First Listen – What Was That – Lorde

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First Listen - What Was That - Lorde: Returning to her Pop Roots with New Single

First Listen – What Was That – Lorde returns to the music scene with the first single from her upcoming album, Virgin, coming out on June 27th . After a nearly four year hiatus, Lorde’s return to music is emotional and nostalgic of her old sound. This release marks a clear shift back toward the emotional vulnerability that first defined her career.

Melancholic Pop Comeback

“Lorde is singing about being 17 again — the world is healing,” says TikTok user @rachaelb_ts. Fans are ecstatic about Lorde’s return to her original melancholic sound. Longtime listeners were left feeling disappointed with Lorde’s last album “Solar Power.” Fans argue that it strays from her signature wistful and emotionally charged tone. “What Was That” is stirring and vulnerable, hazy and poetic. The lyrics are heavy and reflective as Lorde describes the way this break-up haunts her.

Synths and Sorrows

Lyrically the song captures the intense feeling of grief from losing someone after a tumultuous break up. Lorde exclaims she gave everything to this ex lover since she was seventeen years old, recounting vivid memories of their time together. She spends her time longing for a past connection, and grieving what they once shared. Sonically this song reminds me a lot of Lorde’s critically acclaimed sophomore album Melodrama. It’s synth heavy and moody unlike “Solar Power” which is acoustically driven.

What’s in Store for Virgin?

First Listen – What Was That –Lorde proves that she can still turn heartbreak into art. As Lorde returns to her pop roots, I can’t help but wonder how Virgin will compare to Solar Power. In Solar Power, Lorde is claiming to have several life revelations recently. Its uplifting nature evokes a sense of healing as it embraces self-exploration. On the contrary, Lorde confesses on “What Was That” it isn’t as easy to let go as she once thought. I am looking forward to seeing where she goes with this next album. I wonder if she will stick to her pop roots, include elements of Solar Power’s style, or discover a new sound.

First Listen – What Was That? – Lorde’s Triumphant Return to Pop Music

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