Summertime Sadness
Song DNA
A hauntingly beautiful song exploring themes of loss and longing.
Cultural Context
Iconic in the indie pop genre, known for its cinematic style.
Listening Prompt
Take in the lush production and evocative lyrics.
What to Expect
Maintains a steady, reflective mood throughout.
Hear it the way it was made
The right gear changes everything.
Moods: contemplative, melancholy
How this song sits on each sensory axis
A dynamic range of 6/10 means this song moves. Expect a real volume climb between quiet sections and the loudest part of the arrangement — enough that you may want to set the initial volume below where you'd normally land.
Sudden changes: none. Transitions are musically signaled — nothing will surprise you if you're only half-listening.
Texture: smooth.
Predictability is medium — conventional structure overall, with one or two moments that deviate from what you'd expect.
Vocal style: soft vocals.
Where this sits in Lana Del Rey's catalog
We have 66 songs from Lana Del Rey in the library. Of those, 33 are rated Safe, 31 Moderate, and 2 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 6/10 sits above the artist average of 4.9, making it the #6 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.
Other tracks from Born to Die
We have 10 songs from this album. Overall, the album leans moderate in sensory profile.
- Video Games — safe DR 4
- Young and Beautiful — moderate DR 6
- Born to Die — moderate DR 6
- Blue Jeans — moderate DR 6
- National Anthem — moderate DR 6
- Dark Paradise — safe DR 4
- Carmen — moderate DR 5
- Million Dollar Man — safe DR 4
- Off to the Races — moderate DR 6
2012 context
Released in 2012. We have 261 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.5/10. This track is about average than the year average. Explore more from the 2010s.
Explore by mood and tradition
Why this rating
We rate this song Moderate because it falls between our Safe and Intense thresholds on at least one dimension. Moderate is the default for most well-produced music that has real arc but no surprise elements. Full rubric: methodology.
Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-04. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.
Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.
Frequently asked about "Summertime Sadness"
Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.
What is the sensory intensity of "Summertime Sadness" by Lana Del Rey?
"Summertime Sadness" by Lana Del Rey rates as Moderate intensity. Dynamic range 6/10, none sudden changes, smooth texture. Moderate is the default for well-produced music with real arc but no surprise elements.
How loud is "Summertime Sadness" — what is its dynamic range?
"Summertime Sadness" has a dynamic range of 6/10. Noticeable climb from quiet sections to loudest point. Set opening volume slightly lower than your preferred peak.
Does "Summertime Sadness" have sudden or surprising changes?
No. "Summertime Sadness" has no sudden unsignaled changes. Every transition is musically telegraphed.
What is "Summertime Sadness" best for?
In our library "Summertime Sadness" is recommended for: anxiety relief, sleep. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.
When was "Summertime Sadness" released?
"Summertime Sadness" is from 2012, on the album "Born to Die". It appears in our 2010s catalog.
What is the emotional mood of "Summertime Sadness"?
We tag "Summertime Sadness" as contemplative, melancholy. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.
What is the vocal style of "Summertime Sadness"?
The vocal style is soft vocals.
Should I listen to "Summertime Sadness"?
"Summertime Sadness" is Moderate intensity — fine for most listeners, but with enough dynamic activity that it works best as active listening rather than background.
Songs with the same DNA
smooth texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.
Safer alternatives with a similar feel
These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.
What this song means to people
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