Lorde, Haim - great stuff

Lorde topped the charts with Royals in the U.S. this week.

I don’t actively seek out current popular music - I think I’ve heard maybe 2 or 3 of Rihanna’s hits - but I really, really like this song. Just hooks all over, and the minimal production with added Queenish harmonies of her own voice just works. She has a really nice sound.

I’ve only heard a few songs from that new hype band, Haim - but damn, I really like what I am hearing. Great studio commercial singer/songwriter pop.

Liking this trend…

I like the Lorde song. I’ve been hearing it on my local alternative rock station for several months. Don’t like the Haim song they play, but that might be because, as you said, it’s good pop music. Not exactly my stuff, but I get it.

I love the song(Royals)…but it is accompanied by the most boring video I’ve ever seen. If you watch it with the sound off you would never associate it with that song.

I love watching her face, Czarcasm. Try this studio version and see if she grows on you: Lorde performing "Royals" Live on KCRW - YouTube

I love her song and I love her face…but admit I’m right about the official video.

I agree, I believe the director is smitten. But I am, too. She’s so expressive :slight_smile:

What kind of video would you have expected based on the lyrics of the song?

Lorde is great. “Royals” comes from her The Love Club EP, and all five songs on it are in my top rotation right now.

Good song, but I have to admit that I’m pretty tired of Royals right now - one of my local radio stations has it in heavy, heavy rotation. I joke that it’s in their contract to play Royals and some horrible Maroon 5 song every half hour, but I don’t think I’m far off.

I hear you - as I said upthread, I don’t seek out popular music, so I am only getting exposed to it an appropriate amount :wink:

I think the video is great for that song. It’s stripped down and kind of depressing. I think it fits the lyrics of the song very well.

Saw her on Fallon the other night. Oldest looking 16 year old ever. She seemed kind of bemused by the whole experience. Wonder if she knew who the heck Fallon was before she went on the show?

I was expecting the typical “House full of teenagers doing all the things the song mocks while the singer walks through the scene looking solemn.”

Because that’s pretty much a cliche at this point.

I am really digging Lorde, and wishing her song Tennis Court would get more airplay. She’s the first artist in ages for whom I’ve bought the whole album (Pure Heroine just came out) instead of just a single.

Walk Off The Earth did this nifty cover of ‘‘Royals’’: Royals - Walk off the Earth - YouTube

I love her and the song but I’m getting ticked that they’re playing it so much, dooming it to that annoying overplayed graveyard of other great songs no one wants to hear anymore.

She’s pretty good. Her cover the The Replacements’ Swingin Party is pretty great

Update - caught an episode of Later…with Jools Holland - god I love that show.

Anyway, Haim was on, playing two songs. They were really good - really solid, confident musicianship. The bass player - who kinda looks like Kaley Cuoco from Big Bang Theory - has a great groove and even better Guitar Face ;). And the singer - who kinda looks like Sarah Silverman - has a controlled, low voice - you can tell she’s listened to Joni, and to Christine Perfect McVie.

They have an easy SoCal attractiveness - the short shorts on the third sister didn’t hurt :wink: - but they never come across as light-weight or not in control of things musically. They’ve also been watching Chrissie Hynde…

Really impressive, IMHO.

It’s not my usual fare, but I was impressed enough by the songs linked to in this ‘why you should love Haim’ article on Buzzfeed that I bought the album.

I find it weird that Lorde was 2 years old when I moved away from New Zealand. Makes me feel very old.

She does not look 16. I’m not sure what she does look like, she’s quite the enigma.