Born to Die: The Paradise Edition

Background and release

Del Rey released her second studio album and major-label debut Born to Die in January 2012 by Interscope Records, Polydor Records, and Stranger Records. It debuted at number two on the U.S. Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 77,000 copies; in doing so, it became the highest opening week for a major-label debut by a female artist since Dream with Me (2011) by Jackie Evancho entered at number two in the United States. In July, Del Rey expressed her intentions release an expanded version of Born to Die subtitled The Paradise Edition, which was initially expected to contain seven newly recorded tracks to supplement the original record. Del Rey unveiled its cover in September, in which she is photographed in a beige-colored one-piece swimsuit standing before a tropical background, and elaborated that the reissue would contain the fifteen-track deluxe version of Born to Die and nine previously-unreleased songs.

The final product was first released on November 9 in Australia, and was later made available on November 13 in the United States. The Paradise Edition was packaged as a two-disc product in its physical variation, while a digital version was serviced to online music stores. The newly recorded material was simultaneously made available on the standalone extended play Paradise (2012). The Paradise Edition was released in vinyl record packaging on November 20; it came with the vinyl for Paradise, and designated a slipcase to hold a separately-purchased vinyl of Born to Die. A limited edition box set of the project was released on December 4, 2012; it contained the physical version of the record, an eight-track remix disc, a six-music video DVD, four printed photographs, and a two-track vinyl record with remixes of "Blue Velvet".

New material

The eight tracks appended on The Paradise Edition exemplify a "cinematic" musical style first introduced through Born to Die, and incorporates frequent electric guitar and piano instrumentation like the preceding record. The newly recorded material employs more profane language than the original record, particularly with descriptions of sexual encounters. The second disc commences with the track "Ride", which Tom Breihan from Stereogum described as a "string-drenched ballad" that saw Del Rey exploring the "crossover-soul-pop" musical styles that British singer Adele is commonly associated with. The follow-up track "American" heavily integrates Americana references in its lyrics, and employs minimalist piano and string instrumentation that Sian Watson from Associated Press felt placed the "smoky, effortless vocals" at the forefront of the song. "Cola" begins with the lines "My pussy tastes like Pepsi-Cola / My eyes are wide like cherry pies", which PopMatters' Enio Chiola felt solidified the recurring concept of "a girl trying to find her father in her elder lovers" that unifies the additional tracks.

The fourth track "Body Electric" was distinguished by Jesse Cataldo of Slant Magazine for its string instrumentation, which he described as a "pre-established atmospheric skeletion" given the frequency of their usage on the disc. "Blue Velvet" is a cover version of the 1950s track written by Bernie Wayne and Lee Moris, and was interpreted by Chiola as a "romantic tribute of lovelorn and loss." On the track "Gods & Monsters", Carl Williott from Idolator noted that Del Rey delivered the lyrics "I was an angel / Looking to get fucked hard" and "Fuck yeah, give it to me / This is heaven, what I truly want" with a "sultry numbness" that avoided coming across as a generic song about sex. "Yayo" first appeared on Del Rey's debut studio album Lana Del Ray (2010); David Edwards of Drowned In Sound described the track as "stammeringly beautiful", and directed his commentary towards the genuine emotions of "a heartbeat away from collapse." According to Williott, the eighth and final track "Bel Air" is a "melancholy waltz" that notably employs a "forest nymph chant" during its refrain.

Promotion

"Ride" was originally announced as the lead single from The Paradise Edition, although the track was later recognized as an offering from the standalone extended play Paradise; it was premiered and released through the iTunes Store on September 25, 2012. The song respectively peaked at numbers 21 and 26 on the U.S. Billboard Rock Songs and Adult Alternative Songs component charts, and performed sporadically across international singles charts. After The Paradise Edition was released, "Dark Paradise" was serviced as the sixth single from Born to Die on March 1, 2013, and reached the lower ends of select European singles charts.

Commercial performance

The Paradise Edition charted together with Born to Die on the U.S. Billboard 200, and consequently assisted its parent record in rising from number 79 to number 37 with release-week sales of 16,000 copies. Having charted separately from Born to Die and Paradise throughout much of Europe, the record performed moderately on international record charts. It charted at number four on the Polish Albums Chart, and respectively reached numbers 6 and 15 on the Belgian Ultratop charts in Flanders and Wallonia. The project peaked at number 15 on the Dutch MegaCharts, and appeared at number 22 on both The Official Finnish Charts and the Swedish Sverigetopplistan. Although a specific charting position was not released, The Paradise Edition was certified gold by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique in France. In Oceania, it reached number 17 on the Australian ARIA Charts, and was acknowledged with a platinum certification in the country. The project also reached number six on the Official New Zealand Music Chart, where it was eventually certified platinum.

Track listing

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Born to Die: The Paradise Edition.

Box set

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Born to Die: The Paradise Edition.

Disc 1

Disc 2