It’s been four years since New Zealand singer Lorde released her third studio album, Solar Power. Now she’s back with a new single, “What Was That?” which emulates the punchy sound from her previous work while giving us a fresh perspective on her worldview. She’s also announced her newest album, Virgin, which will be released on June 27th.
To say fans are excited is an understatement — thousands of people came to sing at Washington Square Park after Lorde posted a photo with a time and date. Fans are ready for new music, and what better way to prepare than by looking back at some of the songs that made Lorde so present in pop culture?
From simples tunes chronicling the complexities of growing up to upbeat anthems of love and heartbreak, Lorde has a discography that’ll grip you and keep you thinking long after the music’s stops.
Ribs
No other song will make you sob like “Ribs.” Off Lorde’s debut album, Pure Heroine, “Ribs” describes the feeling of growing up, the fears, and the thrills. Lyrics like “Sharing beds like little kids and laughing till our ribs get tough” are vivid and perfectly capture the joys of childhood.
The sped-up repetition of the first and second verse emphasizes how quickly life passes by and how fleeting our adolescence is until it’s time for real life.
The song evokes a real sense of dread, which is why it’s so moving. Nostalgia drips, and the simple production from Lorde’s lyrics pick up gorgeously, letting the lyrics shine while still adding a beat to cry to. It’s the song you listen to alone after everyone’s left your graduation party.
Supercut
From her second album, Melodrama, “Supercut” dives into the complexities of past relationships. In the song, Lorde sings about an ex whom she’s now looking back on with fondness. She misses the relationship and all its good things. However, she knows that what she’s missing are just pieces of a whole picture. It’s just a supercut of their best moments that she’s reflecting on.
The production is vibrant and haunting. The end of the song fades out as Lorde repeats over and over, “In my head I do everything right,” trying to tell herself that everything was perfect.
The fade-out reinforces the idea that Lorde doesn’t fully believe herself, but she keeps repeating it. It’s a song that makes you miss the good while trying to forget the bad.
Yellow Flicker Beat
Written for the third Hunger Games film, “Yellow Flicker Beat” is an intense battle cry that mirrors Katniss’ journey as the Mockingjay.
The song starts out slow, with Lorde humming ominously before she starts singing. “I’m a princess cut from marble, smoother than a storm,” she sings as the humming intensifies. The song builds up for a minute before it explodes into a song full of anger and strength.
The anthem perfectly reflects Katniss’ part in the rebellion, showing Lorde’s strength as a writer. Not only can she write powerful songs about herself, but she can capture the energy of someone else.
Green Light
After the success of her first album, many people wondered if Lorde could follow it up. With her second album’s first single, “Green Light,” she proved that she was returning even stronger.
The song chronicles a relationship where Lorde was waiting for the green light to leave. She sings about her incompatibility with her partner, saying, “We order different drinks at the same bar.” The chorus booms into an epic chant, reflecting Lorde’s freedom from this past relationship.
Everything about “Green Light” is intense and liberating. Open your sunroof, lift your hands to the sky, and let the song carry you as you let everything go.
Team
What made Lorde so intriguing at the start of her career was her ability to capture small-town life perfectly. Lorde focused her music on quiet suburbia and simple moments in a sea of music about living large. “Team” is no exception.
Lorde sings about her small group of friends, saying they’re “not very pretty but they sure know how to run things.” She sings about their bond, their small town that isn’t glamorous, but it’s theirs.
It’s so refreshing to hear an artist sing about the plain life and make it sound special and magical. Lorde’s first album speaks to all those who live quietly but passionately, making their own space in an overwhelming world.
Perfect Places
As the closing song on Melodrama, “Perfect Places,” wraps up the heartbreak and drama on the album perfectly. The upbeat song addresses the urge to party and forget reality. Popping pills and taking strangers home sends Lorde to a “perfect place,” a place that’s euphoric and bright.
As the song goes on, Lorde starts to ask, “What the fuck are perfect places anyway?” She realizes that maybe what she’s partying for is nothing, an escape that’s more of a shiny distraction than an authentic happiness.
The song is fun but devastating, and it is a combination that Lorde does best. Addressing party culture in a deeply depressing and exceptionally raw way, “Perfect Places” is the perfect (no pun intended) way to close her brilliant album.
Writer in the Dark
While Lorde’s upbeat songs are brilliant, her ballads are strikingly chilling. “Writer in the Dark” is a song about anger, resentment, heartache, and desperation. Lorde sings about her partner dulling her shine, making her feel guilty for the fame she’s garnered. She’s devastated that he’s treating her so poorly, especially since she still loves him.
“I am my mother’s child, I’ll love you till my breathing stops, I’ll love you till you call the cops on me,” she sings in the chorus, her voice raspy and pleading. You can tell she’s clinging onto this love, even after she sings, “I’ll find a way to live without you, babe.” There’s hope there, but there’s also so much loss.
400 Lux
“400 Lux” is another song from Pure Heroine that captures simple suburbia. Lorde sings about driving around her small town, enjoying all the familiarity. She loves the houses that don’t change, the people she’s always with, and the comfort of having someone buy her orange juice.
The alarm sounds that open the song immediately draw you in, almost like a siren song. The sound entrances you until the beat kicks in and Lorde begins to sing. Her vocals are soft and enchanting, never going too high or too low. It sounds like a late-night drive when you’re tired and content.
Girl, So Confusing (ft. Lorde)
Where were you when Lorde and Charli XCX worked it out on the remix? On June 7th, 2024, Charli XCX released her raw hyperpop album, Brat, which included the song “Girl, so confusing.”
Listeners quickly pointed out that the song was most likely about Lorde. Charli’s relationship with Lorde has always been complicated. The two are often compared—their black hair and strong accents are enough reason for some to mix them up.
A few months after the song’s release, fans were shocked that a remix of “girl, so confusing” featuring Lorde was released. In Lorde’s verse, she apologizes to Charli, saying she had no idea Charli felt insecure around her. She opens up about her insecurities around fame and body image, making an already honest song even more raw.
The two singers come together at the end to say they’ve made up and are finally happy to understand one another. It’s a song for all girls, letting them know it’s okay to have complicated relationships because girlhood is complicated.
Royals
It’s only right to end this list with Lorde’s most iconic song. Her first-ever single, “Royals,” set the tone for who Lorde is as an artist. Her skills are sharpest when writing about simplicity, making the mundane illustrious. The first lines, “I’ve never seen diamond in the flesh,” tell us that she’s not surrounded by glamour. She’s just a girl who lives comfortably with her friends.
She’s not anyone special, not royalty, but in her small town, Lorde can almost believe she is. There is no need for opulent castles or extravagant jewelry; Lorde is happy in her own town, where she can go to the movies, ride the bus, and grow up surrounded by unforgettable friendships.
And Now We Wait
It’s hard to believe it’s been so long since we’ve gotten new Lorde music. With just three albums in her discography, Lorde has managed to capture the attention of millions and keep it.
Who knows what this new era will bring? Will we get small-town Lorde, heartbroken Lorde, or reflective Lorde? Maybe it’ll be a new thing entirely, a new feeling she’ll capture.
With “What Was That?” glimpses of Melodrama peek through while a new sound takes center stage, and the lyrics take us through the pains of an old relationship. Virgin might continue to borrow from past projects while still becoming something new. All we know really is that Lorde is back and ready to share herself with us again.
