You’ve heard it in a crowded mall, at a bonfire, or maybe through a hazy TikTok filter. That low, velvet voice trailing off into a sigh. It’s haunting. It’s cinematic. It feels like a polaroid of a sunset that’s already started to fade. If you’re asking who sings the song summertime sadness, the answer is Lana Del Rey. But just saying her name feels like missing half the point because this song isn't just a track on a playlist; it’s basically the blueprint for an entire aesthetic that took over the internet in the early 2010s.
Lana Del Rey, born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, released "Summertime Sadness" as part of her second studio album, Born to Die, in 2012. At the time, the music industry didn't really know what to do with her. She wasn't a bubblegum pop star, and she wasn't exactly "indie" in the way people defined it back then. She was something else. Something darker.
Why "Summertime Sadness" is More Than Just a Pop Song
When people ask who sings the song summertime sadness, they are often trying to pin down that specific feeling the song evokes. It’s called "tragic glamour." Lana Del Rey co-wrote the track with Rick Nowels, a seasoned songwriter who has worked with everyone from Madonna to Stevie Nicks. Together, they created a soundscape that feels like a vintage film score mixed with trip-hop beats.
The lyrics are simple but heavy. "Kiss me hard before you go." It’s desperate. It’s beautiful. Most pop songs about summer are about beach parties and tan lines. This one is about mourning a relationship while the sun is still out. It’s counterintuitive. It’s brilliant. Honestly, it’s the reason why so many people still find themselves googling the song over a decade later.
The Cedric Gervais Remix: A Tale of Two Versions
Here is where things get a little confusing for casual listeners. If you heard a fast-paced, high-energy version of the song on the radio in 2013, you might be wondering if it's the same artist. It is.
French DJ Cedric Gervais took the melancholic original and flipped it into a massive EDM hit. This remix actually peaked higher on the Billboard Hot 100 than the original version did. It reached number 6. While the original is a slow burn, the remix turned it into a festival anthem. It’s a weird paradox—thousands of people dancing in the mud to a song about profound grief and "sadness."
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Cedric Gervais actually won a Grammy for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical for his work on the track. So, while Lana Del Rey is the voice and the soul behind the lyrics, the version that dominated the airwaves owed a lot to the house music scene.
The Visuals That Defined an Era
You can't talk about who sings the song summertime sadness without talking about the music video. Directed by Kyle Newman and Spencer Susser, it stars Lana and actress Jaime King.
The video is shot to look like old 8mm and 16mm home movies. It’s grainy. It’s washed out. It tells a story of two friends (or lovers, depending on your interpretation) who eventually commit suicide. It’s heavy stuff for a music video. This visual style—the flower crowns, the vintage Americana, the "sad girl" trope—basically built the foundation for Tumblr culture.
Lana wasn't just singing; she was world-building. She created a persona that felt reachable yet distant.
Does She Still Sing It Live?
Absolutely. If you catch a Lana Del Rey set today, "Summertime Sadness" is almost always on the setlist. However, she usually performs the original orchestral version rather than the club remix. Over the years, her voice has matured. She often leans into the lower register now, making the song feel even more operatic than it did in 2012.
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Fans have noticed she sometimes changes the tempo or skips certain high notes to let the audience scream them back at her. It’s a communal experience now. A rite of passage for anyone who felt "weird" in high school.
The Legacy of the "Sad Girl" Aesthetic
Lana Del Rey paved the way for artists like Billie Eilish, Lorde, and Olivia Rodrigo. Before her, pop was very loud, very bright, and very "happy." She made it okay to be miserable in a beautiful way.
When you look at the stats, "Summertime Sadness" is one of the most streamed songs of its decade. It has billions of plays across platforms. It’s been covered by Miley Cyrus, who did an acoustic, country-tinged version for BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge. That cover alone introduced a whole new audience to the song.
Why the Song Still Goes Viral Every Year
Every year, like clockwork, "Summertime Sadness" starts trending again in late August. It’s the unofficial anthem for the "end of summer blues."
Social media users use the audio to document the transition from August to September. It’s a mood. It’s a seasonal vibe. It’s also a testament to Lana’s songwriting that a track can stay relevant for so long without sounding dated. The production by Emile Haynie and Nowels has aged remarkably well. It doesn't scream "2012" the way a lot of other pop songs from that year do.
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Fast Facts About the Track
If you're looking for the quick hits on the background of this masterpiece, here's the breakdown. No fluff.
The song was recorded primarily in California, which makes sense given the "West Coast" vibe Lana is famous for. It was released as the fourth single from Born to Die in Germany and the sixth single globally. It’s certified multi-platinum in several countries, including the US and the UK.
Interestingly, the song didn't take off immediately. It was a slow burn. It took months for it to permeate the mainstream, eventually becoming a staple of "alternative pop."
Who Else Has Covered It?
Aside from Miley Cyrus, several other artists have tried their hand at the track.
- Within Temptation: The Dutch symphonic metal band gave it a soaring, theatrical makeover.
- The Vamps: A pop-rock take that stripped away some of the darkness.
- Jaten Dimsdale (Teddy Swims): Known for his soulful voice, he brought a totally different R&B grit to the melody.
None of them quite capture the original’s ghost-like quality, though. There is something about Lana’s specific delivery—the way she almost slurs certain words—that makes it uniquely hers.
Actionable Steps for Music Discovery
If you’ve just discovered who sings the song summertime sadness and you want to dive deeper into that specific sound, you shouldn't just stop at that one track. Lana Del Rey’s discography is massive, but it’s not all the same.
- Listen to the album Born to Die: This is the entry point. It contains "Video Games" and "Blue Jeans," which are the spiritual siblings of "Summertime Sadness."
- Check out Ultraviolence: If you like the darker, grittier side of the song, this album was produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys and has a much more "rock" feel.
- Watch the music video for "Ride": It’s a ten-minute short film that explains the philosophy behind Lana’s music better than any article ever could.
- Compare the versions: Go on YouTube and listen to the original album version, then the Cedric Gervais remix, then a live performance from 2023. Notice how the song changes meaning depending on the tempo.
Lana Del Rey is an artist who rewards deep listening. She’s not just a singer; she’s a storyteller. "Summertime Sadness" was just the beginning of a career that has redefined what it means to be a woman in the music industry today. Whether you’re listening to it because you’re actually sad or just because you like the beat, it remains a cornerstone of modern pop culture.