Clairo imbues “Brooklyn Baby” with all the alluring and vibrant details from her most recent album, ‘Charm.’
Stream: “Brooklyn Baby” – Clairo
Right off the heels of the release of her third studio album, Charm, Clairo dropped a cover of “Brooklyn Baby” from Lana Del Rey’s Ultraviolence.
“Brooklyn Baby” has been a beloved track from Lana Del Rey’s vast and varied discography, but Clairo infuses it with the summery and syrupy production that overtook Charm. She breathes new life into a widely admired piece from Del Rey’s earlier discography.
On a simpler level, Ultraviolence and Charm are two very different albums. Del Rey’s Ultraviolence is more so an examination of the overcoming, irresistible toxicity certain relationships bring about. On the other hand, Charm touches on the healing that comes from accepting harsh truths post breakup. Nonetheless, both artists created albums that expertly deliver a specific tone and atmosphere, Charm feeling like a gentle introduction to June and Ultraviolence feeling like a hot and heavy day in July. With both projects having their unique life and warmth exuding from them, Clairo’s cover of “Brooklyn Baby” was a welcomed and intriguing surprise.
It can’t be said with certainty that Clairo chose to cover “Brooklyn Baby” for any particular reason, or in keeping with any themes from Charm. Even if she just wished to cover a favorite song of her’s, Clairo’s cover feels in place with Charm’s composition, both in tone and subject matter.
At its core, “Brooklyn Baby” is a satirical romanticization. Del Rey’s track delves into the stereotypes that come with being Brooklyn’s “it girl.” Many of Clairo’s tracks off Charm have this same sort of ironic, witty approach to the lyrics. Whether it be through the humorous and sarcastic songwriting on “Sexy to Someone” or the brutal honesty of a track like “Thank You”, this cover links with the rest of the tracks off Charm seamlessly.
Many of Lana’s lyrics feel like something Clairo herself would write.
I think we’re like fire and water
I think we’re like the wind and sea
You’re burnin’ up, I’m coolin’ down
You’re up, I’m down
You’re blind, I see
But I’m free, ooh-ooh
I’m free
The lyricism’s strength remains, the most dramatic shifts being in the cover’s production and Clairo’s vocalization.
Del Rey’s “Brooklyn Baby” was filled with weighty electric guitar and reverb on top of her already sublime voice. Clairo’s sonic style brings in a bit of a softer, more delicate quality to the cover. In terms of vocals, Clairo’s airy voice alongside the quieter production gives the track a silky smooth feeling, deviating from the unmistakable psychedelic rock undertones Ultraviolence is synonymous with. The cover results in “Brooklyn Baby” taking on new horizons, reviving the decade old song to match the current realms Clairo has been exploring in her music.
It’s always a delight to see another artist’s admiration for a fellow singer’s work and craft. As if “Brooklyn Baby” needed any help in terms of its shelf life, the cover confirms that Del Rey’s work has made an impact not only in listener’s lives, but also in the lives of other artists.
Clairo’s cover is available to stream exclusively on Spotify.
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Stream: “Brooklyn Baby” – Clairo
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