[2] Critics described the genre of "Blue Jeans" as sadcore[3] and gothic pop;[4] Jon Dolan from Rolling Stone labelled the song a trip hop version of ZZ Top's "Sharp Dressed Man" (1983).

Robert Copsey of Digital Spy said "Blue Jeans" was "packed with vintage American grandeur as well as Del Rey's own menacing vocal as she holds out for her once-upon-a-time James Dean-esque lover - though we sincerely hope he hasn't met a similar end."

MTV reviewer, Nicole James, compared the possible death in "Blue Jeans" to the drowning of Jack in Titanic, adding: While we love LDR's whole "thing" she has going on, we're wondering when one of her videos is going to have a happy ending.

"And then Prince Charming kissed Sleeping Beauty and they lived happily ever after... until he got lazy, stopped bathing regularly and became clinically obsessed with World of Warcraft.

[9]The Huffington Post noted that "Blue Jeans" was faithful to Del Rey's musical formula of nostalgia and realism, combined by artful and deep lyrics.

[10] Slant Magazine said that Del Rey "uses her impressive range to dazzling effect on, "Blue Jeans", comparing her delinquent lover to both cancer and her favorite sweater in what seems like one swooning breath".

[11] NME said that ''Blue Jeans' lush Chris Isaak shades shimmer like sea-spume on Helena Christensen's naked thighs as Del Rey longs for her James Dean".

[13] Beats Per Minute said that "'Blue Jeans' would probably be described by Del Rey as 'gangsta Spaghetti Western', but, aside from its most basic of forced rhymes (''Cause I'mma ride or die / Whether you fail or fly / Well shit at least you tried'), it is still a clever spin on genre, sounding unique, even inspired".

[14] DOA magazine said that "The lyrics-centric story-telling 'Blue Jeans' slows it down a bit with a deliberate, but swinging beat as Lana delves into a relationship where the guy is a 'Big dreams / gangsta...' and the girl wants him to stop living that lifestyle.

[17] Consequence of Sound said that "'Blue Jeans' and 'Video Games' inextricably link Del Rey's flaxen locks with starry-eyed classical instruments, providing the aural and visual irresistibility of a good montage".

[19][20] The opening scene of the self-produced video contains a snippet of Lawrence Ferlinghetti reading the Lord's Prayer from the film, The Last Waltz and features footage from Australian photographer Nirrimi Joy Firebrace's "tender-hearted" project.

The implicit reference to Nancy Sinatra and her ancestral line of gloomy jazz, which fans find exciting, and critics call derivative, is still at work.