Lana Del Rey and the struggle to be mysterious in pop

Lana Del Rey and the struggle to be mysterious in pop Getty Images The acclaimed star has always cultivated an enigmatic image – but that has been eroded recently by various public controversies. More This mystique is a key part of her appeal, but it comes at a price – namely, fans and critics asking: "Who is the real Lana Del Rey?" The lack of privacy that exists for anyone with even a modicum of celebrity today makes it challenging to create a sense of mystique – Courtney Smith Impressively, though Del Rey is playing this "dark" game at a time when artists are subject to increasingly close scrutiny, she has maintained much of her mystique. On this occasion, Del Rey also responded with an Instagram comment, insisting she had simply cited her "favourite" artists and saying it was "sad" to make it an issue involving women of colour. However, Daly says it's difficult to apply the same rationale to Del Rey's decision to speak out "just as strongly" when NPR music critic Ann Powers wrote about her "persona" in a generally favourable 2019 review – something Del Rey firmly denied she has.