themindofaprimadonna-blog

[themindofaprimadonna-blog]

all lorde songs ranked

Ella Yelich-O’Connor (or as she is better known, Lorde) has proved to her fans and critics alike that she is not only an extremely talented singer, but a lyrical genius. Lorde’s song-writing is done in such a way that it attracts not only the young, but adults as well. She is only twenty-one years old yet she is capable of appealing to people double, sometimes even triple her age! Her music is something I hold in high respect and I truly consider her to be one of the best artists of the twenty-first century. Although all her songs are magical in their own individual way, I have decided to rank them in order of excellency. (For reference only songs Lorde has sung primarily herself/contributed to creating will be included.) Let’s begin.

 27. Million Dollar Bills – Pure Heroine (Extended)

‘…Bills’ is an upbeat piece of music that is perfect for a loud party setting but unfortunately leaves listeners unsatisfied by the end. At just 2.18 run time it turns out to be one of the shortest songs on the list, and the shortest on Pure Heroine.

 26. Biting Down – Pure Heroine (Extended)

The song ‘Biting Down’ is a perfect example of O’Connor’s impressive writing talent. The lyrics mainly repeat themselves which might appear as a lazy move, but it turns out to be the piece’s greatest asset. However, as captivating as this song is for the first minute, it can get tedious quite quickly.

 25. Royals – Pure Heroine

‘Royals’’ message disapproves of the luxurious lifestyles of contemporary artists, specifically rappers. It is Lorde’s biggest hit to date, and the YouTube music video has managed to rack up an enormous seven-hundred-and-twenty-two-million hits. Though it is relatively catchy, it is not an accurate representation of O’Connor’s music by any means.

 24. Writer In The Dark – Melodrama

Arguably ‘Melodrama’’s weakest song, ‘…Dark’ is perfect for a winter’s evening sat beside the fire. Regrettably it does not deliver on its unofficial promise – a song you can actually sing yourself. ‘…Dark’ is overall a good song… when Lorde sings it. Otherwise it fails dramatically. The main virtue of this song is its lyrics and use of advanced vocabulary such as “pseudoephedrine”; something that would not be seen in any of O’Connor’s earlier work such as ‘Pure Heroine’.

 23. Still Sane – Pure Heroine

Just like the most previous song ranked, ‘Still Sane’ has brilliant writing behind it but fails to deliver an enthralling tune generally speaking. Based on the instrumental alone this has to be one of Pure Heroine’s weakest songs. This piece had a lot of potential, but sadly flopped.

 22. Liability (Reprise) – Melodrama

‘Liability (Reprise)’ is short and sweet. Apart from it quite literally being Lorde’s shortest song to date, it has some of the best concise song-writing I’ve ever seen. The instrumental is easy on the ears whilst simultaneously giving the impression of a darker underlying theme in the song through its use of lower-pitch sounds. Yes, it is linked to ‘Liability’ but this connection isn’t particularly clear or distinct and therefore this piece doesn’t achieve as much as it could.

 21. 400 Lux – Pure Heroine

The drone-like sound which begins this piece, not only provides the main instrumental for the song… but sets the tone for it. ‘400 Lux’ is a love song not drenched in soppiness but ambition. The writing is weak yet still puts across a basic story and the instrumental is mediocre. Despite this, the chorus is catchy enough to save this song from declining in merit as others have.

 20. Glory and Gore – Pure Heroine

An exciting collection of instruments and voice pitches makes this one of Lorde’s most riveting pieces. Although the lyrics are long-winded and hard to grasp, fortunately O’Connor’s voice is so deep it beckons the listener to wait out for the entire duration of the song. With the condition that the listener overlooks some unusual aspects of this piece, it can easily be appreciated for its uniqueness.

 19. White Teeth Teens – Pure Heroine

An extraordinarily mesmerising piece, ‘…Teens’ has an arresting chorus with beautifully written lyrics. The song is the perfect duration: not too brief, but also not so long that is starts to bore the listener. It ends at the perfect moment, leaving anyone who has had the privilege to hear the song, fulfilled entirely.

 18. Sober II (Melodrama) – Melodrama

‘Sober II…’ is an enticing song with simple but effective lyrics. The instrumental is sensational and this is demonstrated at its best at the chorus and last verse. This piece tells a story not only through the lyrics but with the harmony conjointly which is astonishingly rare let alone difficult.

 17. No Better – Pure Heroine (Extended)

The upbeat intro to ‘No Better’ shows us as an audience something we haven’t seen in ‘Pure Heroine’ yet… a happy song with a happy theme. The slowly sung lyrics provide the listener with a good understanding of the story O’Connor is trying to tell, while the instrumental makes them feel uplifted.

 16. Green Light – Melodrama

The introduction to Lorde’s second studio album, ‘Green Light’ is a fantastic illustration of how O’Connor’s music has changed so drastically. This tune is fast-paced and catchy but most importantly it’s exciting! Perhaps ‘Green Light’ doesn’t fit the stereotypical clichés of a victorious pop song…but it doesn’t need to. The ending to this song will leave the listener fired up and eager to hear the rest of what ‘Melodrama’ has to offer.

 15. Liability – Melodrama

The soft sound of piano and Lorde’s high-pitched voice in ‘Liability’ equate to a sense of sadness. The chorus isn’t particularly fetching but it is memorable and somehow addictive. The beginning and end of this piece is where it proves itself to be much more than a good story. The instrumental is the simplest of all of O’Connor’s songs yet the most impactful, and she sings it with raw emotion. This song will be played for years to come.

 14. Bravado – Pure Heroine (Extended)

‘Bravado’ is the song on ‘Pure Heroine (Extended)’ that saved other failures like ‘Million Dollar Bills’ and ‘Biting Down’ from sticking out like a sore thumb. The listener may be almost thankful that some of the other pieces were less successful as it leads to this song being highlighted as one of the best. This song is not only extremely well written, the chorus is catchy and the verses are soothing to listen to. The instrumental coincides magnificently with the vocals, creating for a very good song as a whole.

 13. Buzzcut Season – Pure Heroine

There are many theories as to what ‘Buzzcut Season’’s lyrics represent. The beauty of this song (and many of Lorde’s most successful pieces) is that she leaves the meaning open for discussion. Label something too strictly and it ruins its mystery. This song is not only fantastically written, but beautifully sung. The chorus is catchy and the duration is yet again just perfect.

12. The Love Club – Pure Heroine (Extended)

‘The Love Club’ is a delicate and relaxing song that isn’t too complicated with its meaning or its lyrics.The soft beats combined with Lorde’s cosy tone is something hard to accomplish in modern music, and the rewards pay off generously… at only 16 years old O’Connor had turned this into a number one hit in her home country of New Zealand. ‘The Love Club’ is not just a good song, it’s a marvellous achievement.

 11. Homemade Dynamite – Melodrama

Arguably, the most electrifying song on ‘Melodrama’, ‘Homemade Dynamite’ is a pop song that is not only immensely catchy… but also extremely clever. The writing behind this bop is done in such a way that the song can still project an image to the audience whilst giving them a good musical experience as well. This piece is far from dull and keeps the listener satisfied throughout its entirety.

 10. Yellow Flicker Beat – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

The only song Lorde has released that is not a cover and also not part of one of her studio albums, ‘Yellow Flicker Beat’ is absolutely flawless. The rhythm is fast-paced and exhilarant, with a wide range of instrumentals. The writing is well thought-out and Lorde delivers it perfectly. By far this song’s biggest credit however… is its catchiness. Whether you’re listening with earphones or through a speaker, this song grabs your attention instantly.

 9. Perfect Places – Melodrama

‘Perfect Places’ is an overwhelming journey of feelings and emotions presented through an accelerated rhythm and meaningful vocals which work in each other’s favour extremely commendably. This song is not only fantastic in its own right but a great way to end what is an exceptional album, ‘Melodrama’.

 8. A World Alone – Pure Heroine

‘Pure Heroine’’s most emotive piece, ‘A World Alone’ is a truthfully sad story told through tear-jerking verses and a catchy chorus. As I’ve said many times before, Lorde is one of the most gifted song-writers in the industry… and this song proves that better than any other song on ‘Pure Heroine’. The scenarios being described in this song can be so vividly imagined, and for only a teenager to be able to achieve that; it is nothing short of amazing.

 7. Supercut – Melodrama

‘Supercut’ is an emotional rollercoaster with a captivating chorus and well-lyricised verses. But when O’Connor’s raw voice is exhibited for a breath-taking fifteen seconds the real spectacle begins to unfold. From those fifteen seconds on, that is where ‘Supercut’ shines supreme, and proves just how masterful Lorde is at making music. This song is not overrated… it is a musical triumph.

 6. Hard Feelings/Loveless – Melodrama

‘Hard Feelings’ is a love story wrapped up in anguish and heartbreak. It is a pleasure to listen to O’Connor’s soft voice reciting lyrics made up of real life experiences. But, the instrumental to this song is by far its biggest asset: I would go as far as to say this song has some of the best instrumentals we’ve heard in this past decade. ‘Loveless’ is a fun and important resolution to its predecessor… a modern beat paths the way for a psychopathic like Lorde to emerge with her loud vocals declaring how much she hates her ex-lover. Overall, these two pieces are matched perfectly and if they were separate tracks I do not think they would’ve been as successful. This is a six minute adventure done very well.

 5. Team – Pure Heroine

A worldwide success, ‘Team’ is a catchy bop detailed with intricate meanings that are sewn into the lyrics of the song. Indeed the instrumental is good, but this is when Lorde’s vocals prosper the most. As previously said about ‘Buzzcut Season’, it is not favourable to describe this song’s meaning as definite or absolute… that is for the listener to decide. ‘Team’ not only satisfies the listener that wants a good tune to listen to, it also satisfies the listener that craves a story in a pop song (something unheard of nowadays). ‘Team’ is an outstanding piece and achieves an awful lot more than other current pop songs can.

 4. Tennis Court – Pure Heroine

The introduction to ‘Pure Heroine’ is a dramatic and compelling one to say the least. ‘Tennis Court’ demonstrates itself to not only be a bad-ass and lively song, but the first example of what ‘Pure Heroine’ is all about. From the first lyric: “Don’t you think that it’s boring how people talk?” the listener knows this album will be a memorable experience. The writing behind the lyrics of this song is extraordinary… every string of words means something significant, and if repetition is used is it to make a point (as used in ‘Biting Down’). The instrumental is new and euphonious and synchronises brilliantly with O’Connor’s vocals, which makes for a re-playable tune on top of everything else. ‘Tennis Court’ has not just been popular with Lorde fans however, it was a global hit back in 2013 and the music video  currently stands at one-hundred-and-four-million views on YouTube. In conclusion, there is no other way to describe this song:  not calling it masterful would be a disservice to it, so by all means; ‘Tennis Court’ is a masterpiece.

 3. Sober – Melodrama

By far the most underrated Lorde song of all, and criminally so; ‘Sober’ is an enchanting narration spoken through the lyrics of O’Connor in a way we haven’t heard her before. Her desperate sounding voice glues together nicely with the fascinating instrumentals to create a melodious experience like no other. This piece is not too subtle, yet not too theatrical… it fits in right in the middle; this is the song’s greatest strength: if the lyrics meant nothing the song would be meaningless but if the writing was too overemotional it would also suffer the same fate as the former. Creating an equal balance between reality and fantasy in music is a formidable talent that only the best of the best musicians possess, and providentially O’Connor is one of the best of the best. The reason ‘Sober’ is so discounted is because most of O’Connor’s other works are catchier and appear to resemble more of a pop-song aesthetic. Being a pop-singer isn’t a bad thing… but Lorde isn’t one and ‘Sober’ is most definitely not a pop-song. To appreciate this piece, the listener has to remember this story may not be the most appealing but it is critical to ‘Melodrama’’s success and provides as a vital example of what Lorde has achieved in such a short space of time… and how much more she can achieve in the future if she uses her skilful expertise to her full advantage. This piece isn’t the song the average listener necessarily wanted, but it’s the song O’Connor needs to represent just how good she is at producing music. ‘Sober’ is overall an exceptional song with stupendous writing and a sharp rhythm. It is a brilliant piece of art.

 2. The Louvre – Melodrama

‘The Louvre’ has been widely dubbed as the best song on ‘Melodrama’, and I must say I agree entirely. Not only is this song eminently catchy, the instrumental is mind-boggling. Such spectacular sounds combined with O’Connor’s first-class vocalisation provide for four-and-a-half minutes of true bliss. The writing is ‘cool’ and makes the listener feel that they’re part of the journey, or at least witnessing it like a movie. The lyrics synchronise so well with Lorde’s tone it’s as if her voice was designed to sing in this song exclusively! The instrumental is modern and come to think of it, sounds like something that would have come from France [The Louvre is a famous French museum]… therefore it is perfect for this piece. The last minute of the song is dedicated to the instrumental only so it would be sensible to suggest this is where the physical music stands out…however I find that the melody used in the chorus is far more bracing and infinitely better, which could be one of the factors that contributed to the song’s success. There is not much more to say about this piece, apart from that it is one of Lorde’s best creations to date and will be for decades to come. I strongly advise you to listen to this song, you will not regret it.

 1. Ribs – Pure Heroine

Was there ever any doubt that this would be ranked this high? Certainly the best song on Pure Heroine, ‘Ribs’ is an emotional expedition slowly but surely getting more dramatic second by second through the use of a quickening tempo and high-pitched backing vocals. The reason this song is so successful is because any person from any walk of life can deeply relate with its multiple meanings, explained through not just the well devised lyrics but through the magical instrumentals that can make one feel a sense of déjà vu or recall a long lost memory. In fact, the instrumentals are so good I would go as far as to say they are primarily responsible for the success of this piece; united with the believable and purposeful lyrics this song is quite literally second to none. The catchiness of the verses rather than the chorus make for a pleasant, surprising change and is used as an effective tool to highlight the powerful wording of the song. ‘Ribs’ is generally considered a love story but unless analysed extensively, the language doesn’t make this obvious to the listener and prevents some from being put off too easily. This piece has been known to make listeners feel a great sense of emotion: after hearing the song some people have admitted to crying over the message it sends, but even more berserk is the fact that most people that do cry over ‘Ribs’… do it because of the physical music itself. These magical sounds that trigger such feelings are practically never used in songs in the twenty-first-century, especially not by teenagers [Lorde was sixteen as of ‘Pure Heroine’’s release]and for this reason O’Connor proves herself not to just be a musical genius, but probably the best teenaged musical genius in the history of the entire industry. It is stunning how much one song can impact so many and so thoroughly in just four minutes. ‘Ribs’ is quite simply Lorde’s best work yet and one of the best songs ever made.