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Only one day after Lana Del Rey offered up a trailer for her “National Anthem” music video, we’ve now been delivered the full reveal. Thanks to yesterday’s offering — as well as previous reports — we already knew that the video finds the singer portraying the former First Lady Jackie O while rapper A$AP Rocky would be inhabiting the character of JFK (as we noted yesterday, we’re still not entirely sure how dude was cast here). But to see both of them fully take on their respective characters is honestly quite impressive. Whether making a picnic in the Hamptons, yachting or reenacting that fateful day JFK was assassinated, Del Rey and Rocky deliver a stunning cinematic performance. Watch Lana Del Rey’s new A$AP Rocky-featuring video for “National Anthem” below and find out more of our reaction after the jump.

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What’s even more impressive than Del Rey’s portrayal of Jackie O is that it’s the second major historical figure she inhabits in the video. At the start of the nearly eight-minute long video, Del Rey is full-on Marilyn Monroe, wooing Rocky with the singer’s classically seductive rendition of “Happy Birthday, Mr. President.” But it’s when Del Rey steps into the skin of President Kennedy’s better-half that she truly shines. Really, just look at her sprawled out atop a bear rug or tending to her camellia bushes. It’s all so elegant and retro-shick — just the way Del Rey likes it.
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As it’s been the case since she rose to national prominence, the question many will have is whether to view this as an original artistic statement or a forced attempt at creativity. If you saw our OneTwoWatch video with her back in January, you know where we stand.
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While “Video Games” and “Blue Jeans” chopped up vintage VHS footage, splicing it all together into something resembling a home-video scrapbook, the video for “National Anthem,” while still retaining the same vintage vibe, feels more complete. Del Rey’s vision here — although a bit overdone — has been carried out to fruition
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What do you think? Watch Lana Del Rey’s video for “National Anthem” below and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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