While the constant comparisons of Lorde to Miley Cyrus and Rihanna show that people value Lorde’s “deep” music more than the party pop of the current mainstream, when each song is examined closely it reveals a narrative about how relationships are formed and maintained. Her album would go on to certified quadruple platinum (indicating four million copies sold) in New Zealand and the two Grammys won by “Royals” in 2014 indicate Lorde’s staying power as a force to be reckoned with in the Top 40 realm. After releasing her extended play The Love Club and gaining a popular standing in her home country New Zealand, “Royals” went viral and Lorde became a common name in pop culture. Lorde’s claim to fame is her pop hit “Royals”, where she rejects the ideas of wealth and affluence that pervade modern pop music and supports a lifestyle of substance. In a few short weeks Lorde went from generally unknown except to a select few New Zealanders to an international pop star in what seems like an overnight success. It is hard to culturally examine pop music in 2013 without including the impact of the singer/songwriter Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor, more commonly known by her stage name Lorde. “Ribs” is a masterpiece that is simultaneously uplifting and sad, and the feeling derived from the song truly depends on whatever your mindset is when you put your headphones on.Lorde and the Ambiguous ‘You’: the Idyllic Relationship of Pure Heroine Yet, just because these are mixed together so fluently does not mean that everyone recognizes the song for how dynamic it really is. “Ribs” masterfully intertwines sadness with joy, and feelings of fear of the future with fondness of the past. This lighter feeling that the song produces counterbalances its lyrics and is what allows the other feelings of the song to be more aptly recognized and felt. “Ribs” is pretty upbeat, especially as the song reaches its climax and speeds up. The beat and tempo and even the general sound isn’t one that you would associate with sad music. The instrumentals of “Ribs” adds to the fluidity of its vibes. The song evokes a feeling of company through the lyrics, “You’re the only friend I need / Sharing beds like little kids / And laughing ’til our ribs get tough.” “We’re reeling through the midnight streets” gives off a very strong feeling of stumbling one’s way across town after a party. “Ribs” also works as a song for going out with friends. Lyrics like, “I want ‘em back / The minds we had” and “Sharing beds like little kids” convey that beneath the underlying stress, there is a softer appreciation of the past. It’s about longing for the days when one was younger, when things were more simple. The track also has a warmer nostalgic side to it. However, there’s more to “Ribs” than just the fear of growing old. Think of the track’s angst-inducing lyrics: “It drives you crazy getting old,” “This dream isn’t feeling sweet,” and “I’ve never felt more alone, it feels so scary getting old.” Mix these melancholy words with the song’s progression from slow singing to more fast-paced cries for a recipe of iconic sadness and existential anxiety. Lorde herself has admitted that “Ribs” is an exploration of aging, which is something that stresses her - and almost everyone else - out. The song most undeserving of this classification is “Ribs.” The time has finally come to right this wrong and recognize “Ribs” as the perfect blend of sadness, nostalgia, and joy.
RIBS LORDE MEANING FULL
As a result, a lot of her songs have only been enjoyed as sad bops and are not appreciated in their full capacity. Before the release of her third album “Solar Powered,” Lorde’s music was almost notorious for being sad.