28-year-old Lorde makes her return with a fresh and nostalgic track titled “What Was That,” which delights long-time fans while enticing new listeners with her outstanding sound and lyrics.
It has been confirmed that “Lorde Summer” is on the horizon, marking her first single release in four years with “What Was That.” Although her last album, Solar Power, came out in 2021, Lorde has been active. In June 2024, she teamed up with Charli XCX for the “Girl, So Confusing” remix of “Brat,” a song that became a viral sensation amidst rumors of a feud between them related to their similar appearances and competitive status in the pop music scene of the 2010s.
Lorde began teasing her new music through TikTok in April 2024, eventually revealing “What Was That.” Following the teaser, she performed alongside Charli XCX at Coachella. A few days later, she announced a surprise concert at Washington Square Park where she introduced the new track.
Solar Power received significant critical acclaim; however, some fans lost interest due to its differing sound from her earlier albums. Her most renowned song, “Ribs,” continues to resonate with new audiences on social media, symbolizing the tumult of adolescence.
“What Was That” skillfully merges the dance synth beats that fans yearn for with the lyrical depth that has matured throughout her evolving discography. Much of Lorde's music delves into themes of lost childhood innocence and the fleeting joys of growing older. In this track, those themes are highlighted while offering a nuanced perspective on relationships.
The opening verse quickly captivates listeners, with Lorde’s voice almost whispering: “A place in the city / A chair and a bed.” The intensity escalates as she sings, “I cover up all the mirrors / I can’t see myself yet / I wear smoke like a wedding veil.”
A place in the city
A chair and a bed
I cover up all the mirrors
Can’t see myself yet
I wear smoke like a wedding veil
Make a meal I won’t eat
Step out into the street, alone in a sea
It comes over me
Lorde's candidness is a significant reason behind her extensive and varied fanbase. Middle-aged fathers find connection in her lyrics just as their teenage daughters do; the transient nature of aging resonates across generations.
The synth builds in conjunction with the lyrics, as Lorde’s voice grows more urgent and vulnerable. The chorus reaches its peak with a sound reminiscent of her earlier music, weaving heartbreaking questions into rhythms that evoke her cult classic “Supercut” and beloved “Green Light.”
In the chorus, she begins: “MDMA in the back garden, blow our pupils up / We kissed for hours straight, well, baby, what was that? / I remember sayin’ then, ‘This is the best cigarette of my life.’”
Lorde seems to reflect on a personal relationship in the song, with the chorus hinting at an impending heartbreak. Her introspection comes not from a curious teen but a mature individual nearing 30. She continues: “Indio haze, we’re in a sandstorm and it knocks me out / I didn’t know then that you’d never be enough, oh / Since I was seventeen, I gave you everything.”
Oh, I’m missing you
Yeah, I’m missing you
And all the things we used to do
MDMA in the back garden,
blow our pupils up
We kissed for hours straight,
well, baby, what was that?
I remember saying then,
“This is the best cigarette of my life”
Well, I want you just like that
Indio haze, we’re in a sandstorm
and it knocks me out
I didn’t know then,
that you’d never be enough, oh
Since I was seventeen,
I gave you everything
Now we wake from a dream,
well, baby, what was that?
What was that?
Baby, what was that?
Many fans have noticed Lorde referencing “being 17” yet again. Her debut album, Pure Heroine, penned at the age of 16, tackled her social anxieties. Although it was released in 2013, it still resonates with new generations of youth.
“What Was That” reaffirms the principles Lorde established in her debut twelve years ago. This single signifies a promising comeback for the New Zealand artist as she continues her journey with a more open and vulnerable tone, especially after her recent reemergence in pop culture through collaborations with Charli XCX.
Lorde softly fades into the post-chorus, allowing the synth to overshadow her voice. She whispers again: “What was that? / Baby, what was that?”
Do you know you’re still with me
When I’m out with my friends?
I stare at their
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28-year-old Lorde makes her return with a nostalgically refreshing song titled "What Was That," pleasing long-time fans and enticing new listeners with her exceptional sound and lyrics.