Behind the Lyrics: Royals by Lorde
“Royals” is a song by New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde, released in 2013. The song is a critique of materialism and consumer culture, and the idea that one needs to be wealthy or famous to have a fulfilling life.
In the song, Lorde contrasts the extravagant lifestyles portrayed in popular music with her own experiences growing up in a small town.
She sings about the simple pleasures of life, such as driving in a beat-up car and listening to music with friends, and suggests that these things are more valuable than the expensive items and luxurious lifestyles often celebrated in pop culture.
The chorus of the song, which repeats throughout, is a rejection of the idea of living like “royals” and spending money on expensive things: “And we’ll never be royals/It don’t run in our blood/That kind of luxe just ain’t for us/We crave a different kind of buzz.”
Overall, “Royals” is a song that celebrates the value of authenticity, simplicity, and self-expression, and critiques the pressure to conform to societal expectations of success and wealth.
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