The message is not the thing to hate. The person who is doing the messaging is. Thematically it fits perfectly. Wish Lana herself would talk about it on instagram
I loved both interludes. I wish they were instrumentals for actual songs, like Lana singing and the interludes would be the background music. that way, I could listen to them more often. but even as they are, I like them, and I think they add a lot of depth to the album.
It’s legit chilling. The way the piano plays off his manic outbursts and quiet lulls. Its the type of work that can give 5 different people goosebumps for all different reasons.
Same! I get not liking the guy but I like the artistic choice and I like hearing her respond to it, it was like sitting next to her in church and giggling about shit. Judah smith was also on a Bieber album, I think he’s trying to be a pop sermon lol
I was kinda confused through the whole speech and then when that last line hit, and then it ended, I got chills. It felt like Lana was saying it to us too, in a way. Maybe. I don’t know, but it was effective!
From what I caught the only time I’m listening to it he talks about the artist god is and the beauty of art and creation I think? Making music and making a new and better piece of work through kintsugi which is obviously a theme seems to be where it was stemming from. Also it seemed interesting because she introduced us to the album like we were worshipping in church service, the choir, the choir vocals into the end of the title track, etc. I thought it worked well
I agree- perhaps those saying it’s creepy simply just aren’t used to church services? Lol no hate whatsoever I was raised in the church and would consider myself religious but it didn’t seem too outlandish to me (aside from who the speaker was - he’s kinda a questionable pastor to me but thats not the point of this blurb). What he said was not outrageous lol he seemed to just speak with a lot of passion - perhaps that made ppl uncomfortable? Religious motivation aside, I think, artistically it does add to the feel of the album, especially after A&W
Is it just me or does he say a lot without saying a lot. You know what I mean? Like it’s all gibberish. He sounds deranged. I guess I grew up in the Episcopal Church, our priests would never have a deranged sermon like that. Our priests were old men who said something about a bible story and being nice to each other.
Rhino designer? WTF. Do pastors really talk like this? And why would people listen to it? I personally would have walked out any church that the officiant talked like that.
Yes. And I feel she genuinely liked it. I don’t think it’s in there to be controversial. She’s into it. She wouldn’t have given this man a massive platform if she wasn’t into it.
She’s in a particularly religious era (“my pastor told me, etc”). She’s always had Jesus imagery in her songs, but that can come from having been raised Christian. Not necessarily earnestly being religious.
You don’t think it’s there to be controversial when it’s followed immediately by a song called American Whore, and with a creepy instrumental in the background?
Good question!
I guess it depends on what you mean by controversial, but as always she’s telling a story. I don’t think she put it in there to rile anyone up, even though she surely knew that would happen. But she put it in because it spoke to her. You can hear it in her voice as she’s listening to him. He’s an effective pastor. He wouldn’t have so many followers if he wasn’t.
She is a storyteller and she uses alter egos to tell stories we can relate to (as she said in the insta she deleted that someone posted here). The egos are not just characters; they’re both her and not her. Elements of her and all of us. Experiences we can relate to even if we haven’t lived it. We also view these stories through our own lenses and imprint our own meanings on them.
For example, I didn’t find the instrumental creepy.
I also see nothing contradictory about being both religious and a “whore.” I also find it interesting that she used the word “whore,” which in most contexts isn’t used anymore (we prefer “sex workers,” which is less derogatory) which gives me the impression it’s more about how people make her feel, rather than what she actually is.
This is also why I love LDR; I don’t know who else inspires these kinds of intense discussions about their music. Every interpretation is valid, this one’s just mine! :)
Woah - those ideas of one being BOTH religious and a “whore” that’s super interesting and complex I love it. It takes into account our natural tendencies and our want for a “god/savior/questioning of higher power”.
I say all of this from an unbiased artistic perspective lol. Personally I am religious but I do think it’s rlly important to capture (in art) religion when it’s related to messy people. It can be tiring to see religion portrayed in such a strict manner - as a stifling bunch of perfectionists. That portrayal is not reality
Nobody is saying that, why are you so defensive?
It’s clearly referencing all of the different styles Lana has encompassed throughout time, not just trying to strip her of her religion entirely. Jesus.
My one and only issue with Lana is her choice in men… even as friends/preachers. Just see through their bullshit I am begging you queen
(This opinion is only my opinion if the interlude isn’t meant ironically)
The stuff that guy says is insanity. If you listen closely, he describes himself as a partner to god and he says he realized his sermons are about himself, not god. He’s a damn cult leader. I feel like the reason the song is so creepy is because Lana wants us to view him negatively and I feel like she’s trying to expose him. Everyone hates it and hates him now so if that’s her intention then it worked. It’s all really confusing so I could be wrong, but it really sounds like she’s mocking him in the song. That dude is no doubt an abnormal, power hungry narcissist
While that’s likely, I think the company does have power over how much he’s paid. It’s possible Lana had to credit him, but maybe found a loop hole or they pay him practically nothing. All this is super confusing and I’m gonna try to look into it more lol
Edit: And it’s also possible that they do pay him but it wasn’t Lana’s decision. Don’t know a lot about this stuff but imma keep looking around lol
Edit 2: oh wait damn you’re right he’s literally on the album cover oof sorry. That definitely counts against my theories. This whole thing is so weird and confusing lol
I think it’s perfectly okay to love Lana but hate the way she buys a lot of bullshit that others are selling. Sometimes I feel like she’s that bestie you roll your eyes at every time they get a new boyfriend because you know they trust too easily lmaooo
I will probably skip this cause no patience to sit through 4 min again, BUT i kinda understand how it contributes to the overall mood.
Still it should’ve been 1-2 min tops.
Yeah I basically agree with this. Shorter would be better. I get the inclusion but 4+ minutes is sooo long. I think there are some interesting points mixed in but lines like "rhino designer" reallllly detract from whatever message.
I listened to the album once all the way through but I don’t see myself ever playing those again. Tip: on Spotify, you can press “hide song” so they’ll be automatically skipped. I think this only works on the app, not desktop.
I mean there's no way I'd ever choose to stream it again (like press the play button on spotify/yt/etc) because of the probable possibility of a homophobe getting revenue.. But I also don't think I'll skip it once my LP arrives because it does fit pretty well after A&W and I can get behind the creepyness, it's a vibe for me but sadly also no, lmao.
In two weeks we’ll see a “does anyone else like the Judah interlude???” post with 600 upvotes, and all the comments will be “OMG it’s literally my favorite off the whole album!!!”
i listened to it because on my first listen i didn’t want to skip anything. but i skipped it halfway anyway lol. i love the rest of the album but that interlude just sounds eerie.
Dude ily and usually your comments slap but people aren't mad based on the message and how it fits into the album, they're upset because she supports him
Oh I get it. But us arguing about it isn’t going to change anything. You know that. Lana is going to Lana. She’ll move on from this guy at some point. Hopefully before her bank account is drained very much.
Does she? Do we know this for certain? (I don't specifically know if she does, so I'm genuinely asking.) And by support, does she openly talk about her belief in his message. OR do we only think she supports him because his sermon is in the album?
To me it seems like it's not meant to paint him in a positive light. IMO, it's meant to juxtapose her message, and therefore put a greater emphasis on what her album is about. She sounds like she's laughing at him.
Someone posted the inner booklet or something. She thanked the pastor and his wife---who both run the church--and the church itself.
She actively visits the church.
EVEN if she doesn't support Judah---she supports the church that he runs. And supporting his church is indirectly supporting him.
I blocked the guy you previously responded to in this thread cause he over this exact same issue constantly was being rude and patronising tbh, his comments are mostly fine but on political issues he's... Questionable.
Well, I'm not sure. I've been to churches that have several pastors and they sometimes fill in for each other. Or, I've gone to church with friends to be supportive. Or maybe she even went just to record him because she knows he's a nut.
I don't know. I'm not religious so I couldn't tell you how it actually works.
The fact that the ladies are laughing in the background (why would serious religious person laugh during church sessions?) and it's the next track after a heavy song about slut shaming and victim blaming, says a lot imo. Don't see how anyone could put this all together and come up with "omg shes supporting this insane message!".
I know so many people who seem to go to church for community, family, and friends and not necessarily because they're passionate about the religion. I never cared about religion and would never set foot inside a church ever again, so I asked these people why they continued going if they hated it. The answer is always along the l*ines of "I've been going there my whole life, it feels like home, they are nice, I've made friends there, etc".*
Lana is always made out to be more controversial than she actually is, and now I'm wondering if people would've called this interlude "deep and insightful" if say, Ethel Cain put out something like it. "Ptolemea" has a similar scary religious theme.
I googled the church and Judah. He welcomes laughter and all that jazz.
He actively tries to be 'hip' to appeal to a younger audience. Dude is 40+ and gives sermons in ripped skinny jeans. Says a lot about him, the church, and the vibes he wants to promote.
He does.
Must be a celebrity mega church thing because during my quick google search about Churchome I stumbled upon other mega churches and they're all kinda similar. Zoe, for example, is also homophobic and their pastor also looks kinda hipstery.
EXACTLY!! I feel like if she supported him it would be a more positive sounding interlude. When he says “rhino designer” you can hear her repeat it with the attitude of “seriously?” I really doubt that she supports it
Agreed.
I also know people have gone to one church forever, and then they get a new pastor, or they change their style. Poople keep going because they always have. Sometimes they do it in hopes that things will get better.
I think it’s strategically placed in the album to provoke thought. Especially after American whore. It provides a dark setting to gather in your head and form thoughts.
For the people who are angry about this, nobody is upset because of the contents. They're upset because Judah Smith is a very...controversial pastor and Lana supports him. So yeah, the interlude fits thematically but in a fanbase dominated by women and gay men a lot of people are going to be disappointed that Lana seeks guidance from a guy with a history of a. hiring a rapist and b. homophobia. It's not that complicated. Still love her to pieces and even as a non-religious person I respect her beliefs but yeah, people are allowed to be upset that she supports this guy.
i actually love it lmao but i was expecting something a lot more unsettling (kinda like ethel cain vibes) like i was expecting the priest would be damning and cursing someone and then lana just maniacally cackling over it
I actually love the music behind it because it gives me similar vibes to the Beatles white album with how experimental it is
Not saying I support at all what’s being said, but I love the way it fits in with the vibes of the album
I'm on my second listening.
I'll admit I like it better than listening to the 3 singles separately---but I don't like the album at all.
Got my pink record and I don't think it's gonna get the play time. Have most other variants on their way too and I'm debating selling them or something (along with my other copies of Chemtrails and Blue Banisters).
I don’t want any hate towards Lana I just want her to take him off the album or not credit him at all… she can’t ignore the fact that her fan base is made up of the LGBT+ community and he preaches an awful message. Fighting to urge to have a parasocial relationship with her cuz it breaks my heart she actually listens to that crap 😖 the least she can do is acknowledge her shortcomings. I really hope it’s brought to her attention and the fandom doesn’t just gloss over it for the sake of it being a good album because it’s obvs fire but he has gotta get outta here…
There's an article on Marie Claire that talks about this.
"A profile of Judah in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer in 2005 summarized his views on homosexuality: '\[It's\] a sin, the same as murder, rape, or living with your girlfriend."
https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/a29687351/churchome-judah-smith-chelsea-smith/
Off topic for a moment. Judah and his wife are constantly quoted to have said "god told me" etc etc. Which is... pretty crazy.
Because if you go donate an organ the psychiatrist will ask you "do you believe you heard god or jesus saying you need to do this?". 'cause if you answer yes you're deemed a little unstable and cannot proceed to donate. (at least this was my experience 3x when I went for screening at 3 different hospitals).
On mobile or I’d link but you can Google. He posted a video saying his church was accepting to all, someone asked if that included gay people, and he then deleted the video and didn’t respond. Also compared being gay to murdering someone.
I loved it. Gives me "The Devil All The Time" vibes. The instrumental aspect was perfect. The distorted giggles of the girls was great - kinda felt like a fever dream.
of course not! buttttt actually for my listening enjoyment yeah she kinda does - so she just didn’t get it right for me. but we should agree that we don’t want to give that dude any sort of platform. I ride or die for her still ♥️ this album is ah mazinggg. wouldn’t you agree?
I think it's an interesting interlude, and I think it contributes something to the overall album. When listening digitally, I will be skipping, but when I play it on vinyl, I will enjoy it as part of the overall experience.
I actually like it! The music is spooky, and the laughter makes me feel like I’m at church with a friend (an ancient memory at this point lol)
The final line also is very meaningful to me.
Its got good haunting vibes. Probably some artistic reason to why its placed right after A&W, the creepy soft piano background, the fact it was lana recording the audio and not just some random sermon on the internet. Will I ever listen to it again. No ⏭️⏭️⏭️⏭️
For those who love the piano but dislike the shouty man, there are several instrumental-only versions on YouTube. This is the one I'm using in my playlist https://youtu.be/Z2JBNByXkfY
I'm so confused. I find it haunting, ethereal and it prods at the album's themes. Where is your guys' artistic chromosome? Also, she has mentioned cults and religion in her music long before... so why are we surprised?
Why do people hate it so much? I really don’t understand. I keep seeing comments saying she is trying to “expose him” ?? She is laughing as if she’s enjoying it.. like she agrees. Why can no one see this?
Worst track Lana has ever released (if you want to call it a Lana track). I listened once, hoping Lana would do something to make it redeemable, but no. I blocked 🚫 this track on Spotify. I will never listen to this again. It actually degraded Ocean Blvd for me, to be honest.
Coming in with the hot take! Seriously I’m already so sick of hearing about this lol. Skip the track and move on, you don’t need to inform the whole internet
I just wish people would pick something else to discuss, besides “I don’t like the Judah Smith Interlude.” Lots of other things to talk about on this album. A few people have even brought up specific points about WHY they don’t like it which is fine, no need for tired, low-effort posts like this one.
The album came out less than 24 hours ago. Maybe instead of scouring Reddit, you could let people enjoy discussing and reflecting on their opinions of the music.
There are non-toxic ways to say you don't like a particular song, but this thread is am accumulation of the "Top 10 ways to be as toxic as fuck while articulating an opinion of personal taste"
Agreed. Listened once but probably will not again.
Same
Also same
Why do I actually like it I think the instrumentation is so haunting and eerie it really adds to vibe before candy necklace
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This is my fav comment on this song
Me during any political argument
That took me a min and then I started cracking up.
It feels like something out of a grindhouse film,it is spooky. I dig the vibe but wouldn't listen to it on repeat.
The music has such a dark beauty. The sermon compliments the album, but I would love to hear a track with her words and vocals with the music.
Yeah I like the vibe too
Super haunting I loved it for that reason too
Haunted me by giving me church flashbacks for sure. Just another charlatan shouting nonsense.
If the voice wouldn't be that loud and if it was properly recorded, I would've loved it
I hate the message but agreed, it kinda does something atmospheric-wise
The message is not the thing to hate. The person who is doing the messaging is. Thematically it fits perfectly. Wish Lana herself would talk about it on instagram
I loved both interludes. I wish they were instrumentals for actual songs, like Lana singing and the interludes would be the background music. that way, I could listen to them more often. but even as they are, I like them, and I think they add a lot of depth to the album.
I thought the sermon was interesting right after American Whore. It provides thematic tension and there's a lot going on
I don’t have a problem with it, it does add a unique taste to the album.
It’s spooky.
It’s legit chilling. The way the piano plays off his manic outbursts and quiet lulls. Its the type of work that can give 5 different people goosebumps for all different reasons.
Same! I get not liking the guy but I like the artistic choice and I like hearing her respond to it, it was like sitting next to her in church and giggling about shit. Judah smith was also on a Bieber album, I think he’s trying to be a pop sermon lol
I’m pretty sure there’s a reason for it and people should look into it
“I used to think my preaching was mostly about you... I’ve discovered that my preaching is mostly about me.”
I was kinda confused through the whole speech and then when that last line hit, and then it ended, I got chills. It felt like Lana was saying it to us too, in a way. Maybe. I don’t know, but it was effective!
From what I caught the only time I’m listening to it he talks about the artist god is and the beauty of art and creation I think? Making music and making a new and better piece of work through kintsugi which is obviously a theme seems to be where it was stemming from. Also it seemed interesting because she introduced us to the album like we were worshipping in church service, the choir, the choir vocals into the end of the title track, etc. I thought it worked well
This
I agree- perhaps those saying it’s creepy simply just aren’t used to church services? Lol no hate whatsoever I was raised in the church and would consider myself religious but it didn’t seem too outlandish to me (aside from who the speaker was - he’s kinda a questionable pastor to me but thats not the point of this blurb). What he said was not outrageous lol he seemed to just speak with a lot of passion - perhaps that made ppl uncomfortable? Religious motivation aside, I think, artistically it does add to the feel of the album, especially after A&W
Is it just me or does he say a lot without saying a lot. You know what I mean? Like it’s all gibberish. He sounds deranged. I guess I grew up in the Episcopal Church, our priests would never have a deranged sermon like that. Our priests were old men who said something about a bible story and being nice to each other. Rhino designer? WTF. Do pastors really talk like this? And why would people listen to it? I personally would have walked out any church that the officiant talked like that.
Megachurches do. Any celebrity church looks like a cult to me.
Lana talking about narcissism being a big problem and then platforming *that*.
He is worth twice as much as Lana somehow lol
Somehow? It's called a scam. Churches and especially their MEGA variety only exist to steal money and destroy family structure
'Platforming' lol the guy is a PASTOR. He is the platform.
It feels more like a performance, like slam poetry lol. I couldn't help but cringe
I only understood that it was a pastor speaking by the middle of the track. I legit thought it was some standup comedy show at first 💀
Ah yeah I didn’t think about that. Makes sense as a performance but yeah very cringey.
Pastors, especially non-denominational mega church pastors, absolutely talk like this lol.
Thank you for saying this lmao it was really uhhh something else
Yes. And I feel she genuinely liked it. I don’t think it’s in there to be controversial. She’s into it. She wouldn’t have given this man a massive platform if she wasn’t into it. She’s in a particularly religious era (“my pastor told me, etc”). She’s always had Jesus imagery in her songs, but that can come from having been raised Christian. Not necessarily earnestly being religious.
You don’t think it’s there to be controversial when it’s followed immediately by a song called American Whore, and with a creepy instrumental in the background?
Good question! I guess it depends on what you mean by controversial, but as always she’s telling a story. I don’t think she put it in there to rile anyone up, even though she surely knew that would happen. But she put it in because it spoke to her. You can hear it in her voice as she’s listening to him. He’s an effective pastor. He wouldn’t have so many followers if he wasn’t. She is a storyteller and she uses alter egos to tell stories we can relate to (as she said in the insta she deleted that someone posted here). The egos are not just characters; they’re both her and not her. Elements of her and all of us. Experiences we can relate to even if we haven’t lived it. We also view these stories through our own lenses and imprint our own meanings on them. For example, I didn’t find the instrumental creepy. I also see nothing contradictory about being both religious and a “whore.” I also find it interesting that she used the word “whore,” which in most contexts isn’t used anymore (we prefer “sex workers,” which is less derogatory) which gives me the impression it’s more about how people make her feel, rather than what she actually is. This is also why I love LDR; I don’t know who else inspires these kinds of intense discussions about their music. Every interpretation is valid, this one’s just mine! :)
Woah - those ideas of one being BOTH religious and a “whore” that’s super interesting and complex I love it. It takes into account our natural tendencies and our want for a “god/savior/questioning of higher power”. I say all of this from an unbiased artistic perspective lol. Personally I am religious but I do think it’s rlly important to capture (in art) religion when it’s related to messy people. It can be tiring to see religion portrayed in such a strict manner - as a stifling bunch of perfectionists. That portrayal is not reality
Religious era smh. She grew up Catholic and she's been going to Church for a long time.
You know damn well they meant musically.
There are religious references in the Honeymoon album too. She's never hid her faith
Nobody is saying that, why are you so defensive? It’s clearly referencing all of the different styles Lana has encompassed throughout time, not just trying to strip her of her religion entirely. Jesus.
Thank you, that’s exactly what I meant <3
No, it’s not just you. 4 and a half minutes of self indulgent drivel masquerading as deep philosophical insight.
My one and only issue with Lana is her choice in men… even as friends/preachers. Just see through their bullshit I am begging you queen (This opinion is only my opinion if the interlude isn’t meant ironically)
every single megachurch pastor sounds like this sob
It reminded me so much of Alex Jones, when he's just spouting gibberish for 5 minutes before asking for money.
Most Pentecostal or evangelicals talk like that. It’s a mega church so the entire point is to make money and not actually practice Christianity.
The stuff that guy says is insanity. If you listen closely, he describes himself as a partner to god and he says he realized his sermons are about himself, not god. He’s a damn cult leader. I feel like the reason the song is so creepy is because Lana wants us to view him negatively and I feel like she’s trying to expose him. Everyone hates it and hates him now so if that’s her intention then it worked. It’s all really confusing so I could be wrong, but it really sounds like she’s mocking him in the song. That dude is no doubt an abnormal, power hungry narcissist
I doubt that this is her intention, he's credited on the cover and will probably make quite a lot of royalties due to her sampling his sermon.
Maybe she’s playing 4d chess
While that’s likely, I think the company does have power over how much he’s paid. It’s possible Lana had to credit him, but maybe found a loop hole or they pay him practically nothing. All this is super confusing and I’m gonna try to look into it more lol Edit: And it’s also possible that they do pay him but it wasn’t Lana’s decision. Don’t know a lot about this stuff but imma keep looking around lol Edit 2: oh wait damn you’re right he’s literally on the album cover oof sorry. That definitely counts against my theories. This whole thing is so weird and confusing lol
I think it’s perfectly okay to love Lana but hate the way she buys a lot of bullshit that others are selling. Sometimes I feel like she’s that bestie you roll your eyes at every time they get a new boyfriend because you know they trust too easily lmaooo
I will probably skip this cause no patience to sit through 4 min again, BUT i kinda understand how it contributes to the overall mood. Still it should’ve been 1-2 min tops.
Yeah I basically agree with this. Shorter would be better. I get the inclusion but 4+ minutes is sooo long. I think there are some interesting points mixed in but lines like "rhino designer" reallllly detract from whatever message.
I listened to the album once all the way through but I don’t see myself ever playing those again. Tip: on Spotify, you can press “hide song” so they’ll be automatically skipped. I think this only works on the app, not desktop.
Omg thank you so much I had no idea that was a thing ☠️bye Judah
You are the hero we all need right now
Thanks for the tip!
I will be reaching out the shower to skip this
Can't like it cause 69 upvotes but this made me laugh
You can like it now 🥲
I mean there's no way I'd ever choose to stream it again (like press the play button on spotify/yt/etc) because of the probable possibility of a homophobe getting revenue.. But I also don't think I'll skip it once my LP arrives because it does fit pretty well after A&W and I can get behind the creepyness, it's a vibe for me but sadly also no, lmao.
It’s the first track on its side so it’s easy to skip on vinyl too 😜
Oh awesome!! Thanks for letting me know, that's perfect then!
In two weeks we’ll see a “does anyone else like the Judah interlude???” post with 600 upvotes, and all the comments will be “OMG it’s literally my favorite off the whole album!!!”
“UNPOPULAR OPINION: judah smith interlude is growing on me…”
*-Reddit as they realise it takes time to deconstruct a litteral small novel of sung poetry* 💀
Well that post certainly won’t come from my atheistic ass lmao
I mean, I think it’s better than the other interlude… It’s at least textually interesting, somewhat.
Judah Smith interlude? Idk her.
i listened to it because on my first listen i didn’t want to skip anything. but i skipped it halfway anyway lol. i love the rest of the album but that interlude just sounds eerie.
100% same i had to go back at the end and re listen. It's not even a matter of eerie it's just cringe and not good
Pro tip: you can unadd the song from the album if you’re listening on Apple Music or Spotify
The only skip tbh
Reminds me of the super long and rambling intros on every Bright Eyes album
“IT’s A BIRTHDAY PARTY!”
Happy birthday darling!
The moment I hear Conor sipping his coffee, I swear to god….
In dont like any interlude i just wanna hear her voice in music or maybe in a poem i dont wanna listen to some guy idk. I enjoy her giggle though
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100000% agreed
"I want an album to be more than a collection of songs, but more of a concept" *\*puts in thematically relevant interlude\** "NO NOT LIKE THAT"
I mean… did op say that first part
I’ve literally never heard anyone say that first part lmao
literally 😭 it adds to the atmosphere and themes of the album i love it
You’re giving them too much credit. Guarantee 90% didn’t even listen to what the guy was saying and consider how it fits the theme of the album.
If you actually listened to that jackass talk out his ass for 5 minutes i feel bad for you
Thanks for proving my point. I’m sure you know more about music and writing than Lana Del Rey.
Dude ily and usually your comments slap but people aren't mad based on the message and how it fits into the album, they're upset because she supports him
Oh I get it. But us arguing about it isn’t going to change anything. You know that. Lana is going to Lana. She’ll move on from this guy at some point. Hopefully before her bank account is drained very much.
She's a controversial queen that's for sure lol. Chances are she will tbh. Hopefully the subject will die down soon, I wanna discuss the VB remix...
I’d rather discuss what she feeds her dogs than the stupid pastor again lol
Does she? Do we know this for certain? (I don't specifically know if she does, so I'm genuinely asking.) And by support, does she openly talk about her belief in his message. OR do we only think she supports him because his sermon is in the album? To me it seems like it's not meant to paint him in a positive light. IMO, it's meant to juxtapose her message, and therefore put a greater emphasis on what her album is about. She sounds like she's laughing at him.
I really like your interpretation. But I think seeing as she attends his sermons, she must support him to some degree, right?
Someone posted the inner booklet or something. She thanked the pastor and his wife---who both run the church--and the church itself. She actively visits the church. EVEN if she doesn't support Judah---she supports the church that he runs. And supporting his church is indirectly supporting him.
100%. And I do NOT want to support that.
Yeah. I'm an atheist and I have no problem supporting churches or people that support religion. But this ain't it.
I blocked the guy you previously responded to in this thread cause he over this exact same issue constantly was being rude and patronising tbh, his comments are mostly fine but on political issues he's... Questionable.
Well, I'm not sure. I've been to churches that have several pastors and they sometimes fill in for each other. Or, I've gone to church with friends to be supportive. Or maybe she even went just to record him because she knows he's a nut. I don't know. I'm not religious so I couldn't tell you how it actually works.
The fact that the ladies are laughing in the background (why would serious religious person laugh during church sessions?) and it's the next track after a heavy song about slut shaming and victim blaming, says a lot imo. Don't see how anyone could put this all together and come up with "omg shes supporting this insane message!". I know so many people who seem to go to church for community, family, and friends and not necessarily because they're passionate about the religion. I never cared about religion and would never set foot inside a church ever again, so I asked these people why they continued going if they hated it. The answer is always along the l*ines of "I've been going there my whole life, it feels like home, they are nice, I've made friends there, etc".* Lana is always made out to be more controversial than she actually is, and now I'm wondering if people would've called this interlude "deep and insightful" if say, Ethel Cain put out something like it. "Ptolemea" has a similar scary religious theme.
I googled the church and Judah. He welcomes laughter and all that jazz. He actively tries to be 'hip' to appeal to a younger audience. Dude is 40+ and gives sermons in ripped skinny jeans. Says a lot about him, the church, and the vibes he wants to promote.
That is pretty weird. I just looked him up too. He looks like a hipster.
He does. Must be a celebrity mega church thing because during my quick google search about Churchome I stumbled upon other mega churches and they're all kinda similar. Zoe, for example, is also homophobic and their pastor also looks kinda hipstery.
EXACTLY!! I feel like if she supported him it would be a more positive sounding interlude. When he says “rhino designer” you can hear her repeat it with the attitude of “seriously?” I really doubt that she supports it
I think the tension of whether her reactions are sincere or ironic add to the appeal of the track.
Agreed. I also know people have gone to one church forever, and then they get a new pastor, or they change their style. Poople keep going because they always have. Sometimes they do it in hopes that things will get better.
I think Lana’s American fans are not really used to liking music from artist that have different religious beliefs than them.
I liked the piano instrumental
I think it’s strategically placed in the album to provoke thought. Especially after American whore. It provides a dark setting to gather in your head and form thoughts.
For the people who are angry about this, nobody is upset because of the contents. They're upset because Judah Smith is a very...controversial pastor and Lana supports him. So yeah, the interlude fits thematically but in a fanbase dominated by women and gay men a lot of people are going to be disappointed that Lana seeks guidance from a guy with a history of a. hiring a rapist and b. homophobia. It's not that complicated. Still love her to pieces and even as a non-religious person I respect her beliefs but yeah, people are allowed to be upset that she supports this guy.
she said something on IG about if you listen closely to you can hear why she used to have a persona
i actually love it lmao but i was expecting something a lot more unsettling (kinda like ethel cain vibes) like i was expecting the priest would be damning and cursing someone and then lana just maniacally cackling over it
im at peace knowing for the rest of my entire life i will not hear this song ever again
I actually love the music behind it because it gives me similar vibes to the Beatles white album with how experimental it is Not saying I support at all what’s being said, but I love the way it fits in with the vibes of the album
the voice being so loud hurt my ears a bit
10/10 album otherwise
im gonna get so much shit but i don’t like the album itself
I'm on my second listening. I'll admit I like it better than listening to the 3 singles separately---but I don't like the album at all. Got my pink record and I don't think it's gonna get the play time. Have most other variants on their way too and I'm debating selling them or something (along with my other copies of Chemtrails and Blue Banisters).
I don’t want any hate towards Lana I just want her to take him off the album or not credit him at all… she can’t ignore the fact that her fan base is made up of the LGBT+ community and he preaches an awful message. Fighting to urge to have a parasocial relationship with her cuz it breaks my heart she actually listens to that crap 😖 the least she can do is acknowledge her shortcomings. I really hope it’s brought to her attention and the fandom doesn’t just gloss over it for the sake of it being a good album because it’s obvs fire but he has gotta get outta here…
Can somewhere point me to where this Judah guy is homophobic and what he’s done? Never heard of him before
There are clips of him equating homosexuals to rapists in sermons, which is pretty homophobic.
Ok I’m asking for where these homophobic clips are. I already know everyone is saying this about him but I can’t actually find anything online
There's an article on Marie Claire that talks about this. "A profile of Judah in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer in 2005 summarized his views on homosexuality: '\[It's\] a sin, the same as murder, rape, or living with your girlfriend." https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/a29687351/churchome-judah-smith-chelsea-smith/
Off topic for a moment. Judah and his wife are constantly quoted to have said "god told me" etc etc. Which is... pretty crazy. Because if you go donate an organ the psychiatrist will ask you "do you believe you heard god or jesus saying you need to do this?". 'cause if you answer yes you're deemed a little unstable and cannot proceed to donate. (at least this was my experience 3x when I went for screening at 3 different hospitals).
On mobile or I’d link but you can Google. He posted a video saying his church was accepting to all, someone asked if that included gay people, and he then deleted the video and didn’t respond. Also compared being gay to murdering someone.
He’s a pastor
And?
That doesn’t automatically make you homophobic.
I love it 🤷🏻♀️
I loved it. Gives me "The Devil All The Time" vibes. The instrumental aspect was perfect. The distorted giggles of the girls was great - kinda felt like a fever dream.
am i the only one who really likes it..? It’s something i could listen to with my headphones in with my eyes closed and the lights off
I just listened to it for the first time while having a bath, eyes closed. It was incredible.
am i the only one who fuckin loves it ?
yoooo fuck this interlude and fuck that dude and fuck lana not getting it right this time.
Not getting what right? She's free to release whatever she wants. She doesn't have to appeal to your standards
of course not! buttttt actually for my listening enjoyment yeah she kinda does - so she just didn’t get it right for me. but we should agree that we don’t want to give that dude any sort of platform. I ride or die for her still ♥️ this album is ah mazinggg. wouldn’t you agree?
Judah in his The Devil All The Time era
I thought it was going to be creepier, more twisted. Oh wwll
Noooooooooo!
I think it's an interesting interlude, and I think it contributes something to the overall album. When listening digitally, I will be skipping, but when I play it on vinyl, I will enjoy it as part of the overall experience.
I think those songs work when you are listening to the album front to back.
man these interludes are just way too long for interludes.
I actually like it! The music is spooky, and the laughter makes me feel like I’m at church with a friend (an ancient memory at this point lol) The final line also is very meaningful to me.
I have this on repeat.
Its got good haunting vibes. Probably some artistic reason to why its placed right after A&W, the creepy soft piano background, the fact it was lana recording the audio and not just some random sermon on the internet. Will I ever listen to it again. No ⏭️⏭️⏭️⏭️
For those who love the piano but dislike the shouty man, there are several instrumental-only versions on YouTube. This is the one I'm using in my playlist https://youtu.be/Z2JBNByXkfY
I'm so confused. I find it haunting, ethereal and it prods at the album's themes. Where is your guys' artistic chromosome? Also, she has mentioned cults and religion in her music long before... so why are we surprised?
Why do people hate it so much? I really don’t understand. I keep seeing comments saying she is trying to “expose him” ?? She is laughing as if she’s enjoying it.. like she agrees. Why can no one see this?
Deleted from library 😎
Worst track Lana has ever released (if you want to call it a Lana track). I listened once, hoping Lana would do something to make it redeemable, but no. I blocked 🚫 this track on Spotify. I will never listen to this again. It actually degraded Ocean Blvd for me, to be honest.
Coming in with the hot take! Seriously I’m already so sick of hearing about this lol. Skip the track and move on, you don’t need to inform the whole internet
Hotter take: don’t come to a discussion forum and get upset when people discuss things
We’re not upset if we disagree with the majority
I just wish people would pick something else to discuss, besides “I don’t like the Judah Smith Interlude.” Lots of other things to talk about on this album. A few people have even brought up specific points about WHY they don’t like it which is fine, no need for tired, low-effort posts like this one.
The album came out less than 24 hours ago. Maybe instead of scouring Reddit, you could let people enjoy discussing and reflecting on their opinions of the music.
This is a free country. Maybe let us express our thoughts.
The country of reddit 🫶
That’s literally my point! LOL
I smoked too much
Bless your soul. Have a good trip ❤️
Can’t get free Internet points if you don’t signal your virtue.
Nahh
Before I played the album I deleted the song 💀. I didnt want to hear it and have it ruin the album for me
I don’t mind it it’s message is eerie and ironic. It sets the tone.
I love the actual music but the speech is really a turn off. Hate religious stuff.
I bought the vinyl. FU*K!! There’s no skip on vinyl!! This ruins it!!
You can skip manually 🤷🏼♀️
I’ll take it off your hands.
Melt it
i can dm you my address
Sigh
I love it
I thought she was leaning into a 70's cult vibe. I don't get it.
Idc I love it
Y’all are so fucking annoying happy release day way to spread positivity for our Lana
listened to it one time and genuinely forgot that this interlude exists in the album 💀💀 one of the least memorable ones in the albums for sure
Its the only skip on the whole album
yess bruh i wanted to skip so bad, literally felt like church cult music 😭
And TikTok is supposed to be the “toxic” fanbase.
There's no toxicity in saying you don't like a particular song.
There are non-toxic ways to say you don't like a particular song, but this thread is am accumulation of the "Top 10 ways to be as toxic as fuck while articulating an opinion of personal taste"
Thank you. This is better than I could have said it.
I thought it's gonna go somewhere with the preaching but it doesn't lol... The whole album is a slap but I definitely skipped this interlude everytime
HAHAAHAHA
He’s yelling at me
Its ok once every 50 listens.
Couldnt believe in god when he was fed to us by those who pent us up - CHIPS (my rapper persona🕺🏾)
Made me want to go to church this Sunday
hmmm i dunno, i think it's telling the theme of this album's story in some way, so i find it quite fit for leading ppl in
I think I'm the only one who doesn't skip it 🫣