Lorde has been a name ingrained in my brain since fourth grade soccer carpools. Then, classics like “Royals,” “Team,” and other hits from Pure Heroine saturated radio stations like Kiss FM and Hits 1. God what a time. It was much easier to listen to music then because I couldn’t afford to be so picky. I only had five acceptable stations to shift between. Anyway, I only bring this up because Lorde has had a revitalization in my life in the form of her album Melodrama.
I have honestly surprised myself by selecting this album for today, but like any other massive “New Girl” fan, this choice should’ve been expected eventually. The firefighter episode where Nick and Jess finally get together during “Green Light” is a historic scene. While I always liked that scene and song, I actually gave the entire album my time over the weekend because of “Supercut”… because who doesn’t love “Supercut.”
Melodrama (2017) was Lorde’s second major studio release, following four years after her first smash-hit album Pure Heroine. Allegedly, the albums are incredibly different. Her second release reflects more on heartbreak and solitude. To me, all of her work satisfies that same kind of itch, with more of that aesthetically-pleasing, electropop, midnight-city-type vibe. Nevertheless, that itch is scratched for millions of listeners worldwide. This New Zealand sensation hit #1 album in the United States and Canada in 2017. She earned Album of the Year from the New Zealand Music Awards (2017) and was nominated for the Grammy’s Album of the Year award (2018). While I don’t recognize any of the albums that were nominated for the New Zealand Music Awards that year, she was up against Bruno Mars’ 24k Magic (the eventual winner), Childish Gambino’s Awaken, My Love, Kendrick Lamar’s Damn, and Jay-Z’s 4:44. What a year for music. Props to Lorde and producer Jack Antonoff for getting the nomination.
Now let’s get into some of my favorites on the album. The whole work starts off incredibly strong, with the first song being the most listened to: “Green Light.” It has her classic little dark intro that leads into a sing-songy, dance-around excitement pretty quickly. She starts off explaining the separation created between her and a previous romance. The dance-around-the-living-room part comes in around minute 1:14 as she sings of longing for that moment when she moves on. Fun, catchy, sure I’ll listen.
I honestly really like the next two songs: “Sober” and “Homemade Dynamite.”
Our rules, our dreams, we’re blind
Blowing shit up with homemade d-d-d-dynamite
An Olivia Rodrigo-coded bridge if I’ve ever heard one (I know this album came first, but still just a comparison). “Homemade Dynamite” follows an explosive and exciting encounter at a party. It’s got a nice energy. We could practically put it on the soundtrack of “Perks of Being a Wallflower” as they drive under the tunnel, and I think it would fit right in.
Last but not least, I must mention “Supercut” again. WOW. What a song. I know it blew up on every form of social media possible, but it was so worth it. I love that song.
In your car the radio on
In your car the radio on
I know you’re nodding your head along with me when you hear those lyrics. Throughout the entire song, Lorde perfectly describes reminiscing on old times. You just can’t hold onto a specific memory too long because it’ll kind of mesh together with others into this speedy, split up movie of memories. Bittersweet, huh.
I had a great time listening through this entire album. I didn’t realize how many hits came off of it. She’s pretty good at keeping a consistent yet varying enough vibe that I’d say it’s worth a listen. Now I get why the world was so in love with this woman in the 2010s.
Since then, she hasn’t had any major releases (unless you were into that Solar Power song). But she had a good run there. Maybe she’ll come out of the wood works and give us something great again soon. In the meantime, I’ll keep working on putting together the evangelic puzzle that is Liv Rod, Gracie Abrams, and Lorde. And you can listen to the 460th album on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, better known as Melodrama.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/60th_Annual_Grammy_Awards
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melodrama_(Lorde_album)
https://www.popsongprofessor.com/blog/2017/3/4/what-does-green-light-by-lorde-mean
Iz FM 
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