With a career spanning from 2005 and beyond, accomplished many achievements, such as being named The Greatest American Songwriter of the 21st Century by Rolling Stone UK, being awarded Variety’s Decade Award, as well as winning 40 awards throughout her run in the music industry many would assume Del Rey would have acquired a Grammy….Del Rey has had 11 Grammy nominations spanning from 2011 to the most recent awards in 2024, yet still has never taken home a statue.
– Why Has Lana Del Rey Never Won A Grammy Award? – The Spartan
I must have a proclivity for songs that contain the word radio in the title. Hotel Radio by David Bridie, Listen to the Radio by Don Williams and now Lana Del Rey’s kitsche song Radio. I can’t believe they named the radio after a Lana Del Rey song! I also have no idea how I came across it. I presumed it was from someone’s blog I follow here, but apparently not. This song has a blend of vintage glamour and modern melancholy, and I like Lana Del Rey’s knack for combining sweetness with a raw, unfiltered reality: “Now my life is sweet like cinnamon / Like a f**cking dream I’m living in“.
Radio featured on Lana Del Rey’s 2012 debut album Born to Die and was crafted during a time when the singer was exploring themes of fame, love, and identity.
[Verse 1]
Not even they can stop me now
Boy, I be flyin’ overhead
Their heavy words can’t bring me down
Boy, I’ve been raised from the dead
[Pre-Chorus]
No one even knows how hard life was
I don’t even think about it now because
I finally found you
Oh, sing it to me
[Chorus]
Now my life is sweet like cinnamon
Like a fucking dream I’m livin’ in
Baby, love me ’cause I’m playin’ on the radio
How do you like me now?
Pick me up and take me like a vitamin
‘Cause my body’s sweet like sugar venom, oh, yeah
Baby, love me ’cause I’m playin’ on the radio
How do you like me now? (Read the remainder here)
Radio (also known as “Cinnamon”) is a song written by Del Rey and Justin Parker. Del Rey worked with producers such as Emile Haynie and Jeff Bhasker to create the lush, atmospheric sound that defines Radio. The incorporation of dreamy synths, and Del Rey’s smoky vocals contribute to the song’s ethereal and cinematic quality. It has garnered widespread acclaim and popularity, earning millions of streams and becoming a fan favorite in Lana Del Rey’s discography.
References:
1. Lana Del Rey. (n.d.) – Wikipedia
2. Born to Die (Lana Del Rey album) – Wikipedia
3. “Radio” – Lana Del Rey Lyrics. (n.d.) – Genius
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
LOVE this song. Lana is one of my favourite singers. I think she is possibly the most unique artist working at the moment. I love how she mixes modern and vintage imagery in her music videos. What a talent.
I asked my daughter if she put me onto this song and she hadn’t. I’m still baffled about how I learnt of it. I was even more perplexed to read how highly regarded she is as a songwriter. I only know of this song….I think.
Can you point me to a few of your favourites of hers? Thanks for sharing your praise for her and this song.
Here’s a few of my favourites. National Anthem, Arcadia, Gods And Monsters, Doin’ Time, Yosemite, Ride, Wild At Heart, High By The Beach, Young And Beautiful.
Check out her YouTube channel. Her latest stuff is on there, as well as older songs.
Enjoy!
I will check them out when I get home. Thanks for taking the time to list all those.
You’re welcome.
Based on what I have seen and heard of her (thanks to you), Lana Del Rey reminds me (kinda) of a sanitised American version of Argentine Nathy Peluso (see her ‘Nasty Girl’ BZRP session) and to look at – a little like Amy Winehouse. From the songs you sent, I like ‘Arcadia’, ‘Gods and Monsters’, ‘Yosemite’ (I love this and will add it my project), ‘Ride’, and ‘Wild at Heart’ (I’ll add this too, fantastic – so music Americana!). That was a trip listening to all this. Thanks a lot!
Glad you enjoyed some of them so much.
I played ‘Arcadia’ and ‘Radio’ for the kids last night. They are at that age where they will not express if they like something (because to like what Dad puts on would be obscenely uncool lol), even if they really do. But I saw a glint in their eyes watching the videos. This morning before football I’ll put on ‘Gods and Monsters’ and ‘Wild at Heart’ and see how that goes. Should be fun lol
Really cool song.
‘Kitsch’ couldn’t be more of an apt one word descriptor for it
I like that…