Lorde’s third studio album released August 20, 2021 — a psychedelic folk-pop meditation on fame, nature, and growing up that divided fans and critics after the darker, moodier Melodrama (2017).
The Rollout
June 10, 2021: Lead single “Solar Power” dropped with a music video of Lorde on a beach in a yellow bikini, frolicking in the sun.
The vibe shift: Gone was the brooding, introspective pop of Melodrama. Solar Power was sunny, acoustic, hippie-adjacent.
Jack Antonoff returned as co-producer, but the sound was stripped-down — more guitar, less synth.
The Album
August 20, 2021: Solar Power arrived with 12 tracks exploring:
- Fame and disillusionment (“The Path,” “California”)
- Nature and disconnection (“Solar Power,” “Oceanic Feeling”)
- Environmentalism and simplicity (“Big Star,” “Secrets from a Girl”)
- Aging and nostalgia (“Mood Ring” — satirizing wellness culture)
The sonic palette: Acoustic guitars, minimal production, breezy vocals, 70s folk-pop influences (Joni Mitchell, Carole King).
The Reception
Critics were mixed:
✅ Praise: Mature, introspective, brave departure from pop expectations
❌ Criticism: Boring, lack of hooks, too chill, “music for a Lululemon ad”
Fans were divided:
- Team Solar Power: “This is growth. It’s gorgeous and thoughtful.”
- Team Melodrama: “Where are the bangers? This is background music for a yoga class.”
The Discourse
“It’s a vibe, not a hit album.”
Lorde leaned into the anti-pop energy. No TikTok virality. No radio singles. No streaming bait.
The environmentalism: The album came with a note about climate anxiety and living lighter. Some fans loved it. Others found it preachy.
The wellness satire: “Mood Ring” mocked crystals, astrology, and influencer wellness culture — but the album’s overall sunny vibes felt… close to what it was satirizing.
The Numbers
Chart performance:
- #1 in New Zealand, Australia
- #5 on Billboard 200 (US)
- Solid but not blockbuster
Streaming: Lower than Melodrama. No viral TikTok moments.
Tour: The Solar Power Tour (2022) sold well. Fans appreciated the album more live.
The Legacy
Solar Power became a “slow burn” album. Initial disappointment gave way to appreciation for its quiet confidence.
It wasn’t designed to dominate charts or go viral. It was Lorde rejecting the pop machine and making art on her terms.
“Oceanic Feeling” (the closer) became a fan favorite — a 6-minute meditation on letting go.
The Memes
“Lorde said delete your social media and touch grass” — the album’s message, distilled.
The yellow bikini became iconic (and meme-able).
“Mood Ring” TikToks — users ironically lip-syncing to the wellness satire while doing yoga or drinking matcha.
The Revisit
By 2023-2024, Solar Power gained a cult following. Fans who initially dismissed it came back and found depth in its simplicity.
Not every album needs to be Melodrama.
Sources
- Lorde Solar Power album credits and liner notes
- Metacritic aggregate reviews (August 2021)
- Billboard chart data August-September 2021
- Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, NME reviews
- Fan discourse (Reddit r/lorde, Twitter, TikTok)