Valley of the Dolls is a song by Welsh singer-songwriter MARINA and is the tenth track on her second studio album, Electra Heart.
The song was written by Marina, Devrim Karaoğlu and Rick Nowels, and produced by Karaoğlu and Nowels.
Valley of the Dolls is a 'Housewife' song.
Background[]
Inspired by both the film of the same name and her time living in Los Angeles (which she noted can be "such an empty place"), Diamandis described the song as being about "the void—the emptiness every person in their life at some point...though some people feel it more than others".
The song was the final song written for the UK edition of the album, and the second-to-last song written for the US edition after the last minute addendum of How to Be a Heartbreaker.[1] Therefore it was written after October 2011, when Primadonna was written.[2]
Trivia[]
- In 2021, co-writer and producer Rick Nowels, called Valley of the Dolls one of his all time favourites, and "European Classic".[3]
- The interlude Su-Barbie-A uses the instrumental of Valley of The Dolls.
Connections[]
- Valley of the Dolls is a 'Housewife' song, along with Lies, and Su-Barbie-A.
The theme of oblivion: "Racing down into oblivion" links the song to:
- Eternity: "I feel like oblivion, like an empty stadium."
The theme of death: "I can feel it coming to the end, the end." links the song to:
- Eternity: "It’s the last night of my life, I’ll give you a last goodbye."
Official Versions[]
| Version | Released on | Date | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ | Album [Stems] [Inst.]
|
Electra Heart | 27 Apr 2012 | 4:13 |
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
In the Valley of the Dolls we sleep, we sleep
Got a hole inside of me, of me
[Pre-Chorus]
Born with a void, hard to destroy with love or hope
Built with a heart broken from the start, and now I die slow
[Chorus]
In the Valley of the Dolls, we sleep
Got a hole inside of me
Livin' with identities that do not belong to me
In my life I got this far
Now I'm ready for the last hurrah
Dyin' like a shooting star in the Valley
In the Valley-ey-ey-ey
In the Valley-ey-ey
[Verse 2]
Pick a personality for free
When you feel like nobody, 'body
[Pre-Chorus]
Born with a void, hard to destroy with love or hope
Built with a heart broken from the start, and now I die slow
[Chorus]
In the Valley of the Dolls, we sleep
Got a hole inside of me
Livin' with identities that do not belong to me
In my life I got this far
Now I'm ready for the last hurrah
Dyin' like a shooting star in the Valley
In the Valley-ey-ey-ey
In the Valley-ey-ey
[Bridge]
Back to zero, here we go again, again
Racing down into oblivion
Back to zero, here we go
I can feel it comin' to the end, the end
[Chorus]
In the Valley of the Dolls, we sleep
Got a hole inside of me
Livin' with identities that do not belong to me
In my life I got this far
Now I'm ready for the last hurrah
Dyin' like a shooting star
In the Valley-ey-ey-ey
In the Valley-ey-ey
In the Valley-ey-ey-ey
In the Valley-ey-ey
Credits[]
Personnel[]
- Marina Diamandis - All vocals
- Rick Nowels - Keyboards
- Devrim Karaoglu - Drums, Bass, Keyboards
- Rusty Anderson - Bazouki, Electric guitars
Technical[]
- Written by Marina Diamandis / Devrim Karaoglu / Rick Nowels
- Published by Warner Chappell Music Ltd (PRS) / Karaoglu Music (GEMA), R-Rated Music administered by EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP)
- Produced by Rick Nowels and Devrim Karaoglu
- Recorded by Kieron Menzies in the Green Building, Sa Hackney, London
- Additional engineering by Nigel Lundemo and John Ingoldsby
- Assistant engineer Trevor Yasuda
- Programming Devrim Karaoglu
- Strings arranged and conduced by David Campbell
- Engineered by Charlie Paakkari at the Village Studios, L.A.
- Mixed by Mark "Spike" Stent at the Mixsuite L.A.
- Assisted by Matty Green
- Mastered by Chris Gehringer at Sterling Sound, New York, NY
References[]
- ↑ "Marina and the Diamonds | "Electra Heart" Album Interview. Part 3." YouTube. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
- ↑ https://youtu.be/FeR9MqCmVQQ?t=1161
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CS2Vug2hej1/
 | |
|---|---|
| Tour ♡ Merch ♡ Photography ♡ Tumblr ♡ 'The Archetypes' ♡ die Life ♡ Collaborators | |
| Discography | |
| Releases | Electra Heart |
| Tracklist | Bubblegum Bitch ♡ Primadonna ♡ Lies ♡ Homewrecker ♡ Starring Role ♡ The State of Dreaming ♡ Power & Control ♡ Living Dead ♡ Teen Idle ♡ Valley of the Dolls ♡ Hypocrates ♡ Fear and Loathing ♡ Radioactive ♡ Sex Yeah ♡ Lonely Hearts Club ♡ Buy the Stars ♡ How to Be a Heartbreaker ♡ E.V.O.L ♡ Electra Heart |
| Non-Album | |
| Outtakes | Double Life ♡ Eternity |
| Interludes | Su-Barbie-A ♡ The Archetypes |
| die Life | Miss Y ♡ Scab and Plaster |
| Misc | Boyfriend ♡ Bump in the Night ♡ Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas ♡ Just Desserts |
| Other Eras | |
| Mermaid vs. Sailor • The Family Jewels • Electra Heart • FROOT • LOVE + FEAR • Ancient Dreams • Sixth Studio Album (Upcoming) | |