Lorde has a shapeshifting persona problem 😬

[@lissalev6740]

As a New Zealander, Solar Power reflects NZ culture for me personally. For this reason, I understand why it doesn't have mainstream appeal. Its environmental concerns, disconnected air, privileged musings, cicada sounds, and oceanic vibes sound like Lorde poured my home into an album. Her satirical commentary on the album is quiet - like someone who doesn't care if they will be heard. In Melodrama (Liability), Lorde states we will watch her disappear into the sun. And I feel like we have. Solar power feels like a pallet cleanser. She knows what people wanted of her, but I get the sense she delivered on a promise she made to herself (one of self-expression) rather than a promise culture has tried to bind her to. For that reason, I love it! I understand the grief that comes with an artist changing. Though, I admire her courage to change (even if many people consider it to be for the worse).

[@nvmme9462]

That’s such a good insight, thank you for posting !

[@katherinefrazer6168]

This is such a beautiful take thankyou ❤

[@Blockerz101]

This is exactly what I understood the album as when it came out. Its underrated and I wish people looked at it from a different perspective than the sad teenager Lorde was between PH and Melodrama.

[@HairyNippy]

Lovely!

[@liz.a314]

Would’ve been cool if she touched on that moment - how everyone was acting summery / fun back to ‘normal’ but underneath it full of anxiety, confusion and grief

[@theswiftologist]

that would've been the real serve

[@mubarak252]

This is literally what the album is, you’re just dumb lol

[@VonZubenProject]

I would like to say I think the notion of “not my Lorde” speaks to how celebrity artists are forced to conform to the personas WE create for them.

[@alltoowell99]

Solar Power was the first Lorde album I listened to because people were talking about it on the internet, and I loved it immediately, it was like a breath of fresh air to me. For me, the record is about feeling hopeless because of how we treat our planet and because of how superficial and self-centered society is; it's about questioning your life choices and being scared but also finding beauty in changing and growing up, and it's about returning home, both physically and metaphorically, knowing you haven't found peace yet but you're trying. I understand the whole "being famous sucks" thing is not relatable, but aside from that, I find this album very comforting in its sadness.

[@theswiftologist]

oh tea! there's definitely a layer of sadness hidden beneath the airiness

[@chayo4537]

The production could've been better. The era and energy it gives is more interesting than the music itself. Even though i love some of the songs like: the path, fallen fruitm california, mood ring Helen of Troy and hold a grudge. So basically half the album😅

[@mehlev]

I agree, I ADORE Solar Power, it has tremendously grown on me. To me, it gives me a "found peace" vibe; escaping the manic game of a fast life and returning to the quiet where you were once happiest.

[@JordaniRoss]

@@chayo4537those are my favorite songs too

[@user-mh3up6eg5h]

Lorde is extremely talented, but it seemed like in Solar Power she wanted to show that she’s more chill now, which could have been a great opportunity to show her growth since her first two albums, but that just wasn’t fully portrayed or, like you said, elaborated on. Great commentary!

[@theswiftologist]

I was so excited for the chill album, and disappointed w the execution :( thanks for watching friend

[@whitenoise896]

I believe that one factor contributing to the relatively poor reception of Lorde's album "Solar Power" was its timing of release. The album coincided with the ongoing pandemic, a period when many individuals lacked access to outdoor activities. A significant portion of Lorde's fanbase, consisted of city or suburban dwellers who had limited opportunities to engage with nature during these challenging times. Consequently, they may have struggled to relate to Lorde's thematic exploration of the outdoors, or worse, developed a dislike for her due to the perceived privilege associated with her outdoor experiences.

[@cassinirose]

i adore solar power. it perfectly encapsulates new zealand summers to me, i listen to it and i feel like im trapped in a dreamy dissociative childhood memory of christmas

[@rachelbullock1636]

If you taught on pop culture icons I'd pay to take the class. This venture into covering other artists is just as detailed and engaging as it is with Ms. Swift. Much love for the consistency of the quality of your synopses of the artists' catalogues and your analyses of their journeys in the entertainment industry.

[@theswiftologist]

my skillshare collab when?!?!!? tysm for your feedback rachel ❤‍🔥

[@justlisten9435]

Agreed; if you as thoughtfully venture out on other artists; I'd 1) be interested in your opinion and 2) actually be willing to pay an amount to hear your thoughts on how pop music artists respond to both the zeistgeist as well as their own, individual, inner calling. In my opinion, we tend to underestimate [or overestimate] easily-accessible culture as a way to "read" what's going on within a specific lifeworld [e.g. as someone coming from a global south experience, your comments are spot-on as it relates to our experience of the global North, specifically the N American one]. Also, as an academic, it is refreshing to hear a raw-bones analysis instead of a carefully dissected post mortem. Don't always agree with you or your approaches, but you are one of the more circumspect commentators and I LOVE it.

[@wanyekest6969]

Yes. More from other artists please

[@chrismihaljevich6332]

YES YES! I am so happy you decided to branch out and do some other artists, I love your content and it makes my day! Cannot wait to become a snakeologist patron next month 🤞

[@audreycreations]

So glad you decided to cover this!! Solar power was certainly puzzling lol. Aside from the out-of-touch posture she adopts in this project, what surprised me even more was the huge degradation in lyrical quality from the first two albums. Like, how could “don’t want that California love. Don’t want that California love. Don’t want that California love” possibly be penned by the same person who wrote songs like 400 lux, liability and buzzcut season?? Love to see you branching out - keep up the excellent work!! 🤍

[@theswiftologist]

that is SOOOO true……California is deceptive too because it sounds so beautiful!

[@jenniferhately2423]

"California" is just a song for us to be able to understand why she disappears from the public view in between albums. She has zero interest in the life that living in California has to offer, and so she disappears back home. Simple.

[@AllTheArtsy]

and her weakness was already the immature, sort of incomplete, lyrics. so that was not a great look

[@Anewevisual]

And... you cherry picked that line out of dozens of other more interesting just as deep lines in California? and other songs on the record? lol

[@lolalover24212]

there were so many theories that solar power was going to be an album that references midsommar and cults, esp once the first video came out and had some camp and fourth wall break moments. I think a concept like that would have been so much more interesting, the album sound would work in the context of commenting on group think, belonging, and our current political sphere where extremism and cult-like behaviour is rampant. A lot of the songs would make more sense too, leader of a new regime, commenting on how in trying to be different from everyone, you can create a fake persona that influences others effectively you can create your own cult by pretending you have the answers. I think it was a missed opportunity for sure, but I can also understand why after losing her dog her entire mindset was 'avoid BEING SAD!" its so hard to get out of a hole. She carefully constructed a sunny persona to avoid depression, in my opinion.

[@liz.a314]

So true! And rip yes I remember reading how the album was going to be this complex concept and thn it was.. not

[@theswiftologist]

i completely blanked that out and it would've been so intriguing to pursue this!! the sp music video seemed very suggestive at the time, kind of sad how 'empty' it was in reality

[@chayo4537]

Was with the concept until the politics part.. people always wanna complain about politics and to not bring up politics. But its clear they wanna hear about it even if it's subliminally..

[@byyouthgonewild]

I loved the concept of Solar Power, and she really nailed the early 2000s vibes. It wasn’t widely received, but the music geeks that I know (people who actually make and produce music) adore it and were the ones to turn me on to it. They felt like the broad masses just didn’t “get it.”

[@pleasecouldyoubetender]

i think this is definitely an album that will age better with time. It just came out at an unfortunate time

[@beks1057]

This was so fascinating! You are a gifted analyzer of pop-culture-music-the-current-moment-memes-philosophy-etc., and clearly a great writer as well--it really comes through as you speak. Can't wait to see more!

[@theswiftologist]

thank you so much beks, that means a lot to me!

[@fotinik1259]

The thing is that I don't even care about Lorde as an artist but I'm still gonna watch the video knowing your great analytical skills :')

[@michaeljohnsmith1701]

I completely agree! 😊

[@brunetteXer]

haha, facts. because I do love talking about culture.

[@lenkachladkova1762]

Can I just say how much I LOVE this channel? With the rise of fandoms that utterly worship their favorite artist, this is very refreshing, to say the least. Please dive into more than Taylor Swift!

[@theswiftologist]

thank you so much for this comment lenka!! I will for sure branch out further soon :))

[@idontrlicare8155]

I can understand why this album is disliked by many because it comes off as a much more calmer tune than her last albums. But to call the albums production and writing lazy just because it doesn't fit into modern Lorde's/Current pop culture music's setting is a bit ignorant. This album was a great reflection of Lorde as just a person. Whether we as an audience relate to it or not, she gives us insight to her soul rather than her feelings. This doesn't compare to her other albums which is a given, but it's in a separate category and is a work of art.

[@brokenrealities513]

zach's big brain energy is really putting the ologist in swiftologist

[@sii479]

You're a very compelling speaker. I've never listened to an entire Lorde album, or a Taylor Swift album either, but I still enjoy watching your videos just to listen to you. Good work

[@michelletewhata7768]

Lorde Albums Heroine:+ Teenage years about her and her peers. Being an introvert and new to the Music industry, coming from a slow paced city and suddenly faced with a high paced 24hr city filled with paparazzi, glamour, talent, tv shows etc would be an experience for a person from the other side of the world, which she shares on this album Melodrama Falling in love for the first time, experience of what most teenagers go through. Solar Power When you are an emotional wreck after heart breaks, social media negativity, gossip, coming home was her solution to get her sanity back. A motivational album for those who need healing after a toxic relationship

[@veganpizza13]

i go with a friend in the summers to stay on the island that she's talking about throughout this album. it's a very wealthy place off the US east coast. a friend of friends invited us to a private concert lorde was hosting with the people she was staying with and we got to hear the songs from solar power for the first time. it's veryyy relevant to the life/culture in this very specific place but so true that it hardly relates to a wide spectrum of people, unlike her first and second albums. it was super cool and ethereal to hear in this context because she was so immersed in the emotions of the island, just as we all were (summer is magical ikyk) so it hit different there but not surprised it didn't mesh well with the public. anyway she was super sweet, all love

[@PoisonedApathy]

Such a great video Zach. Always happy to hear your thoughts on anything pop, tbh. You know your stuff. To me personally, the main difference between Lana Del Rey and Lorde, is that Lana has always been a performance artist, an obvious fictional character. She writes about the longing for this perfect past and her complicated relationships with men as if she was in a dreamlike state. That's why I've always considered bullshit all the critiques of antifeminism etc. I can live in her world for a while, without having to aspire to it. That's why she's the ultimate millennial artist - she manages to capture the contradictions of our generation - the ones who grew up obssesed with the past at the brink of the internet era. As someone who was in her midtwenties when Lorde came about, I really enjoyed her. I'm always a fan of a sharp-minded young artist. The problem with Solar Power is that it goes frontally against her initial stance. The moody clever girl who doesn't care because she's driving cadillacs in her dreams is now platinum blonde performing in spandex bodysuits. And there's nothing wrong with that per se, but you can't pretend to play the cool girl and the superstar at the same time. Also, as you pointed out, the album was just bland and boring, without wit or grit, or even a proper hedonistic feel. A shame because a third album is usually crucial for the consolidation of an artist. I hope she will recenter in the next one. She's too good of a talent to go to waste.

[@theswiftologist]

i'm hopeful the next record is a return to form! she's def acknowledged that we didn't collectively love this era

[@maiu1922]

I respect your opinion, but she's never said she wasn't going to be a superstar. Even in her 2013-14 interviews, she chose popstar over artist when presented with the choice, and continues to refer to herself as such. She knew she was going to be a star and she's carried it out.

[@Kevin-rg3yc]

This is a great video I especially thank you for talking about lorde persona and how much it low key roots into working class cosplays this is one of the reasons why I grown to dislike royals more time bc it was weird how much she critiques black hip hop music and Lana del rey as materialistic but she literally grew up very wealthy in fact she literally had a artist development deal with universal music group at 13 years old majority of black rappers who are materialistic come from poverty stricken/inner city upbringings that end internalizing capitalism neoliberalism mindset of money and wealth and as a sign of growth. I remember when royals dropped many black think piece writers mentioned this and they were all dismissed by the mainstream media (mind you this was around the time of the post-racial era since Obama became president of the USA) but now we see those writers were ahead of their time.

[@theswiftologist]

so true on all accounts!

[@hannahj8990]

I like a handful of songs from Solar Power, and I LOVE stoned at the nail salon and California. But yeah it truly pales in comparison to her past work. I will say that when she said it was a weed album she wasn’t kidding, I gave it a listen while high once and enjoyed it way more lol

[@theswiftologist]

omg tea I’m sure a high listen would be appropriate. I played it on a beach day and def liked it more!

[@jakekelly3110]

pure heroine and melodrama were two of the most defining albums of my life. she inspired me as a writer and helped me feel seen/create worlds to escape to. to me, the long years of haitus were bearable, like they were with frank ocean, because i know a masterpiece was coming. i trusted lorde and i wasn't pounding on her metaphorical door because i know time can breed great art. however, solar power is an album i never revisit. the vibes were cool but i barely remember the songs on the album save a few. i supported it at first because i respected she wanted to take a different path, but your video really painted why this album is forgotten in my mind. she wasn't saying anything where before, she had managed to define my youth. maybe that's too much pressure to put on one woman, but her previous records all had a mission statement i could get behind and this was loosey goosey--not the type of music i needed from my greatest inspiration lol. it makes me sad because who knows when we'll get more music (and if it'll even be strong).

[@avani_tak]

could not have been more perfect, you made me SEE lorde and understanding the trajectory of an artist is so important in order to interpret the art. you absolutely - as the kids would say - ate it up!!

[@daniamarin8198]

Your background in analysis, criticism and writing adds so much more depth, complexity and intrigue to this commentary!!! This is so much more interesting to listen to when you analyze pop culture moments through that lens vs someone just stating their opinion with not much research/context lol, love the content love your style, so fun to see you branching out!! 💛

[@theswiftologist]

tysm dania!! 💕

[@wasntsure]

100% agree. The videos and research are amazing quality and provide a super mature take

[@wasntsure]

Which is so refreshing from the constant “they can do no wrong / create nothing bad”

[@veruhruba2618]

This was so interesting to watch! I started listening to Lorde with solar power bcs of songs like secrets from a girl, california or the title track. I really enjoyed an album that was chilled, so it met me at the perfect moment. This whole album is definitely a grower, but I can see it staying with me for some time. Leader of the new regime will forever be confusing though :D After attending the solar power tour it became even better for me, bcs of the experience. Later I listened to Melodrama and Pure heroine too and I can see why for a fan, this must have been so confusing. For me, solar power remains my favourite album of hers, followed closely by melodrama, which is so amazing and I will claim it's her best work (like where's the gramy?).

[@theswiftologist]

secrets from a girl is so cute tbf

[@julietjetset]

I’ve never considered myself a Lorde fan. Your explanation of the person vs persona makes absolute sense. I generally don’t enjoy persona artists. Well researched and well done! Love this video

[@theswiftologist]

thanks for watching 👀

[@magowiee]

I actually love the song Secrets from a girl who’ve seen it, it’s so comforting, it feels like a warm huge from an older sister :’)) And I loved your wideo!! So much research wow!

[@Yitzhak.p]

its okay Lorde. solar power is still your top three albums

[@theswiftologist]

hahahah

[@maxfenby7228]

personally i feel like my biggest issue with solar power is that sonically it does absolutely nothing for me. i feel like if she kept all the lyrics and melodies exactly the same but decided on a more interesting sonic landscape, i would 100% listen to it more than i do now

[@GabrielFerreira-ue8hs]

Also please talk about how Plastic Hearts resonated really well with Miley's persona and made her an even bigger fingerprint in the music industry.

[@courtney601]

Such a good analysis that has put into words what I've been struggling to articulate since SP came out. It's very interesting to me that the previous two albums are quite universally loved as bodies of work that sum up a certain age in your life and speak authentically to shared experiences/rites of passage. And then SP comes out and it's so out of touch for the reasons you've outlined. Definitely the outlier in her discography and it comes across as simultaneously trying too hard while also being devoid of pretty much any musical interest? I read one review that said it was sun-bleached of melody which is sadly true. I will say, I enjoyed the tour much more than I thought as I think having her perform it and talk around the songs does help bring them to life, but a record should always be able to speak for itself regardless. Absolutely no surprise to anyone that songs from Melodrama were the most energetic and euphoric of the night, and on that note secretly I'm kinda hoping Taylor can channel a little bit of Melodrama for Midnights 🤔 Fantastic video, thank you for the effort you put in as it's a stellar look into what went wrong with the reception of the record!

[@theswiftologist]

so glad you liked it courtney!! sun-bleached of melody is the perfect way to describe it. i'm sad i'm not gonna make it to tour, i bet this album is fun in a small chill venue

[@finnhayden7211]

Just a minor correction she did not entirely scrap what she had before Pearl passed away. She wrote the beginnings of Solar Power (the song) in the summer of 2019 and Pearl passed that November.

[@anasarracena]

I love this video!!! Your writing is SO good. It's refreshing to hear your thoughts and opinions. Keep on producing content about Taylor and other artists who move you (like yourself, I'm also a Taylor, a Lorde and a Lana stan). I didn't like Solar Power as well. Melodrama is so grand, so excellent that we knew it would be difficult for Lorde to make her comeback. I was ready to be comprehensive, but SP is kind of unbearable. I keep listening to Melo 5 years after its release and it still sounds fresh and original. I think I'll never get over it

[@theswiftologist]

thank you SO much friend!!

[@mttssst]

Omg u are finally doing other artists, I'm so excited for the lana vid

[@Breerox108]

Lorde frolicking along the beach was cute and all, but contributed absolutely nothing substantial to my life like Pure Heroine and Melodrama did.

[@tennisfan1706]

You have no idea how EXCITED I was to see this video from you! You touched on things that I didn’t even realize which go back to why this record didn’t connect with people. Things I couldn’t see or maybe chose not to see, so thank you for enlightening me. For me personally, I’ve grown to love and appreciate solar power. Yes, there are songs that you just scratch your head about (dominoes, mood ring). But I loved hearing you talk about this album and her previous work as well. And just out of curiosity, what are your favorite 3 lorde songs?

[@theswiftologist]

ahh so glad you enjoyed it and thanks for suspending your beliefs haha. it's so hard to pick three...but ribs, green light, and supercut!

[@FraserM27]

@@theswiftologist listening to supercut for the first time was SPIRITUAL we got galactically served

[@LaurenLaass]

@@FraserM27 it’s SO GOOD

[@sofieislate]

this insight was so well spoken and simply great to hear! im definitely a lorde fan who's had some trouble articulating how i feel about solar power, and i feel like this does a great job of it

[@theswiftologist]

thank you so much!

[@readbyjordyn]

Your scripts are so tight, always love your analysis

[@theswiftologist]

thank you!! they take me ages lol

[@stardolphin783]

Also - i love the precise pacing of the video, not that you arent before but the emotional swiftie really jumps inevitably, (the power of taylor LOL) in between you reviewing taylor LMAOOO which i love and definately shows youve been most invested emotionally in her which it great! but it definately is a nice change to hear how you feel about other artists !

[@gabscomments]

I’m a Taylor Swift fan, so I followed you on twitter and started watching your videos (without good expectations tbh) just because of all the controversies around you over there, and I’m literally obsessed! I love all your Taylor-related content but seeing you branch out and comment on other pop culture artists and events it’s refreshing. It’s hard for me to find KZbin content to watch and I’m having a blast watching all the videos on your channel. I’d love to watch some more videos like this one or the one where you rank and comment on the best selling albums of the 2010’s. Congrats on the start of your sponsored era and thanks for the great content! ☺️

[@Claudia26245]

Even if my first language is not English and sometimes I struggle to understand you because you speaks too fast and also you have a really rich vocabulary I would still watch your videos for hours, great video Zach 😍 really excited for the new content!!!

[@theswiftologist]

thank you claudia!!

[@blahblah50014]

incredible, INCREDIBLE analysis. you articulated what's going on with lorde so well, thank you!

[@LayeredGamer]

I also find it so funny how she stated that Lily Allen’s The Fear was the main influence for Mood Ring… because The Fear totally nails the satire it’s going for, while Mood Ring plays it so straight that the person she’s making fun of could see it as an anthem for them unironically… Maybe that’s the point? But it doesn’t really work lyrically for me. I do love the melody and sound of the song though.

[@theswiftologist]

no this comment is sooooo interesting. i hadn't heard she compared it to the fear. that's crazy!! the fear was such a moment, and so prescient...like lily allen *got* it before any of the other girls were even thinking about it

[@LukeAlexander]

I love Lorde but I deadass never listen to this album. It feels pretentious and out of character

[@theswiftologist]

so true king! melodrama set the bar too high I fear...(love ur videos 🔥)

[@samisteffen7333]

#1 i am so excited for all the new territory you’re going to cover #2 while i love solar power, i do respect your perspective and see where you’re coming from with the out of touch-ness and inauthenticity. i see this album as more of background music while im cooking, cleaning, reading, or doing homework. plus the orange marble vinyl is beautiful to see spinning on my turntable. i also went to the solar power tour (her hair was still brown) and she served some looks and sang writer in the dark for the first time on the tour im pretty sure so that was cool!

[@theswiftologist]

aw thank you, friend 💌 yeah it's for sure background music

[@igormehello]

i love that this is a pop culture channel now, you’ll be HUGE

[@theswiftologist]

🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞

[@EsmeMillfleet]

I went to the solar power tour and it was incredible, the set prices and setlist really gave me a new perspective on the album and made me appreciate it more but the solar power songs were much more boring live than songs from her other albums

[@jhrewekasjdsfh]

this video was absolutely brilliant!!! please please please keep bringing out more similar to this, ofc i love your taylor vids but this was sooo enjoyable! you could really tell you had sm fun with it xx

[@theswiftologist]

i DID have fun!! thank you for watching xx

[@katiesays]

Lorde taught me not to preorder a vinyl unless it’s Taylor Swift or Phoebe bridgers.

[@kiroolioneaver8532]

The thing about "Solar Power" (specifically it's inspiration from the early 2000s folk pop) is that it could've been THE pandemic album. Those early 2000s folk pop songs had big scream it as you sing along hooks (something SP clearly lacks) and an undercurrent theme (think "Soak Up the Sun"; "Powerless") of finding escapism in the mundanity of everyday life instead of actually seeking physical escapism by jumping on a plane, going to beach, and throwing your phone into the ocean. I think your point about being out of touch is salient. "Pure Heroine" and "Melodrama" both worked because, respectively, regardless of how rich you are, there is still a universal experience of being a teenager (PH) and having your first heartbreak (Melo). After that, it's hard to make you're 1%er problems relate to the common (wo)man unless a) the music is fire so people don't really care or b) you do what Taylor does and finds way to acknowledge that gulf (i.e. renting an expensive house in Manhattan or buying a mansion in Rhode Island) but still make it relatable (not being able to walk down the same street you used to live on if you break up with your partner or connecting yourself to the history of the location/position you occupy).

[@vvieites001]

Melodrama was a masterpiece. A true no skip album for me. Solar power the single and video were too corny and cringey for me-also came off like she was bragging about being better than everyone who was too consumed by the news and social media. Def came across as out of touch and unaware of her immense privilege to “disconnect” and not have to deal with problems like COVID. The album was meh. I liked a few songs but lyrically I think it’s just not her best work and sonically I thought it was bland

[@theswiftologist]

melodrama........the world changed tbh!

[@solarsystym1167]

I think one huge thing you didn't mention was that she was, of course, going to be disconnected. we all were. especially new Zealand, the most COVID free country. I mean, I can't exactly blame her for spending a year on the beach when there was literally no where else you could go. I went hiking, to lakes, to mountains, to beaches. I went outside, that was the only place that felt welcoming. the only place where life still felt untouched, where things maybe didn't change so much, & maybe just made a bit of sense. the album is making social commentary on the social media oversaturation (mood ring, solar power, the path) & how it's just so invasive & disregards everybody's privacy (just look at how many targeted ads we get & how everyone is begging us to consume something). it was a very odd & uncertain time & I think maybe she felt a bit lost in terms of the narrative because, like stated, she wasn't really a part of the world (new Zealand wasn't) the way everyone else was. & in such a closed off world in lockdown, who wouldn't want to run around on the beach & think about life? I think she deserves more credit for her unfocused narrative than people give her.

[@gaileygirl]

this analysis was SO fun to listen to, i love the way you break things down!!

[@theswiftologist]

thanks queen miss u in the premiere chats!

[@gaileygirl]

@@theswiftologist ugh ik, school has been killing me. love being a part of the conversation thooo, i'll be there when i can

[@thismightbedolly]

i think melodrama was one of the top albums of the 2010s. will she ever top that? we'll see. i just hope her next album isnt such a flop lol

[@sonnymiller6524]

completely in love with Zacks brave new video !! super cool to see the range he has. keep goingggg

[@theswiftologist]

[@michelletewhata7768]

Lorde is one of the only realist artist I heard in the music industry, her down to earth nature portraits the person she is. Raised with morals and values, family oriented she is a true homebody an introvert who prefers to relax and enjoy nature. Multi talented intellectually, lyrically and sonically, her creativity comes from a rare neurological condition called synesthesia, her Mom being a poet, she grew up speaking it, to understand her lyrics can be quite difficult to understand……. I adore Lorde and wanted to share this little bit of info Each to their opinions, much respect to all

[@ligiaxavier4536]

Loved this! I was just watching her performance at Primavera Sound yesterday. I thought the visuals, clothes and her sound we're so unique and amazing. But something doesn't fit right in this new album. You're totally right! I hope she turns around, she is so talented!

[@theswiftologist]

i love the aesthetic of this era, i just think she paid more attention to that then the music. she'll def turn it around tho :)

[@faye95]

i agree mostly with everything you said here. interestingly, i began liking solar power a lot more after seeing lorde live a few months ago. i think it had something to do with how sincere she is when she's onstage and performing - she comes across very genuine and i think the feelings she conveyed helped to colour in the songs a little more for me. still, i only listen to this album when i want to relax and not think about anything, which i think reflects the content of the album. in ways it really is a polar opposite to melodrama

[@souldiving4197]

I didn’t even want another melodrama, I wanted a pure heroine, I thought I had already lost Lorde when she dropped melodrama bc it sounded like many albums at that time, PH was so unique.

[@bjsaringan5864]

A very brilliant analysis. Nodding through the whole video. I did enjoy Solar Power and I still can vibe through it. But Melodrama is really hard to beat. I guess Solar Power is sort of like her Bridge Album, A bridge to the music she'll make (or want to make) in the future. It may not be a smooth transition, but it still is a transition. And you really made good points on why it didn't land.

[@gabrieleviscomi3513]

Being out of touch to me was her (and mine) answer to the problem she talked about in PH and Melo. Like now, being grown and discovered who she truly is after a little bit of growing process, she just says “okay, fuck all of that sorrow, I’m just isolating and doing what I truly like” that’s the same I experienced - and the isolating can be seen just a metaphor for cleansing herself from all of the stuff that wasn’t going along with her, a process that the quarantine helped achieve - in that I see a lot of relatability, not a statement of richness and distant superiority. To me the album is an anthem of finding our true essence at all coasts, even through rejection of things that truly just hurts us, and finding our private place to breath, in where we can welcome who we really are - our souls - and all the people who can vibe with us without bringing to our life a sense of “being weird” or “liabilities” for them.

[@sohnaminta.9264]

I'm not even a lorde stan but melodrama is fucking pop perfection. The lorde songs I listen to.

[@deannarose2424]

I couldnt even bring myself to finish Solar Power the song, lazy beach days is not my vibes and it had zero pull, zero reason to keep listening which makes me sad.

[@markopanushkovski1913]

I think she took the line "you are gonna watch me disappear into the sun" from liability to the next level and solar power album would be her last album? "It is time to cool it down, whatever that means". In the song "Hold no grudge" and "Secrets from a girl" she mentions growing up. In the song "Fallen fruit" she gives list of cars, so she might want to see her progress in retrospective - "from the Nissan, to the Phantom, to the plane". The outro of "Fallen fruit" is also classy so it seems like she wants to be treated older, not someone who came out with a fancy melody that everyone will sing to. "Growing up a little at a time then all at once".

[@HandlePan]

Totally here for this discussion and completely agree with your take on the established persona of an artist shaping how their work is perceived. Also, I think that if an artist gains a reputation for being intelligent and ‘deep’, then people read into all their work and assign deeper meaning even if there isn’t Put another way, once an artist is considered deep, then even if they release very shallow work the fans will insist that it is deep and the rest of us just ‘don’t get it’.

[@juliajulius8000]

I don’t think Solar Power is “out of touch” or “detached from our reality”. No, I am not a rich boy, far from it actually, born and raised in east side São Paulo, Brazil, so yeah, pretty poor. It’s an album about how she's experiencing and seeing life as an adult. It’s not about her telling everyone how we should live. It’s actually the opposite. And she made sure to let that clear right from the start with The Path. Every Lorde album has been about her. Many people feel connected to Melodrama because the album is about a phase that most people go through; heartbreak. Solar Power is about Lorde’s vision on life. It is about Lorde asking herself questions. Solar Power doesn’t resonate with as many people because is more personal than Lorde’s other works. That doens't mean that is a bad album. Not every album needs to be for everyone. At least when you're an actual artist and not a product.

[@NaisonGomes67357]

LORDE NUNCA FLOPOU. ELA SÓ NÃO TEM 50 MILHÕES DE INSCRITOS NO YOU TUBE COMO TAYLOR. Tem diferença. Lorde nunca quis ser famosa! Ela ficou famosa sem querer 😂

[@FraserM27]

Yessss I love this!! Great video as ALWAYS and I'm really looking forward to hearing your views on wider pop culture :))

[@theswiftologist]

thank you for watching fraser!

[@FraserM27]

@@theswiftologist ofc ❤️

[@caldoheiss9502]

it's so interesting what you said! i have loved Solar Power since the first day and songs such as The Path and Oceanic Feeling are actually in my top tier of her discography. from the first moment the album did feel a bit detached (which i liked, i still do) and considering what you just said, a "generational" pop star needs to be in tune with their people for their work and art to be recognized and respected (such as with Melodrama) but it's up to them to choose.. that's why i'm excited to see what she's about to do on L4 and what route she'll take

[@gautamrajeev937]

I believe "Solar Power" is her strongest album to date. Ella continues a tradition that commenced with luminaries such as Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton in the 70s, a lineage that has birthed exceptional songwriters like Amy Winehouse and Taylor Swift. She excels as a confessional writer, and I perceive "Solar Power" as the latest installment in a narrative she initiated at the age of 16. At 16 she is insecure and not happy with her place in the world. At 19 she embarks on a journey of self discovery after a devastating breakup and By the age of 24, she can reflect on a life teeming with invaluable lessons, extending forgiveness to herself for past mistakes, and embracing a life suffused with happiness.

[@stardolphin783]

I feel her big expectations as a persona hit her here. "its not that its bad but its not lorde" or rather what they expect from lorde. is what i hear a lot from this record. I do agree that mood ring is kinda meh with its execution, but i honestly cant help bop w them, i love the albums production, and idk many songs did well for me personally as some one isolated for years due to illness. Fame refrences work well sometimes, i dont mind them being direct, after all, billies NDA and Therefore I am slaps. But i guess billie is alt idk. Lorde has said many times shes more of a theatre girl than a stadium girl. Which is why she shushes ppl LMAO

[@theswiftologist]

yeah you’re right, fame can work well - I think the vapid, disorientation from bright lights/no one understands me etc etc can be cool. NDA works because of that! however there just wasn’t a space for it on SP…

[@stardolphin783]

I see! I feel like art ( and how it recieved) definately depends at least in part of the state of the world in some ways, what the zietgeist is going through and other contexts i think! Not that music made disconnected from it is bad, but it can look bad if you dont read the room LOL

[@stardolphin783]

and it sometimes it feels like how can lorde read the room if she hasnt BEEN in it yk? Kinda like shes had one foot in and one foot out at least thats how i feel about mood ring specifically!

[@KseniaSotnikova]

You and all the reviews captured why Solar Power flopped: I don't want to hear Life Takes from a millionaire drinking $8 organic coffee while reading Bret Easton Ellis at a Brooklyn cafe.

[@aloneinmidnight]

the fact that she just casually dropped that she was travelling around the world to stay in summer year-round and avoiding winter .... like we can't fuckin relate bestie !

[@totally3totally]

For me Melodrama was a no-skip, and solar power was a skip

[@IFTUE9831]

I disagree on this analysis. "Solar Power" embodied another perspective of living in isolation during the pandemic. And that didn't embrace necessarily millionaires. In between 2020 an 2022 lots of people remote worked in their second houses or got isolated for longer periods of time looking to escape crowded places, embrace social distancing rules and at the same time find more contact with mother nature. This condition also led people to become more introspective and to cultivate more sensibility towards themes related to climate change, respect of the environment, embracing holistic habits. She did the choice to go back in New Zealand which was a smart move. That record is an ode to her native country and at the same time a criticism over the consumption/fame obsessed US culture that she had the chance to taste (and tell the world she doesn't like it). Loved also how she found the time to re-record the album in the native maori language. It's a beautiful project that showcases the respect she has for the indigenous culture. A very important topic in New Zealand, which is where is she from. Regarding the opening track: "The Path" is my favorite track of the entire record. It's an open spiritual awakening an open letter to destiny. It's totally ok if she's not clear in what she wants you to picture. It's up to the listener for its own healthy open interpretation. Finally: I am glad this album "wasn't for everybody" so now I can feel like I am appreciating a little jewel that has not been available to masses.

[@vankr]

Also, Zack, I saw on the snake podcast that you didn't like my Sabrina Carpenter suggestion lol! I remain hopeful, cause there's something there... but I understand no one reaches Taylor's level

[@stardolphin783]

Honestly i love zacks different perspectives but i disagree and was disheartened that he thought that sabrina, conan and maisie, gracie are the same. Its impossible for literally different people with entirely different life histories to be so the same they arent worth dissecting. as a fan of conan i definately do think he is drastically different from sabrina, and sabrinas new record definately has brought power back to her narrative. Yes , although not as popular as taylor , i sone think other artistd are unmatched to taylor in what they have to offer. Music is a biased emotional experience afterall, which i dont hold against if zack doesnt care for them, but i dont think these artists dont have much to offer.

[@johanna_paula]

yeah i don’t like when people, mainly celebrities, try to comment on different issues when they are so out of touch. lorde tried to stand out by being “just another sad relatable teen” and made her music with that audience of people in mind for so long, so long that she truly has lost touch with them. like obviously she still has teenage fans, i enjoy her music from time to time and i’m a teen too, but her original fans have probably grown up and moved on in life, lorde hasn’t and her insistence on being a “quirky girl” isn’t working for her anymore. but how does one stay relevant in the music/entertainment industry when their whole vibe/go-to is overdone and comes off as not caring about their craft or simply out of touch? it’s almost like lorde doesn’t know how to evolve into a more mature version of herself and her music is seemingly suffering from it, she can’t grow or expand her creative process and will eventually hit a dead end in her career.

[@theswiftologist]

I'm really hoping this was a fluke and not a decline in skill 🤞🏻

[@johanna_paula]

@@theswiftologist same here. i really want to get into her music more, but it’s hard when an artist goes from having really good and inventive music, that they clearly put lots of effort and time into, to then just give fans/casual listeners a harsh drop in care and quality in their newer music/albums. i understand wanting to try something new and having it flop, every artist has a right to experiment after all and they should from time to time, but in lorde’s case it just feels worse. almost like she didn’t want to create solar power, but did in order to stay relevant. that’s truly sad and crummy to see clear talent wasted like that, especially when all the fans know she could produce so much better if her heart was in it. :(

[@Jamieswiftie13]

This is probably one of the best KZbin videos I have ever seen

[@theswiftologist]

thank you jamie

[@shreynoot]

ALSO this is probably not real but I like to think that Living Legend by lana del rey could be about Lorde and others that followed the style that lana championed. It comes off as a wise seasoned artist telling how she feels abt her younger contemporaries that may have tried to distance from her, but still produce art that moves lana?? Idk

[@theswiftologist]

compelling thought for sure !

[@vanessabutera4385]

Just watching this now after almost two years. As a late millenial, I love Lorde and will always support her. After the sheer excellence of Pure Heroine and Melodrama, Solar Power was just a fine record. I respect the satire she was aiming for here, but it is quite difficult to pull of in song. Great vid as always!

[@katemariemc]

Oooooo u changed the title! A good change tbh, brings curiosity and nuance

[@Evensonxx9]

this was incredibly constructed, I subscribed and will be keeping up!

[@theswiftologist]

thank you so much! just checked out your latest music video & it's awesome 🏝 🫁

[@Evensonxx9]

@@theswiftologist appreciate you so much

[@neontyler6663]

I love her, i love Solar Power but not how much i love her other stuffs, you need to be in a mood and i like it to use when im alone and meditating specially with the sun and sometimes on the beach, This album is so warm. I understand everyone’s opinions it theirs. She just matured and moved on and she’s happy and i am happy for her. But let’s be real, her lyrics in this album is so so Strong and matured, its almost a poet. I think she is preparing for a banger

[@erickent4248]

Her most unique quality is her amazing speaking voice, it is way more exciting than her singing voice, and her first two albums were full of talk-singing and asides like on the Louvre which showed a lot of personality. She is smart and a clever lyricist, I don't really agree that a famous person can only be insightful about modern culture once, but when they do it, it must be either funny or mean spirited to hit, Lorde is way too nice to pull that off. I do think that she was trying also to move more towards being like Mitski or Phoebe instead of having upbeat cuts, which felt a bit imitative. I actually like Solar Power, it is nice, it just does not have the same impact because it is not playing to her strengths.

[@DAVIDMILAN]

Love love love this video. Probably my fave of yours. You really know how to use the English language to explain something beautifully. Looking forward to the next videos xx

[@theswiftologist]

omg so honoured!! thank you :)

[@carolynbecker6383]

You've mentioned Lana Del Rey so much in your videos. I'd love to see your take on her too! Maybe a dedicated vodeo on her influence on Taylor?

[@shilohgoes5544]

“Royals” evokes the exact same imagery as the songs she was dismissing so it was a bit of a moot point to me.

[@theswiftologist]

☕️

[@Pxrdunk]

Thank you very much for this video. I loved it. and yes, I also a felt a little bit empty after her released I expected something extreme something mind blowing from this album and not what it was But being honest the best song of this record in my opinion is oceanic feeling I think that song really make sense if the album would meant to be a low key album. I’d felt it like wow it’s focus on that kind of naturalist view instead talking about other people. It would be way more relatable and spiritual. I’d used it even to meditate 🧘‍♀️ who knows ???

[@emilypearsonderviniks]

i’m so glad you talked about this!! i just love how you articulate everything i’m thinking lol

[@theswiftologist]

thanks for watching!!

[@ifigeniab3292]

I listened to solar power once and I didn't care to listen to most of the songs again. I really liked solar power (the song) and stoned at the nail salon so basically the singles for me were the best songs of the album. I listen to some of the catchiest songs like dominos, secrets from a girl, mood ring somethimes but for someone that mainly likes pop music the album wasn't really for me. I didn't mind the whole "I'm throwing my phone in the water I only need the sun" vibe I thought it was interesting I just didn't like the songs sonically that much. I do really like what her tour looked like from what I've seen though.

[@theswiftologist]

the tour looks great!

[@ChloeTheePayne]

love this vid, i always think it's really cool to hear the perspective that swifties have to offer on topics other than taylor. it will be really interesting to see how lorde approaches the next album cycle, feels like an opportunity to either bounce back humbled and more self aware and ready to return to authenticity, or will be the nail in the coffin if the next things we hear from her are even more off course...

[@theswiftologist]

thanks for watching chloe! :) yes I am indeed also very curious as to what'll go down next..

[@livshopeurok]

I feel like I’m the only one who didn’t *HATE* solar power but it’s nice to see a different view on it!

[@theswiftologist]

thanks 4 watching without losing your mind 🤭

[@brianmpbe]

Stellar commentary. I love this record but you hit some nails on the head I hadn’t really gotten to the bottom of

[@theswiftologist]

thanks brian!!

[@justlisten9435]

Also, a point that you (implicitly) (and repeatedly) make, is the receptivity of a certain art work within a specific zeitgeist.

[@intheangelcity]

Great video. There were new insights I hadn't thought of before. It was definitely filled with general statements. I may be wrong, but I feel as to why the album was not as good was because a lot of the takes she was making were not a main or new talking point to people. I feel every album she has done, was some sort of commentary on something. But for Solar Power, a take on wellness culture, and isolation doesn't seem to be a solid album concept. Some of the tracks you can just listen to without paying attention to the lyrics, but I don't think that's what Lorde does. Also Oceanic Feeling being 7 minutes long is WAY too long for a song that sonically boring. My favourite tracks are Fallen Fruit and The Man with the Axe.

[@bellahammond7393]

when solar power first came out i was disappointed especially because it is definitely a summer album that she released at the very end of summer. after listening to it this summer and going on the tour i feel like i understand it more. i take it as a really pretty summer album where she sings about having grown up and not needing to make an album for the charts or for the fans to relate to their own lives, it was just how she was feeling at the time.

[@BananaSpiral]

you summed it up for me well at the end. this isnt a bad album, just doesnt feel like lorde

[@Paula-pd6kf]

i feel like this is too much of a professional analysis for youtube like a banner telling me i have to subscribe to keep reading should appear on my screen taylor swiftologist rocks so fucking hard

[@theswiftologist]

HAHAHAHA ilysm