Lana Del Rey’s new single “Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd” was released this past week on Dec. 7. The single was released in advance of Del Rey’s new album, also titled “Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd,” which is set to be released in March 2023. 

The American singer has been making music under the name Lana Del Rey since 2010, her last release being her single “Summertime Sadness (Sped Up)” in 2022 and her album “Blue Banisters” in 2021.

“Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd” continues Del Rey’s retro California romance vibe, upholding the singer’s iconic style. 

Del Rey’s vocals are familiar to her audience as she holds a similar vocal style in all of her songs. Her vocals are smooth and rich sounding, swinging between low and high notes, which adds an alternative indie-pop stylistic element to her song. Del Rey sings with a steady voice, intertwining seamlessly with the instrumental music, adding a tranquil and melancholic mood to the single. 

“Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd ” is composed of lyrics that follow a California theme, allowing Del Rey to stick to her Californian style. References are made to the iconic California destination- Ocean Blvd, musician Harry Nilsson’s song “Don’t Forget Me,” the Eagles’ song “Hotel California” and the California city, Camarillo. Del Rey often uses the California references in her music as a metaphor for her deep and personal fears and messages about life.  

The single’s lyrics are layered together to create lines like “it’s because she’s in a world, preserved, only a few have found the door,” referencing “Hotel California” by the Eagles and hinting at a sort of escape. 

Ending with “Don’t forget me / like the tunnel under Ocean Blvd,” is repeated multiple times over as well. Del Rey’s song lyrics culminate in a message about a fear of being left behind and becoming a forgotten part of the world, much like the underground and little-known tunnel under Ocean Blvd. 

Bringing the vocals and the lyrics together is the creatively crafted instrumental music, which incorporates string instruments, piano and wordless vocal elements. The song opens with the softness of the piano, shortly adding the harmonic tune of string instruments and, before Del Rey’s vocals begin, there is the soft blow of wind, seamlessly coinciding with the entrance of the lyrics. Since the instrumentation is an accurate representation of the mood of the single, gaps between lyrics still allow for the continuation of Del Rey’s message, letting the combination of instruments add elements of grace to the track. 

“Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd” is a forceful single to carry on Del Rey’s recognizable vocals and iconic musical genre. As indie-pop continues to grow in popularity, the release of Del Rey’s new single and upcoming album will smoothly transition the singer back into the bustle of the music industry. 

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