Lana Del Rey’s Best Collabs: The Weeknd, Stevie Nicks, A$AP Rocky & More

Lana Del Rey has never been one to shy away from collaborating with other great artists. Not only did her latest album, 2017’s Lust for Life, include several features from A$AP Rocky, Playboi Carti, Steve Nicks and more, but she has also lent her vocals to songs by Cat Power, Børns and, most frequently, The Weeknd.

While her earlier albums like Born to Die and Ultraviolence had no features, she’s made up for lost time since. It’s evident that Del Rey has been getting more comfortable with teaming up with other artists too, which only makes sense. She’s been around for nearly a decade, and her distinct voice is so romantic and nostalgic, it has the power to make whatever track she’s on that much more dynamic.

Most recently, she appeared on the lead track in the new Charlie’s Angels trailer. The title is currently unknown, but Del Rey sings alongside two other megastar vocalists, Ariana Grande (co-executive producer) and Miley Cyrus, making for what could possibly be one of the biggest female-powered partnerships this year. While the world is eagerly anticipating the full new song from the three stars, we can’t help but look back at Del Rey’s past collaborations. Since there are so many great ones, we’ve decided to highlight a few.

“Lust for Life” (feat. The Weeknd)

 

 

Del Rey and The Weeknd have collaborated a couple of times in the past, so when he appeared on the title track of her 2017 album, listeners were already familiar with the sultry pair. The video that came along with it was equally as dreamy as the song, with the two playing each other’s love interest in a lo-fi visual on top of the Hollywood sign.

“Summer Bummer” (feat. A$AP Rocky & Playboi Carti)

“Summer Bummer” was another Lust for Life highlight with the help of rappers A$AP Rocky and Playboi Carti. It seems like an unusual pairing at first glance, but it really works as Del Rey embraces a hip-hop-leaning beat and ad libs aplenty, courtesy of Carti.

“Beautiful People Beautiful Problems” (feat. Stevie Nicks)

Conversely, the duet partner in “Beautiful People Beautiful Problems” makes perfect sense right off the bat. With Del Rey’s nostalgic vocals, it already feels like she was meant to be a star decades ago. Then she teamed up with Nicks, one of rock’s most esteemed stars, and shot to a whole new level.

“Tomorrow Never Came” (feat. Sean Ono Lennon)

Del Rey didn’t collaborate with just anyone on Lust for Life: She enlisted Beatles progeny Lennon for this folk-tinged lullaby. With acoustic guitars and gorgeous melodies, they know how to tell a compelling story. At the end, Del Rey even sings, “Lennon and Yoko, we would play all day long/ ‘Isn’t life crazy?,’ I said now that I’m singin’ with Sean.”

“God Save Our Young Blood” (by Børns)

Del Rey opens up Borns’ 2018 album, Blue Madonna, and helps set the tone with “God Save Our Young Blood.” Del Rey’s voice complements the Michigan-born electro-pop singer perfectly, since they both have that sultry sound and infatuated lyricism.

“Stargirl Interlude” (by The Weeknd)

The Weeknd is back with more Lana love. Before Lust for Life, Del Rey appeared on 2016’s Starboy for “Stargirl Interlude.” “I had a vision/ A vision of my nails in the kitchen,” she starts. “Scratching countertops, I was screaming/ My back arched like a cat.” Del Rey pretty much runs the show until the very end, when The Weeknd comes in singing, “I just wanna see you shine ‘cause I know you are a stargirl.”

“Prisoner” (by The Weeknd)

But wait — Del Rey and The Weeknd go back even further! On his 2015 LP, Beauty Behind the Madness, the “Born to Die” singer lends her whispery vocals to “Prisoner,” a bass-heavy track about feeling jaded and choosing to live a lonely life.

“Woman” (by Cat Power)

The world hadn’t heard much from Cat Power until she finally returned with 2018’s Wanderer. Six years after Cat Power’s last album, Sun, the only artist to be featured on the 2018 album was Del Rey, who, again, had the perfect soft and luscious voice to accompany the legendary singer-songwriter.

“You Must Love Me” – from Evita  (by Andrew Lloyd Webber)

Del Rey does Broadway. Unmasked featured some of Webber’s most iconic work in theater, including a cut from the film version of Evita, which won an Academy Award for best original song. Del Rey did the song and character justice with her gentle voice.

“Wait for Life” (by Emile Haynie)

Haynie is a megaproducer who produced Bruno Mars’ “Gorilla” and “Locked Out of Heaven,” Drake’s “Too Much” and, of course, Del Rey’s Born to Die. Two years after that album was released, Haynie released his own album, We Fall, which was highly collaborative and featured guest vocals from Del Rey as well as Lykke Li, Randy Newman and more. On “Wait for Life,” Del Rey delivered another distinctive, daydreamy performance.

“Summer Wine” (feat. Barrie James O’Neill)

In 2013, Del Rey teamed up with O’Neill of Kassidy for this Lee Hazlewood cover. They also released a video for it, which captures the original ’60s vibes while the two frolic on the beach, hold each other and go to the pier at night.