Elizabeth Woolridge Grant Known Professionally As Lana Del Rey Is An American Singer-Songwriter And Producer. Her Music Is Noted For Its Cinematic Quality And Exploration Of Tragic Romance Glamour And Melancholia With Frequent References To Contemporary Pop Culture And 1950s–1970s Americana. Raised In Upstate New York Del Rey Moved To New York City In 2005 To Pursue A Music Career. After Numerous Projects Including Her Self-Titled Debut Studio Album Del Rey's Breakthrough Came In 2011 With The Viral Success Of Her Single "Video Games" She Subsequently Signed A Recording Contract With Polydor And Interscope. She Achieved Critical And Commercial Success With Her Second Album Born To Die 2012 Which Contained The Sleeper Hit "Summertime Sadness". Del Rey's Third Album Ultraviolence 2014 Featured Greater Use Of Guitar-Driven Instrumentation And Debuted Atop The U.S. Billboard 200. Her Fourth And Fifth Albums Honeymoon 2015 And Lust For Life 2017 Saw A Return To The Stylistic Traditions Of Her Earlier Releases While Her Critically Acclaimed Sixth Album Norman Fucking Rockwell! 2019 Explored Soft Rock. Her Next Studio Albums Chemtrails Over The Country Club And Blue Banisters Followed In 2021. Her Ninth Studio Album “Did You Know That There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd” Was Released On All Platforms On The Date Of March 24th 2023. It Includes Singles Like The Title Track - "Did You Know That There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd" "A&W" And "The Grants". Del Rey Has Collaborated On Soundtracks For Visual Media In 2013 She Wrote And Starred In The Critically Acclaimed Musical Short Tropico And Released "Young And Beautiful" For The Romantic Drama The Great Gatsby. In 2014 She Recorded "Once Upon A Dream" For The Dark Fantasy Adventure Film Maleficent And The Self-Titled Theme Song For The Biopic Big Eyes. Del Rey Collaborated With Ariana Grande And Miley Cyrus On "Don't Call Me Angel" For The Action Comedy Charlie's Angels 2019 Which Peaked At Number 13 On The U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Additionally Del Rey Published The Poetry And Photography Collection Violet Bent Backwards Over The Grass 2020 . She Is The Recipient Of Various Accolades Including Two Brit Awards Two MTV Europe Music Awards And A Satellite Award In Addition To Nominations For Six Grammy Awards And A Golden Globe Award. Variety Honored Her At Their Hitmakers Awards For Being "one Of The Most Influential Singer-Songwriters Of The 21st Century".
"For Free" Is A Song By Joni Mitchell Covered By Lana Del Rey Artist Weyes Blood And Zella Day. It's A Song That Reflects On The Value Of Art In Society The Distinction Between Art As A Commodity And Art As An Expression Of The Soul Of The Artist. The Song Is Told From The Perspective Of Three Different Female Characters Who Offer Their Experiences And Insights On The Role Of Art And Artists In Society. The First Verse Sung By Zella Day Portrays A Wealthy Woman Who Indulges In Material Pleasures Such As Staying In Fancy Hotels And Buying Expensive Jewelry. She Hears A Street Musician Playing His Clarinet For Free And Though She Is Surrounded By Noise And Chaos This Music Brings Her Comfort. The Musician's Selfless Act Highlights The Value Of Art Regardless Of Its Commercial Or Societal Status. The Second Verse Performed By Lana Offers A Contrast To The First As She Sings About Her Own Experience As A Professional Musician Who Performs For Wealthy Audiences. She Has All The Trappings Of Success Including A Luxurious Black Limousine Yet Her Performances Are Driven By Financial Gain Rather Than Creative Expression. She Laments The Loss Of Artistic Integrity And Values The One-Man Band Who Performs Out Of Pure Passion. The Third Verse Sung By Weyes Blood Speaks To The Plight Of Street Performers Who Go Unnoticed In The Face Of Commercialized Art. The Musician She Observes Is Not Recognized For His Talent Even Though His Music Is Just As Beautiful As That Of The Wealthy Performers. She Regrets Not Asking To Join In Harmony And Leaving Him To Continue Playing For Free Without Any Recognition Or Appreciation. Overall "For Free" Is A Commentary On The Price Society Places On Artists And Their Work And The Importance Of Recognizing The Value Of Art That Doesn't Come With A Price Tag. It Encourages Listeners To Appreciate The Art Around Us Even If It Doesn't Come With A Monetary Value And To Remember That True Art Is Created For The Love Of The Craft Not Just For Profit Or Fame.