Ella Yelich-O’Connor, under the stage name Lorde, is the youngest artist in over twenty-five years to take the coveted number one spot. The song, “Royals”, is one of those genre-breaking hits that climbs out of its spot in pop music, and appeals to a broader category of music lovers. Borrowing heavy beats from hip-hop, crystal singing from R&B, and combining those with sharp lyrics, the song has hit a home-run.
Lorde’s Reaction to the Fame
Of the placement on the billboard charts, the edgy sixteen year-old singer says “It feels like a combination of my birthday, Christmas and washing my hair after a month of not doing so.” She also added that she is very grateful for the love that everyone has shown. This young star is not on the stereotypical pop train that many stars find themselves on, however. Even though the name of her debut album “Pure Heroine” elicits racy thoughts of drugs and money, the star uses her music to fight the ills that she sees in society. “Royals” is a clever statement on the consumerist attitude prevalent in America today. The album was released September 30, and is also expected to see a place in Billboard history.
This young star is not expected to be a one-hit wonder, either. Many of the other songs on her newly released album have also received praise from critics. It is expected that “Royals” will not be the last that the charts have seen of Ella Yelich-O’Connor. With any luck, maybe the next generation of pop stars will take their cues from Lorde.