Close Reading - Royals by Lorde

I closely read the song royals by Ella Yeilch-O’Connor or, mainly known as Lorde. After closely readying it, I found that it is about diverse backgrounds and social class. It tells a story through song about the writer/singers journey and portrays through symbolism her own opinion.

When I first looked at the song I thought it was a typical teenage song about being a teen and going through regular issues such as love stories, friendship etc. I never really thought to second guess myself on what it could be telling us. Then as I looked closer, and took apart the song into its staminas and looked more at what the image gives you in your head and what it could mean or represent. I wondered what Lorde could be wanting the person listening to picture.

I interpreted the song to mean that Lorde had never come from a rich lifestyle and to say that she is ok with it. She wants to spread the message that not everyone has to be rich to have a good life or future setting, herself as an example. I also think this story has another meaning. I think the song is also also talking about how the “fantasy” she was talking about, a balance between her pop star life and being herself will likely never happen as if it was just a fantasy and the whole time she knew it could never be real. This shows an important message that not all things come true. Often songs have the opposite opinion, but I think Lorde feels it is important to show all sides, for example the rich and the poor, the good and the bad.

I think this is why a lot of people like the song, it shows a different side of pop music. Not everything is picture perfect in real life and Lorde really tries to express that idea. This is an important message to teach to kids and teenagers when often they set themselves up for disappointment. Teaching this through music is a good and new way to get through to some kids. I also think that Lorde is in a way mocking the other songs because she sings about the normal stuff that other pop songs are about and it makes them sound stuck up and immature. overall, I liked this song and looking more closely at it. It shows me not to overlook things and that when going deeper into a songbook, or any piece of writing, you can discover more than you imagined you would have.