Lana Del Rey channels Marilyn Monroe and Jackie O. in cinematic clip for 'National Anthem' (Video)

Indie pop star Lana Del Rey unveiled her almost eight minute cinematic music video for the song, “National Anthem,” on Wednesday morning. This Anthony Mandler-directed clip is the latest from a series of videos promoting Del Rey's major label debut, Born to Die. In the video, Del Rey channels '60s American icons Marilyn Monroe and Jackie O. with her on-screen JFK played by indie rap artist A$AP Rocky.

NATIONAL ANTHEM youtube.com/watch?v=60cvtx…

— Lana Del Rey (@LanaDelRey) June 27, 2012

The music video begins with Del Rey approaching a podium in a black-and-white shot. She begins her rendition of Monroe's classic “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” with sultry vocals, smiles, and girlish charm. A$AP Rocky is then revealed to be the President John F. Kennedy in the video. “National Anthem” is shot in a vintage home movie-styled manner as various clips of Del Rey as Jackie O. and A$AP Rocky with their on-screen kids are shown. Del Rey and A$AP get awfully cozy in the couple role as drinking, smoking, and money run abound in the video to match the song's excess of fame theme. Del Rey sings the song in a light blue dress with her big hair done up while lying on a bear skin rug. Near the video's end, Del Rey mentions that her A$AP JFK became such a charismatic figure who was widely known to the American audience. She knew something was bound to happen with him in that role. Like the original JFK story, you can probably guess how this “Anthem” ends.

“National Anthem” follows the April's video premiere of Del Rey's other track, “Carmen.” Fittingly, the full “National Anthem” video was unveiled a few days before America's upcoming July 4 celebration. Del Rey revealed “Anthem” as the latest single from January's Born to Die album earlier this month when she unveiled the single's cover art. The “Video Games” singer is in her Marilyn Monroe persona with the lyrics, “Tell me I'm your national anthem,” across her eyes.

Del Rey recently performed her three-day residency shows in Los Angeles and New York earlier in the month to better reception than her infamous Saturday Night Live performances. Expect the singer to soon release a video for the song, “Summertime Sadness,” which she filmed in late April and early May. Del Rey is already hard at work on her second major label album.

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