Born to Die is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey and marked her major-label debut when it arrived on January 27, 2012, via Interscope and Polydor Records. The album was reissued later that year on November 9 as The Paradise Edition, with the additional tracks also released separately on the Paradise EP.

In the lead-up to the album’s release, Del Rey garnered significant attention with her 2011 singles “Video Games” and “Born to Die,” songs that stood out for blending cinematic orchestration and dramatic strings with the era’s electronic and dance influences. Musically, the album leans heavily into baroque pop and trip hop, maintaining that lush, filmic atmosphere. Its lyrics explore themes of love, sex, and drugs while drawing on imagery from 1950s and 1960s Americana. Born to Die became the world’s fifth best-selling album of 2012, and in 2023 it became only the second album by a female artist to spend more than 500 weeks on the Billboard 200. It peaked at No. 2 in the U.S. and reached No. 1 in Australia and several European countries, including France, Germany, and the UK.

Four additional singles supported the album: “Blue Jeans,” “Summertime Sadness,” “National Anthem,” and “Dark Paradise.” “Summertime Sadness” climbed to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Del Rey’s highest-charting U.S. single at the time. Upon release, the album divided critics—its distinctive sound earned praise, while some reviewers criticized it for being repetitive and overly melodramatic. Del Rey’s public image during the promotional period also stirred controversy, with tabloids accusing her of using contrived marketing strategies to appeal to the indie scene. Despite the mixed early reception, Born to Die has since appeared in multiple best-of lists, including those by The Guardian and NME, and played a major role in solidifying Del Rey’s cult following.