Ultraviolence by Lana Del Ray

Song Name: Ultraviolence

Album: Ultraviolence (2014)

1st Genre: Dream Pop
2nd Genre: Baroque Pop / Sadcore

Beats per Minute (BPM): ~112

Sur Scale: Minor (Melancholic / haunting tonality)

Estimated Budget (Music Video): Approx. $300,000 – $500,000 (shot in 2014 on an iPhone by director Chuck Grant, Lana’s sister, giving it a raw aesthetic but still tied to promotion budget)

Release Date: June 4, 2014 (single release, after the album dropped June 13, 2014)

Reach:

• Widely acclaimed by critics, became one of the signature tracks of the album.
• Though not a massive radio hit, it cultivated a strong cult following and added to Lana’s dark, cinematic identity.

Spotify: ~220M+ streams (as of 2025)
YouTube: ~85M+ views on the official music video (as of 2025)
Melon 24Hits Chart: Not charted significantly in Korea (Lana Del Rey’s music has niche reach there).
Apple Music: Popular among indie/alternative listeners, part of Lana’s Essentials playlist.
Amazon Music: Available, featured in Best of Lana Del Rey compilations.

Actors in Music Video: Only Lana Del Rey herself (directed by Chuck Grant).

Song Lyrics (Original)

He used to call me DN
That stood for deadly nightshade
‘Cause I was filled with poison
But blessed with beauty and rage
Jim told me that
He hit me and it felt like a kiss
Jim brought me back
Reminded me of when we were kids

With his ultraviolence
Ultraviolence
Ultraviolence
Ultraviolence
I can hear sirens, sirens
He hit me and it felt like a kiss
I can hear violins, violins
Give me all of that ultraviolence

He used to call me poison
Like I was poison ivy
I could’ve died right then
‘Cause he was right beside me
Jim raised me up
He hurt me but it felt like true love
Jim taught me that
Loving him was never enough

With his ultraviolence
Ultraviolence
Ultraviolence
Ultraviolence
I can hear sirens, sirens
He hit me and it felt like a kiss
I can hear violins, violins
Give me all of that ultraviolence

We can go back to New York
Loving you was really hard
We could go back to Woodstock
Where they don’t know who we are
Heaven is on earth
I will do anything for you, babe
Blessed is this union
Crying tears of gold, like lemonade

I love you the first time
I love you the last time
Yo soy la princesa, comprende mis white lines
‘Cause I’m your jazz singer
And you’re my cult leader
I love you forever
I love you forever

With his ultraviolence
Ultraviolence
Ultraviolence
Ultraviolence
I can hear sirens, sirens
He hit me and it felt like a kiss
I can hear violins, violins
Give me all of that ultraviolence

Song Lyrics (Translation / Meaning)

In essence, the lyrics symbolize:

• A destructive love that feels addictive.
• The paradox of finding romance in violence.
• A critique of romanticized suffering in relationships.
• The line “Ultraviolence” itself is inspired by Anthony Burgess’s A Clockwork Orange, referring to extreme brutality but layered with surreal beauty in Lana’s style.

Review

“Ultraviolence” is one of Lana Del Rey’s most controversial yet defining tracks. It captures her signature cinematic noir style—dreamy vocals over lush, slow instrumentals. The minimal arrangement lets her voice float like a haunting echo, immersing listeners in her world of tragic romance. While the lyrics sparked debates over whether Lana was glorifying abusive relationships, many critics saw it as an artistic portrayal of destructive love rather than an endorsement.

The music video, shot on an iPhone, adds to the song’s raw vulnerability. It shows Lana in a wedding dress, wandering through a dreamy, melancholic landscape, symbolizing devotion to a doomed love.

Overall, Ultraviolence stands as a bold statement—unapologetically dark, cinematic, and provocative, cementing Lana’s role as a pop anti-heroine who defies mainstream norms. Keep Reading Hitzwow to know all the emerung hits,