Lorde’s Realness, As Seen From Afar And Up Close

04.21.2018

The date was Friday, April 6. Little by little, scores of concert-goers trickled into The Prudential Center and took their places in the arena’s stadium seating. Suddenly, the stage lights dimmed. Captivated fans sat on the edge of their seats in anticipation of what was coming next. As a beacon of white light beamed throughout the room, the self-described “princess cut from marble” appeared on stage and slowly walked forward. Upon her arrival, countless audience members, including yours truly, let out a collective squeal of excitement, knowing that a truly magical night was in store.

A seasoned performer in the midst of her massively popular Melodrama World Tour, Lorde is undoubtedly no stranger to such an introduction. But for the 21-year-old artist born Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor, worldwide fame is a relatively new concept.

In 2013, Lorde’s debut single “Royals” blasted onto the scene and catapulted its then-unknown creator into the spotlight. The song, which tells the story of someone for whom a stereotypical rich-and-famous lifestyle is both unattainable and undesirable, ironically opened the door for Lorde to achieve just that. However, she had a different idea. Instead of chasing “gold teeth” and “ball gowns,” she forged her own path, a path that has cemented her reputation as one of modern music’s most wholesome, relatable artists.

In a 2013 interview, Lorde told Billboard’s Jason Lipshutz that she “wrote [“Royals”] in like half an hour” and “just wrote something that [she] liked, and that [she] thought was cool.” In an era when many musicians’ works are heavily processed and altered to maintain a certain image, Lorde’s take on writing one of the biggest pop hits of the last decade is remarkably refreshing. Notably absent from this recollection: a team of songwriters, producers, and record company executives sculpting Lorde to fit the mold of teen pop star. It is often assumed that these are necessary for a massive hit, but Lorde managed to write one on her own. With Lorde, there is no “man behind the curtain” orchestrating her every move: what we see is what we get.

Instead of chasing “gold teeth” and “ball gowns,” she forged her own path, a path that has cemented her reputation as one of modern music’s most wholesome, relatable artists.

This is certainly the case with her stage presence. Many of her performances favor improvisation over rehearsed choreography. Her 2017 rendition of “Green Light” on Saturday Night Live perfectly exemplifies her willingness to let loose. After a subdued delivery of the hit single’s first verse, Lorde bursts out into an impromptu compilation of limb throws, hair flips, and head-neck thrusts. Signature moves like these make Lorde seem more like us commoners, or perhaps like what we should strive to be. She is not afraid to embrace the “weirdness” of her dance moves, because she is more committed making the most out of her every performance.

“Weird” or not, it’s a formula that seems to be working for her. In the past five years, she has embarked on two world tours, filling hundreds of arenas and captivating audiences across the globe.

Lorde’s visit to Newark, NJ’s Prudential Center was no exception. For over ninety minutes, Lorde had almost the entire audience on its feet, dancing and singing along as she treated us to a well-curated medley of her greatest offerings.

She is not afraid to embrace the “weirdness” of her dance moves, because she is more committed making the most out of her every performance.

The offering I was most looking forward to was “Liability,” a poetic ballad exploring appraisals of the singer’s worth by both others and herself. Once the song’s piano intro started, I began filming, knowing I would want to look back on what would be an incredible, perfect moment. I soon realized that this piano intro had gone on for too long, and Lorde had missed her cue to start singing. Thankfully, she quickly recovered, beginning to sing in the middle of the first verse and avoiding any further mishaps.

In that moment, I was upset that my opportunity to see my favorite Lorde song performed live hadn’t been perfect. Looking back some two weeks later, I’m even more appreciative of this performance’s “imperfection.”

Lorde could’ve just as easily apologized, asked for the track to be restarted, and sang the song without incident. But I’m glad she didn’t: after all, nothing in life is perfect, no one is without flaw, and plans are bound to change. By continuing with the song, Lorde embraced these truths, and she inspires me to do the same.

The artist who claims to have “never seen a diamond in the flesh” has a richness of character that is hard to come by in today’s media landscape. Her authenticity is something to be commended in a world where altering oneself to match societal expectations seems to be the norm.

She may have been surrounded by a beacon of white light when she first appeared on stage, but she didn’t need it. Lorde shines bright enough on her own.