Latest news with #WhatWasThat
The Guardian
33 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Alexis Petridis's album of the week
In April, Lorde launched her fourth album with a brief guerrilla gig in New York. A message telling fans to meet her at Washington Square Park – ostensibly for a video shoot – caused chaos, happily of the variety that gets filmed on multiple cameraphones and goes viral on social media. Thousands turned up and the police shut the event down, but those that evaded them were eventually rewarded by Lorde performing to new single What Was That with impressive gusto given that she was standing on a small wooden table at the time. It was surprising. Lorde's last release, 2021's Solar Power, wasn't the only album of that period on which a female artist who had become famous in her teens strongly suggested that doing so was a living nightmare – Billie Eilish's Happier Than Ever and Olivia Rodrigo's Guts did, too – but it was the only one that sounded like a resignation letter, sent from a beach in Ella Yelich-O'Connor's native New Zealand: 'Won't take a call if it's the label or the radio,' she sang at one point. At another: 'If you're looking for a saviour, well that's not me.' But Solar Power turned out to be merely an out-of-office message. Four years on and Lorde isn't just back, but apparently back in the sharp-eyed party girl mode of 2017's Melodrama. What Was That compares falling in love to the sensation of smoking while on MDMA. 'It's a beautiful life, so why play truant?' she shrugs on opener Hammer. 'I jerk tears and they pay me to do it.' The album features electronics that chatter, throb and regularly burst into fat, rave-y hands-in-the-air riffs, a high proportion of bangers to ballads and a profusion of big choruses. The ballads tend to the epic rather than introspective, with even Broken Glass, the track about the singer's battle with an eating disorder, packing a hook you can imagine a stadium audience singing along to. In that sense, Virgin might seem like an act of consolidation – far closer to Melodrama, since hailed as a modern classic, than the understated and polarising Solar Power. But it seems infinitely more likely that Lorde has reappeared because she's got something fresh to say rather than to reassert her commercial pop bona fides. Despite the talk of pills, dancing and promiscuity, Virgin's overall tone is markedly different. Melodrama was an album concerned with events that happen in your late teens, from experiments with drugs to first major heartbreak. Eight years on, Virgin is haunted by a late-20s kind of angst, born of the sense that you're now incontrovertibly an adult, regardless of whether you feel like one, or whether you're still, as GRWM puts it, 'jumping from stone to stone in the riverbed … looking for a grown woman'. On Shapeshifter, a one-night stand brings ennui and an irrational fear that such behaviour is compulsive: 'If I'm fine without it, why can't I stop?' There's more heartbreak, but this time it's sharpened by the sense that the sundered relationship was meant to be the relationship: the album ends with Lorde repeating the phrase 'am I ever gonna love again?', a sentiment that also lurks around Man of the Year, Current Affairs and What Was That. It's worth noting that the fraught subject matter is invariably leavened with self-awareness and bursts of sharp wit. On Current Affairs, a romantic depiction of love blossoming under a lunar eclipse suddenly turns earthy: 'You tasted my underwear / I knew we were fucked.' Similarly, despite the choruses and the euphoric riffs, the sound of Virgin is noticeably unsettled and rough. The synths are distorted in a way that makes the resultant sound feel corroded; the more ambient textures tend to gust through the songs like drafts of icy air. The melody lines are regularly disrupted by bursts of incomprehensible, mangled vocals that suddenly appear then vanish. The biggest ballad, Man of the Year, builds to a climax that's less uplifting than panic-inducing: the weirdly clipped-sounding drums feel too loud, punching through everything else in irregular staccato bursts; the aforementioned distortion soaks everything, including the vocals; the electronics take on a punishing, industrial cast. Throughout, Lorde seems less like an artist cravenly rehashing former glories than one who began her career speaking directly to her fellow teens about stuff that mattered to them – and paving the way for Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo et al in the process – continuing to grow up alongside her fans. That's always a tough job, but one Lorde seems more than capable of thanks to writing that remains as skilful and incisive as it did when she was precociously skewering pop's obsession with unattainable lifestyles from an Auckland suburb in 2013. Powerful, moving, personal but universal – and packed with bangers – Virgin is the proof. Westside Cowboy – Alright Alright Alright A brief, frantic, bracing burst of chaotic, Pavement-ish alt-rock: feedback, guitar riffs that unravel into chaos, all over and done in just over 90 seconds.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lorde Summer Officially Arrives With New Album ‘Virgin'
Lorde is finally back, as Virgin, the New Zealand superstar's first album in nearly four years, officially released on Friday. Lorde preceded the new album with the singles 'What Was That,' 'Man of the Year,' and 'Hammer,' the latter of which also serves as Virgin's opening track. So far, 'What Was That' has been the most popular song, charting at 36 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart and amassing over 80 million streams on Spotify. The prospect of new music has helped boost her catalog as well, as 'Ribs,' her much-beloved track from debut album Pure Heroine, finally charted on the Hot 100 back in May after her viral, chaotic pop-up in Washington Square Park back in April. More from The Hollywood Reporter Lalo Schifrin, Acclaimed Composer of 'Mission: Impossible' and 'Mannix' Themes, Dies at 93 Background Performer at Kendrick Lamar Halftime Show Arrested Over Gaza Sudan Flag How Diddy's Right-Hand Woman Became the Phantom of His Trial Virgin follows Lorde's 2021 Solar Power, which represented a bit of a sonic and aesthetic departure from the synth-pop she'd been associated with. Solar Power was more divisive among fans and critics and failed to meet the commercial heights of Pure Heroine or her lauded sophomore album Melodrama. For Virgin, Lorde worked mostly with producer and co-writer Jim-E Stack, who also produced Bon Iver's latest album Sable, Fable. Other contributors on the album include Dan Nigro, producer for Chappell Roan and Olivia Rodrigo, and Buddy Ross, whose credits include tracks for Vampire Weekend, Haim and Frank Ocean among others. Lorde sat down with Zane Lowe for an interview that aired Thursday ahead of Virgin's release, giving a wide-ranging conversation touching on everything from recording 'Hammer' to giving an early peak at the album to Jack Harlow, to addressing becoming a star as a teenager. ' I think for a long time I've tried to be very binary about it,' Lorde told Lowe. 'When I'm in the studio or when I'm in America, I'm an artist. When I go home to New Zealand, I'm not an artist and I turn that part of myself off. It's impossible obviously.' Lorde will be taking her new album on the road later in the fall for the Ultrasound World Tour, which is shaping up to be one of the hottest shows of the year as nearly every date has already sold out. The tour will kick off at the Moody Center in Austin on September 17th. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025 Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lorde Performs Surprise Glastonbury Set on Day of Album Release: 'I'm Back and Completely Free'
New Zealand musician Lorde had Glastonbury-goers racing to the Woodsies area on Friday as the singer made a surprise appearance at the U.K. music festival. The two-time Grammy winner had initially said she was 'pretty keen' to return to the fest, with some interpreting that to mean that she might pop up at some point over the weekend. More from The Hollywood Reporter K-Pop Girl Group Aespa Is Exactly Where They Want to Be Raindance Film Festival: 'Nawi' Wins Best Int'l Feature and Debut Performance Awards Polish Indie Kino Swiat Names New CEO She thrilled attendees at Worthy Farm in Somerset when word spread that she was about to kick off a performance on Friday morning, the same day of the release of her album Virgin. 'This is fucking sick,' she said, playing most songs from her new album. 'This is the release, I'm releasing it right now! After the show, then the album's out, you know?' She also added: 'This record took me a lot, I didn't know if I would make another record to be honest — but I'm back here and completely free. I'm so grateful to you for waiting.' Lorde performed 'What Was That,' 'Man of the Year,' as well as 2017 hit 'Green Light' to the delight of thousands waiting at the Woodsies tent. Glastonbury organizers were forced to close the area off ahead of her set as the area was getting too crowded. 'What Was That' marks her first single since her last album Solar Power came out in August 2021. However, she's still been around — most notably on Charli XCX's 'Girl, so confusing' remix on Brat. The English singer is also set to perform at the festival Saturday evening. Lorde had announced the title of her fourth studio album at the end of April via Instagram, alongside an image of the record's cover art: a blue x-ray image showing a zipper going down a pelvis, a belt buckle and an IUD. The Glastonbury Festival runs through Sunday, with The 1975, Neil Young and Olivia Rodrigo set to of The Hollywood Reporter Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025 Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More
BreakingNews.ie
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Lorde performs new album Virgin in full in surprise Glastonbury Festival set
Alternative pop star Lorde has surprised fans with a secret set at Glastonbury Festival performing her latest album Virgin, which was released on Friday, in full. The 28-year-old – whose real name is Ella Yelich-O'Connor – took to the Woodsies stage at 11.30am as fans screamed at the top of their voices, before opening with latest single and the record's opening track, Hammer. Advertisement Masses of festivalgoers had converged on the tent, with a bumper crowd waiting outside. Lorde treated the crowd to her latest album Virgin in full (Yui Mok/PA) Midway through her set she told the audience: 'How you doing? You OK? 'This is f****** sick, thank you so much for being here with us on the day that Virgin was born. 'We decided to play the whole record for you from front to back. Advertisement 'No, this record took me a lot, I didn't know if I would make another record to be honest, but I'm back here. Crowds gathered in the pit to watch Supergrass perform (Ben Birchall/PA) 'I'm so thankful to you for waiting for me, thank you for sitting in the sun right now, hope you have a sick f****** Glastonbury.' Waving her shirt to cool down, Virgin's lead single What Was That prompted mass singalongs as flags with the new LP's cover and title waved. Second single Man Of The Year climaxed with Lorde laying down on the floor of the building site-like set, as lasers shot out across the crowd from behind her. Advertisement Lorde finished her set with Green Light (Yui Mok/PA) Later in the set, she told the massive crowd: 'This is crazy for me too, I hope you understand.' The New Zealand-born singer pulled her top off to finish with a double hit of Ribs from her debut album Pure Heroine, which she said was first played at Glastonbury 2017, and Melodrama's Green Light, which saw the lasers turn from blue to the colour mentioned in the track. The final song prompted a football terrace-style singalong that almost drowned out Lorde herself. Friday crowds update - Click here for info on where you might find busier crowds today -> — Glastonbury Festival (@glastonbury) June 27, 2025 Virgin is the singer's fourth studio album, with her previous three Pure Heroine (2013), Melodrama (2017) and Solar Power (2021) all reaching the top 10 of the UK albums chart. Advertisement The singer is best known for songs such as Homemade Dynamite, Solar Power and her second single Royals, which reached number one in the UK singles chart. Elsewhere at the festival, British pop rock band The 1975 will be the first headliners to grace the Glastonbury Festival's Pyramid Stage this year when they perform on Friday evening. Lorde held a secret gig at Woodsies tent (Yui Mok/PA) Made up of four school friends, the group, known for songs including Chocolate, Someone Else and About You, is comprised of singer Matt Healy, bassist Ross MacDonald, guitarist Adam Hann, and drummer George Daniel. Other Friday performers include: Irish singer CMAT; hip-hop star Loyle Carner; rock band English Teacher; indie band Wet Leg; and Canadian star Alanis Morissette, who will take to the Pyramid Stage after a TBA act which will be performing at 4.55pm. Advertisement The five-day celebration of music and performing arts, which opened its gates on Wednesday, will also see headline performances from veteran rocker Neil Young and his band the Chrome Hearts, and US pop star Olivia Rodrigo. The BBC confirmed on Thursday that Young's Saturday Pyramid Stage set will not be broadcast live 'at the artist's request'. Supergrass performed on the main stage, 30 years after their classic debut album was released (Ben Birchall/PA) This year's line-up features a number of acts listed as TBA, as well as a mysterious act called Patchwork, which will take to the Pyramid Stage on Saturday. Festivalgoers have so far seen a clear morning after significant rainfall overnight, with temperatures reaching the mid-20s, according to the Met Office. Rain made small areas of the site damp in the early hours of Friday morning, but hot weather has since dried it. Spokesman Stephen Dixon told the PA news agency: 'Friday should start relatively sunny, with temperatures reaching into the mid-20s. However, there will be a touch more cloud later in the day and into the evening.' Looking ahead to the weekend, the Met Office's Grahame Madge said: 'Heat and humidity will be building over the weekend. We anticipate highs of 26C on Saturday, with high levels of humidity. By Monday temperatures can be anticipated to be over 30C. 'There is always the chance of a light shower, but there is nothing in the forecast that suggests anything heavier for Saturday for Somerset.' Avon and Somerset Police said there had been 38 crimes reported at the festival with 14 arrests made. Friday's line-up of events also includes a Q&A featuring Australian actress Margot Robbie at Pilton Palais and a Mountainhead Q&A with Jesse Armstrong, along with performances from psychedelic rockers Osees and Britpop veterans Supergrass. Fans have gathered at Worthy Farm for a typically spectacular line-up (Ben Birchall/PA) Saturday will see Irish rap trio Kneecap, who have seen one of their members charged with a terror offence, perform on the West Holts Stage at 4pm. Before the festival, UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said it would not be 'appropriate' for them to perform their slot at Worthy Farm. Rapper Liam Og O hAnnaidh was charged for allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah at a gig in London in November last year. Last week, the 27-year-old, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh at Westminster Magistrates' Court in 'Free Mo Chara' T-shirts. He was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing at the same court on August 20. On Thursday evening, the rap trio posted a film they executive produced to social media, titled Stop The Genocide, which includes testimonies from a Palestinian activist and plastic surgeon on the war in Gaza. With a sunny few days predicted here at Worthy Farm, please take a moment to read this advice on staying safe in the heat. #Glastonbury2025 — Glastonbury Festival (@glastonbury) June 27, 2025 Performing in the coveted Sunday legends slot this year is Sir Rod Stewart, who previously said he will be joined by his former Faces band member Ronnie Wood, as well as some other guests. Sir Rod's performance will come after he postponed a string of concerts in the US, due to take place this month, while he recovered from flu. In celebration of his legends slot at the festival Southern Western Railway has unveiled a new plaque at Twickenham railway station, where it is said that, years ago, he happened upon blues singer and band leader, Long John Baldry, who he later played with in the Hoochie Coochie Men Among the other acts expected to draw large crowds this year is pop star Charli XCX, who is engaged to The 1975 drummer Daniel and will perform songs from her sixth studio album, Brat. Entertainment CMAT shouts 'Free Palestine' and wades into Glasto... Read More She is performing on Saturday night on the Other Stage, 15 minutes before the West Holts stage is graced by US rapper Doechii, another artist who has exploded in popularity in the last year. Other performers include: Prada singer Raye; US musician Brandi Carlile; Nile Rodgers and Chic; US pop star Gracie Abrams; Mercury Prize-winning jazz quintet Ezra Collective; US rapper Denzel Curry; and rising star Lola Young. This year, the BBC will provide livestreams of the five main stages: Pyramid, Other, West Holts, Woodsies and The Park.
IOL News
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Lorde makes a powerful comeback with her new album 'Virgin' after a four-year hiatus
Lorde launches a revealing, rebellious and rejuvenating new chapter with her new album "Virgin". Image: Instagram. After a four-year hiatus, pop sensation Lorde has burst back onto the music scene with her highly anticipated fourth album, "Virgin". Released on Friday, June 27, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter has filled her latest album with raw honesty and vulnerability. "Virgin" arrives as a follow-up to her indie-folk project, "Solar Power", and is the culmination of a transformative period for Lorde, who described the writing process as both a personal exploration and a creative rebirth. Collaborating closely with producer Jim-E Stack, along with contributors like Dev Hynes and Daniel Nigro, Lorde carefully crafted each track over the past couple of years in cityscapes from London to New York. "What Was That", a powerful break-up anthem, is the album's lead single. It further unfolds with tracks such as "Man of the Year", "Shapeshifter", "Broken Glass" and "Hammer". Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Notably, "Hammer" is offered as a bold declaration of her evolving gender identity, where she openly reveals, "Some days I'm a woman, some days I'm a man."
