Burning Desire (song)

"Burning Desire"
Promotional single by Lana Del Rey
from the EP Paradise
ReleasedMarch 19, 2013 (2013-03-19)
GenreTrip hop
Length3:51
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Emile Haynie
Lana Del Rey promotional singles chronology
"Blue Velvet"
(2012) 		"Burning Desire"
(2013) 		"Black Beauty"
(2014)
Music video
"Burning Desire" on YouTube

"Burning Desire" is a song by American singer and songwriter Lana Del Rey. Initially available for digital download upon pre-ordering Del Rey's third EP, Paradise,[1] "Burning Desire" was released as a promotional single on March 19, 2013.[2] One month earlier, a music video for the song was released on Valentine's Day. Lyrically composed by Lana Del Rey and her long-time collaborator, Justin Parker, the record was produced by Emile Haynie.

Background and composition

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In 2012, Del Rey was named the new figurehead of the latest brand of the Jaguar F-Type automobile. To promote the photoshoot, she sang "Burning Desire" at the Paris Motor Show, wearing red lipstick and a white sundress.[3][4][5][6]

The song is composed by Del Rey and Justin Parker, co-author of the bulk of Born to Die. "Burning Desire" is a tragically-themed love song, with the lyrics: "I drive fast, wind in my hair/ I push it to the limits/ 'Cause I just don't care".[7][8] Breathless pants and groans begin the track.[9] On writing the song, Del Rey said:

Making art means making tough decisions. I do believe you create your own life path and that you will be rewarded for following your passions—and sticking to it. It's just good to know now, with people like Jaguar and working with them, that I'm not the only one out there with such strident, creative beliefs.[8]

Music video

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Del Rey in a promotional photograph taken during the filming of the music video for "Burning Desire"

A promotional video for "Burning Desire" appeared online on Valentine's Day of 2013, featuring Del Rey as her usual lounge singer persona, interspersed with snippets of the Jaguar F-Type.[7] Directed by Anthony Shurmer [10] the video was filmed in the Rivoli Ballroom in London's South end.[7] The video contains "bright red floral imagery, California landmarks name-checked, reckless automotive shout-outs, old Hollywood imagery and cinematic glamour, some epic lipstick[...]".[7] NME called the video "typically sumptuous", heavy on the product placement.[11] Desire Thompson of VIBE noted that Del Rey channeled her inner Jessica Rabbit in the 1960s social-scene video for the promotional single.[12]

Critical reception

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Music reviewer Carl Williot wrote that on "Burning Desire", "Lana is no longer willing to let you play your video games, she's the active agent."[13] Nicole Sia of SPIN said the video was a straightforward affair, channeling Del Rey's typical retro-inspired style, interloped with old-fashioned video clips.[9] "Fast cars might not be everyone's idea of paradise, but at least for LDR it pays the bills." Sia concluded.[9] After hearing the song, The Independent dubbed the singer, "Queen of sultry pop".[8]

Usage in other media

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The song serves as the title track to a 13-minute promotional short film for the Jaguar F-Type, called Desire.[7][8] The film, directed by Adam Smith, produced by Ridley Scott[14][15] and stars Damian Lewis.[7] Filmed in Chile in 2012, the film was launched in April 2013 at the Sundance Film Festival and available for free streaming online.[8] In the movie, Lewis going by the name Sydney Clarke delivers the Jaguar F-Type to a notorious gangster named Ernesto Martinez (played by Jordi Molla) and finds trouble in a love interest (played by Shannyn Sossamon) in a desert setting.[16]

Release history

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Region Date Format Label
Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico, United States[17][18][19] March 19, 2013

Charts

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Chart (2012) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[20] 172

References

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  1. ^ "iTunes - Music - Born to Die - The Paradise Edition - Lana Del Rey". iTunes. September 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  2. ^ "Burning Desire". Amazon.com. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
  3. ^ "VIDEO: Lana Del Rey sings Burning Desire live at Paris Jaguar F-Type launch". Birmingham Mail. Trinity Mirror. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  4. ^ Wilkinson, Sophie. "Lana Del Rey sings a song about a car. Riiiight". Heat World. Bauer Media Group. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  5. ^ Nissim, Mayer (October 2012). "Lana Del Rey unveils new Jaguar F-Type - video, pictures". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  6. ^ Abramovitch, Seth (26 September 2012). "Lana Del Rey Unveils New Jaguar Coupe at Paris Auto Show". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  7. ^ a b c d e f O'Neil, Luke. "New Video: Lana Del Rey: 'Burning Desire'". MTV Buzzworthy. Viacom. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  8. ^ a b c d e Battersby, Matilda (15 February 2013). "Lana Del Rey talks 'strident creative beliefs' as 'Burning Desire' video promotes Jaguar". The Independent. London: Independent Print Limited. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  9. ^ a b c Nicole, Sia (14 February 2013). "Lana Del Rey Has a 'Burning Desire' to Sell Luxury Cars". SPIN. Buzz Media. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  10. ^ "Anthony Shurmer | Soup Factory". Archived from the original on 2013-10-23. Retrieved 2013-08-09.
  11. ^ "Lana Del Rey unveils 'Burning Desire' video". NME. 14 February 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  12. ^ Thompson, Desire (14 February 2013). "New Video: Lana Del Ray 'Burning Desire'". VIBE. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  13. ^ Williot, Carl (13 November 2012). "Lana Del Rey's 'Paradise': Album Review". Idolator. Buzz Media. Archived from the original on 27 February 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  14. ^ "Watch: Teaser For Ridley Scott-Produced Jaguar Short 'Desire' With Damian Lewis; Tarsem's Sony Commercial". Thefilmstage.com. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  15. ^ Balavage, Catherine (20 February 2013). "Lana Del Rey Releases Music Video For New Track 'Burning Desire'". Frost Magazine. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  16. ^ Copsey, Robert (14 February 2013). "Lana Del Rey unveils movie song 'Burning Desire' music video - watch". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  17. ^ "Burning Desire (2013) | Lana Del Rey". Canada: 7digital. Archived from the original on May 13, 2014.
  18. ^ Burning Desire, 2013-03-19, retrieved 2023-03-22
  19. ^ "Burning Desire (MP3 Music)". Amazon. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  20. ^ "Zobbel.de: CLUK Update 24.11.2012 (wk46)". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 2012-11-24.
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