The four-year wait for new music from Lorde is finally over with the release of a new single, the title song from upcoming album Solar Power.
Lorde’s sophomore effort, 2017’s Melodrama, was an art-pop masterpiece, angsty and dramatic in all the best ways.
That album paved the way for Billie Eilish, whose extraordinary success has sucked up a lot of the musical air previously breathed by Lorde. You also hear echoes of it in some of Olivia Rodrigo’s songs. The emergence of those two stars since Lorde last recorded means she is now the third most popular Gen Z pop star.
Judging by ‘Solar Power,’ she isn’t trying too hard to reclaim the throne. This is a breezy, forgettable track, with a gentle acoustic guitar part reminiscent of George Michael’s ‘Faith’ and a lyric about kicking back on the beach and tossing your phone in the ocean.
Maybe this is a bait and switch, and Lorde has an album of challenging modern pop on the way. Or maybe she’s content to skip redefining the music landscape this time around and deliver her version of a Jack Johnson album.
I’d be cool with that.
I hate the winter, can’t stand the cold
I tend to cancel all the plans (So sorry, I can’t make it)
But when the heat comes, something takes a hold
Can I kick it? Yeah, I can
[Pre-Chorus]
My cheeks in high colour, overripe peaches
No shirt, no shoes, only my features
My boy behind me, he’s taking pictures
Lead the boys and girls onto the beaches
Come one, come all, I’ll tell you my secrets
I’m kinda like a prettier Jesus
[Chorus]
Forget all of thе tears that you’ve cried
It’s ovеr (Over, over, over, over)
It’s a new state of mind
Are you coming, my baby?
[Verse 2]
Acid green, aquamarine
The girls are dancing in the sand
And I throw my cellular device in the water
Can you reach me? No, you can’t (Aha)
[Pre-Chorus]
My cheeks in high colour, overripe peaches
No shirt, no shoes, only my features
My boy behind me, he’s taking pictures (He’s taking pictures)
Lead the boys and girls onto the beaches
Come one, come all, I’ll tell you my secrets
I’m kinda like a prettier Jesus
[Chorus]
Turn it on in a new kind of bright
It’s solar (Solar, solar, solar, solar)
Come on and let the bliss begin
Blink three times when you feel it kicking in
[Outro]
That solar-olar-olar power
Solar-olar-olar power
Solar-olar-olar power
Solar-olar-olar power
Solar-olar-olar power
Solar-olar-olar power
Meet Me In Montauk 
I’m a fan of Lorde’s sound, and I suspect that the new album will have more depth and interest than this throwaway song of summer suggests.
I’m a fan of this song and it grows on me more with every listen. I suspect there’ll be a nice combo of this more carefree “bop” angle and some more experimental music from Lorde. Can’t wait for more!
When she asks and answers, “Can I kick it? Yeah, I can,” I’d say she’s offering her response in advance to both her fans and her detractors. That said, “Can you reach me? No, you can’t.” I agree with Maddie; the new album will have both and her single prepares her listener for just that combo.
I mean honestly this song kinda slaps. I’d only heard snippets from Tik Tok and was prepared to dislike it as many people were so critical. However, I can definitely see the appeal and admire how she’s switched up her genre here to make a summer bop. I’m excited to see what the rest of the album holds!