Born to Die: The Paradise Edition is the reissue of American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey's second studio album Born to Die (2012). It was released on November 9, 2012, by Interscope and Polydor Records. Released ten months after the original, The Paradise Edition features eight newly recorded tracks, which were simultaneously made available on the standalone extended play Paradise (2012). Although having worked with several producers for each record, Emile Haynie and Rick Nowels are the only producers whose contributions are featured on both discs.
The Paradise Edition performed moderately on international record charts in Europe, where it charted separately from Born to Die and Paradise. While the project was not directly supported by singles of its own, the tracks "Ride" and "Burning Desire" were released from Paradise on September 25, 2012, and March 13, 2013, while "Dark Paradise" was serviced from Born to Die on March 1, 2013. A remix of the track "Summertime Sadness" from Born to Die, produced by Cedric Gervais, was released independently from either project on July 11, 2013; it was later included on select reissues of The Paradise Edition after experiencing success on record charts worldwide.
Background and release
Del Rey released her second studio album 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.
Notes signifies a co-producer signifies a vocal producer signifies an additional producer signifies a remixer
Personnel Credits adapted from the liner notes of Born to Die: The Paradise Edition.
Disc 1 Performance credits
Lana Del Rey – vocals Emilie Bauer-Mein – backing vocals James Bauer-Mein – backing vocals Lenha Labelle – French vocals David Sneddon – backing vocals Hannah Robinson – backing vocals Maria Vidal – additional vocals
Instruments
Patrik Berger – guitar, bass guitar, percussion, synthesizer, sampler, drum programming Jeff Bhasker – guitar ; keyboards ; additional keyboards ; additional strings Chris Braide – guitar, acoustic piano, strings, drum programming Pelle Hansen – cello Emile Haynie – drums ; keyboards ; additional keyboards ; guitar Dan Heath – flute , additional strings Erik Holm – viola Liam Howe – additional keyboards, programming Devrim Karaoglu – additional synthesizer, orchestral drums ; additional pads Brent Kolatalo – additional drums Ken Lewis – additional vocal noises ; additional drums Rick Nowels – guitar ; additional strings ; keyboards Dean Reid – pads Al Shux – guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, programming Sacha Skarbek – omnichord Fredrik Syberg – violin Patrick Warren – chamberlain strings ; additional strings ; guitar, keyboards ; strings, secondary strings
Technical and production
Carl Bagge – string arrangements Patrik Berger – production Jeff Bhasker – co-production , additional production Chris Braide – production Lorenzo Cosi – engineering Mike Daly – vocal production John Davis – mastering Duncan Fuller – mixing assistant Chris Galland – mixing assistant Larry Gold – string arrangements, conductor Dan Grech-Marguerat – mixing Emile Haynie – production Dan Heath – string arrangements, conductor Liam Howe – co-production Brent Kolatalo – additional recording Erik Madrid – mixing assistant Manny Marroquin – mixing Kieron Menzies – engineering The Nexus – vocal production Rick Nowels – co-production ; vocal production Justin Parker – vocal production ; additional production Robopop – production, mixing Al Shux – production, vocal production Steve Tirpak – string assistant
Disc 2 Performance credits Lana Del Rey – vocals ; backing vocals
Instruments
James Gadson – drums Emile Haynie – drums ; additional keyboards Dan Heath – percussion ; horns ; keyboards ; strings ; piano Devrim Karaoglu – drums Jason Lader – bass guitar Tim Larcombe – keyboards, guitar, drums The Larry Gold Orchestra – strings Songa Lee – violin Kieron Menzies – drum programming Rick Nowels – synthesizer ; keyboards ; bass guitar, acoustic guitar, drums ; piano, mellotron, strings Tim Pierce – electric guitar ; slide guitar Zac Rae – piano, keyboards Kathleen Sloan – violin Patrick Warren – electric guitar, synthesizer, piano ; strings, glockenspiel, brass ; organ ; dulcitone, bells, Optigan, mellotron
Technical and production
Graham Archer – vocal engineering Ben Baptie – mixing assistant Spencer Burgess Jr. – recording assistant Nikki Calvert – engineering Jeremy Cochise Ball – mixing John Davis – mastering DK – co-production Tom Elmhirst – mixing Chris Garcia – additional recording ; recording Larry Gold – string arrangements Emile Haynie – co-production ; production ; additional production Dan Heath – string arrangements ; orchestral arrangements ; production ; engineering Jason Lader – recording Tim Larcombe – production Eric Lynn – recording assistant Kieron Menzies – recording, mixing Rick Nowels – production Sean Oakley – recording assistant Robert Orton – mixing Tucker Robinson – string recording ; engineering Jeff Rothschild – mixing Rick Rubin – production Andrew Scheps – mixing Peter Stanislaus – mixing Jordan Stilwell – additional recording
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (2012–2013) Peakposition Japanese Albums (Oricon) 35 Mexican Albums (Top 100 Mexico) 22
Year-end charts Chart (2013) Position Australian Albums (ARIA) 68 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) 88 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) 98 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) 34
Chart (2014) Position Mexican Albums (Top 100 Mexico) 78
Certifications
Release history Region Date Format Label Ref. Australia November 9, 2012 Universal Music United Kingdom Polydor United States November 13, 2012 Interscope November 20, 2012 LP December 4, 2012 Box set
References