By KYLIE POWERS
Staff Writer
In case anybody wants to feel old, it’s been three years since Lorde released her hit song “Royals” back in 2013. Yes, back a few years ago, the hit song seemed like an anomaly against the louder, noisier hits of 2013. That was the year of Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ “Thrift Shop,” Lady Gaga’s “Applause,” Imagine Dragon’s “Radioactive,” and yes, the “Harlem Shake.” Lorde’s hits at the time, before she disappeared, were quiet and subdued compared to the bawdier hits of that year.
Her vocals were raw and unpolished. Her instrumentals cool and minimalistic, and her music videos stark and simple. 2013, was in some ways, a year of flashiness on the music scene, full of exuberant energy. Lorde’s hits off her album, “Pure Heroine,” were a few deep breaths between the zeitgeist of other flamboyant singers of that year like Miley Cyrus, Bruno Mars, Selena Gomez, even Taylor Swift and so forth.
However, it’s 2017 now, and boy, do we all know it. But now the tables have turned a bit. Not saying everyone listens to the radio anymore, not even like we possibly even did in 2013. But the top hits are quieter, slower, even a couple of them depressing. I mean, if Future has the second most popular song on Spotify and the chorus of the song is naming the opioid Percocet in every other line, I think it’s safe to say pop music itself is hooked on downers.
Music tastes, at least when it comes to the top 40 and popular music, has become chill. There’s a lot more piano and acoustic guitar, trap beats, with some high upbeat synthesizer-based anthems thrown in there thanks to acts like The Chainsmokers. I’m not saying whether that is a good or a bad thing, but I will note the same dreary sounds, specifically songs about breakups, are boring to listeners like me.
For example, I really like Adele, but there was a point “Hello” simply put me to sleep. I roll my eyes when I hear the lackluster “Cold” by Maroon 5, especially when I think about their “Songs About Jane” days. The worst offender in the boring, uninspired list of dour pop hits is “i hate u, i love u” by gnash and Olivia O’Brien. That track makes me both annoyed at the lack of effort put into the song and drowsy at the same time.
Now, with the return of Lorde, does she join the calm, collected atmosphere? Drop another minimalist, calming single to join the slew of piano ballads and trap inspired songs? Actually, no. With her new song, “Green Light,” she’s done the opposite, releasing an upbeat, dance ready single about a breakup with a few twists thrown in.
I became a fan of Lorde when I explored her “Pure Heroine” album in 2013 after hearing “Team” and “Royals.” My friend group in high school were fans of the album as well. I liked her specifically because she’s relatable to my friends and myself. She had songs, although they were cryptic at times, that were about teenage experiences. She took digs at pop culture’s obsession with money and fame in “Royals,” of course. “400 Lux” is about a teenage date picking her up and buying her orange juice. “Ribs” is about the fear of becoming an adult, but enjoying time with friends in high school. “The Love Club” is about the pressures of dealing high school cliques.
Yes, she could be pretentious at times, her dance moves and music videos remain a bit strange, but she was different, not another Katy Perry or Kesha. Since she hasn’t released music since 2013, fans wondered what happened to her, where would she end up fitting in pop culture down the road. But when we think about artists we listen to that become iconic or substantive in pop culture, they usually do two things. They stand out to other music of their time, and they evolve.
Lorde’s “Green Light” has proved she has done both. Amidst all these slow moving pop songs, she has released a surprising yet honest breakup song that you can dance and celebrate to. At first, it begins undoubtedly awkward on first listen, as she bitterly describes doing her makeup, going to bars alone without her ex. The way she delivers her lyrics when she sings, and the fact her verses don’t always rhyme can be a bit jarring. There is venom in her voice as she delivers a line about her ex telling their new girlfriend they love the beach when she knows they do not. But just under a minute, the piano riff begins to speed up, with a beat from a drop that is undeniably energetic.
Once you get to the chorus, you can’t help but feel the exuberance. The green light she speaks of can be anything, but quite possibly it’s the green light to move on.
Maybe it’s chasing a new life after a breakup, and she’s speeding down the road, getting ready to start a new part of her life. As the piano becomes infectiously upbeat and the drums get louder by the end of the second verse, it becomes apparent this shiny, optimistic tune has some tinges of Lorde’s friend, Taylor Swift, in her “1989” era and maybe a bit of Icona Pop in the chorus.
Overall, why I wanted to praise this track so much is because it has “bite.” It is a pop song with flavor and an intricate narrative. And, it’s a breakup song that is triumphant, without preaching that the artist is better than the ex or that they could find a substitute to their ex within a week. She expresses she wants to let go of the past relationship, but she isn’t whining about it, nor completely bashing her ex, although she is still upset at them.
Lorde shows a maturity and complexity of emotions in songwriting while still creating a fun, interesting pop track. She keeps her standard poise that she carried over from “Pure Heroine,” while delivering a punch in the gut of pop music. With many people starting 2017 tense and unhappy, it’s time for a lively, explosive pop song. With her new album, I am curious to see where she is going to evolve with her music.
You may not be a fan of Lorde even after this past single. Maybe she’s still the creepy goth-looking girl who sang “Royals” a few years back. Maybe, if you’re a fan like me, you’re excited to see her next move. I admit her style of music isn’t for everyone. But I dare you to listen to this track and then play something like “i hate u, i love u” afterwards, and check and see which song gets you to smile more.
