Brooklyn Baby

Lana Del Rey’s “Brooklyn Baby” (Ultraviolence, 2014) is a satirical nod to Brooklyn’s hipster subculture. Produced by Dan Auerbach, it perfectly captures the “California-noir” and psychedelic rock vibe of that era.

There is a bittersweet story behind the track: Lana had planned to record it with Lou Reed, but he sadly passed away in October 2013 on the day she arrived in New York to work with him. You can hear a tribute to him in the song’s finale; the deep harmony provided by Seth Kauffman was meant to channel Reed’s iconic baritone.

Because the song…