Ella Yelich-O’Connor, more commonly known by her stage name Lorde, has recently drawn the attention of The Kansas City Star, for her unconventional lyrics and stubborn persistence to follow in her own footsteps. While her contemporaries pen songs surrounding prosperity, success, love and angst, Lorde strives to create a simple sound that provides a superior example to a young and impressionable audience.
While listening to several current rap and pop artists, Lorde discovered she struggled to relate to the material discussed. While they sang of wealth and happier times, Lorde and her family struggled through a distinctly lower socio-economic status. This inspired her to take the matter in her own hands and create an album littered with lyrics depicting a more accurate snapshot of what it means to be a teenager in less than perfect familial and financial situations.
As a result, her unique choices in topic—which can vary from estrangement to ennui—have drawn the attention of several critics. Generally, reception of the album has been satisfactory, as her simple style and vocals clear the path for a plain message provided by powerful lyrics. The intentions are received positively as well, with most critics impressed by Lorde’s ability to analyze and critique social standings with no hint of arrogance or ignorance evident, despite her youth and status as a teenager.
However, this message, however important, is a simple one to make, requiring very little pomp and circumstance. As a result, some critics believe “Pure Heroine,” in its ten tracks, prolongs the point unnecessarily. At the core of the analysis is that ten songs are not required to tell the public that Lorde disapproves of the common standards of society, resulting in her extreme tedium with certain aspects of culture.
Despite whatever negative criticisms she may have received presently or will receive in the future, Lorde has set precedence in the music industry for refusing to compromise her beliefs for the sake of furthering her career. She declined the opportunity to open for Katy Perry, sending a personal message to all involved the business—a strong assurance in herself, her career and her own methods of advancement in a particularly difficult field to navigate.
This refusal to conform to the expected career path is driven from her own desire to serve as a positive role model, particularly for her young fan-base. According to the article, she recently stated her opinion on artists such as Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift, who she believes have created a warped depiction of what it means to be a teenager. Bieber, in his wealth and status, fails to represent what it realistically means to be young. To continue this, she believes Swift creates a representation of perfection that is inaccessible and will only devastate young listeners into perpetually falling short of their expectations. Lorde’s goal is to set the record straight and give girls a realistic expectation of what it means to be a teenager in a struggling world.