rey, a.k.a. Lizzy Grant, is an American indie pop singer with a sense for the nostalgic and an appreciation for the little things in life. Her debut single “Video Games” was named “Best New Track” by Pitchfork and was released on vinyl and online in October. Self-described as a “gangster Nancy Sinatra,” the sultry crooner talks about what “Video Games” means for her, and the role of pop culture references in her songs.
I know that people think that the theme is nostalgia or despair, but actually I wrote [“Video Games”] at a time when I was sort of at peace with myself. I would consider it a hopeful song. It was a time in my life when I really enjoyed the simple things in life, like watching my boyfriend play videogames and just hanging out together. It was a time when I let go of my ambitions for musical success and just started focusing on the people around me—and him. And that was just what he liked to do.
