Length 4:31 Producer(s) Daniel Heath | Label Interscope | |
Released June 13, 2014 (2014-06-13) Recorded The Bridge (Glendale, California) Writer(s) Lana Del Rey
Daniel Heath
Robbie Fitzsimmons | ||
"Old Money" is a song by American singer Lana Del Rey from her third studio album, Ultraviolence (2014). It was written by Del Rey, Robbie Fitzsimmons and producer Daniel Heath. The song has drawn comparisons to Nino Rota's "Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet". The song charted at number 190 in France.
Contents
Background and composition
"Old Money" is a ballad. The song features simple production, which includes layered vocals, piano, and a string instrument ensemble. According to Sasha Geffen of Consequence of Sound, the song's lyrics see the singer taking the perspective of an older woman in Old Hollywood reminiscing over her romantic past as a young woman.
Critical reception
"Old Money" was met with widespread critical acclaim, with many critics praising Del Rey for her wistful vocal performance. Victoria Sadler of Huffington Post UK spoke highly of the track, deeming the song a "beautiful, wistful and bittersweet song about lost youth", and said that the song "plucks at the heartstrings". Joe Goggins of Drowned in Sound opined that the song was a highlight of Ultraviolence. Goggins further commended Del Rey, by saying, "A sparse piano aside, it's the only backing she needs to deliver the closest thing Ultraviolence has to a 'Video Games'". Sasha Geffen of Consequence of Sound pondered whether the song was a The Great Gatsby reference, as Del Rey had provided vocals on the song "Young and Beautiful" for the aforementioned film's soundtrack. Geffen clarified that the song "sounds like it's sung through Daisy Buchanan, Gatsby's lost love whose story was only ever told by the men around her". Geffen praised Del Rey, stating, "In a way, Del Rey lends even more life to that character than Carey Mulligan did on camera", and closed her review by calling the track an "essential track" on Ultraviolence.
Credits
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Ultraviolence, and the ACE Repertory via the ASCAP website.