"Arcadia" is a song by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey. It was released on September 8, 2021, by Interscope Records and Polydor Records as the second and final single from Del Rey's eighth studio album, Blue Banisters (2021). The song was written and produced by the singer alongside Drew Erickson. The song is named after Arcadia, California.
Critical reception
The song received critical acclaim from critics. In an article for the Los Angeles Times, Christi Carras described the song as a "languid new ballad" and music video as "love letters to Arcadia and Los Angeles".[1] Writing for Spin, Sarah Grant called the single "elegant and elegiac", with Del Rey's vocals "liberated, clear-eyed, and mournful" as she "sings her origin story with an innocence". Grant further praised the track as an "astonishing farewell to an industry that trashed [Del Rey] from the beginning".[2] Reanna Cruz from NPR acclaimed Del Rey's vocals as her "most mature tone yet" and wrote that the lyrics "carefully construct the very landscapes she describes", "[connecting] fully with her desired ethos".[3] Writing for Consequence, Eddie Fu praised the song's "piano-driven production", calling it a "seductive track".[4]
Music video
The music video for "Arcadia" was released on YouTube alongside the song on September 8, 2021.[5] It was directed by Del Rey,[6] although the singer stated on Twitter that it was "directed by nobody".[7] An alternate video was released on October 7, 2021.[8]