"Solar Power"is a song by New Zealand singer-songwriterLorde,released on 11 June 2021 as thelead singlefrom her third studioalbum of the same name.The song was written and produced by Lorde andJack Antonoffand released toradio stationsbyUniversal.Inspired by the 1990 single "Loaded"by Scottish bandPrimal Scream,"Solar Power" is anindie folk,psychedelia,andsunshine popsong, marking a departure from Lorde'selectronicand melancholia music styles. The lyrics of the song depict summerescapismset on a beach.
| "Solar Power" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SinglebyLorde | ||||
| from the albumSolar Power | ||||
| Written | 2019–20 | |||
| Released | 11 June 2021 | |||
| Recorded | 2020 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:12 | |||
| Label | Universal | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Lordesingles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Solar Power"onYouTube | ||||
The song received positive reviews frommusic critics,who praised the song's lightweight sound as well as its experimental sound. It earned theNMEawardfor Best Song in the World and a nomination forSingle of the Yearat theAotearoa Music Awards.The song peaked inside the top 20 in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom and received gold certification from theRecorded Music NZ(RMNZ) and silver inBritish Phonographic Industry(BPI).
Lorde and Joel Kefali directed the music video for "Solar Power", which shows Lorde on a beach with other beachgoers as acult leader.Cinematography took place atWaiheke Islandin New Zealand. She performed "Solar Power" at theLate Show with Stephen Colbertand at several music festivals. It was included in the set list for theSolar Power Tour(2022–23). The song was translated into theMāori languageby Hēmi Kelly, and was performed and released by Lorde as "Te Ao Mārama / Solar Power", the second track from her EPTe Ao Mārama,released on 9 September 2021.
Background and release
edit
After concluding theMelodrama World Tourin November 2018, Lorde retreated from the spotlight and began learning how to play thepianofor her then upcoming record.[1]The following year, Lorde began spending time with her friend, American scriptwriterCazzie David,at a vacation home owned by American comedianLarry DavidinMartha’s Vineyardoff the coast inMassachusetts.[2]The song was conceived during a summer day after the singer spent time swimming in the area. She wrote the track on aYamaha DXkeyboard and later brought thedemoto American producerJack Antonoff,who assisted in the writing and production of her previous record, for further development.[3]Lorde would continue work on the song traveling in betweenNew Yorkand New Zealand.[4]
While writing the song, Lorde initially associated themelodyof “Solar Power” to the 2000 song “Rock DJ”by British singerRobbie Williams.[3]She later decided to conceptualise the song in a summer setting, which she did so by opening the windows in the studio during summertime. She also incorporatedcicadasin the production of the song, in an effort to capture her perception of a New Zealand summer.[3]The singer stated that the 1990 song “Loaded”by Scottish bandPrimal Screaminfluenced “Solar Power”. In an interview with New Zealand radioDJZane LoweforApple Music 1,Lorde stated that she communicated with the band’s frontman, Scottish singerBobby Gillespie,who cleared the song and told her, “These things happen, you caught a vibe that we caught years ago.”[3]
Lorde was announced as the headliner forPrimavera Sound 2022on May 2021, with an announcement from the festival, stating that the singer would "emerge from her retirement with her third album".[5]On 7 June 2021, Lorde updated her website with the artwork of the single with a message at the bottom of the page, stating: "Arriving in 2021...Patience is a virtue".[6]On 10 June 2021, "Solar Power" was released erroneously on several streaming sites, includingApple Music,Tidal,andYouTube,for hours before being promptly removed.[7]The song was officially released on 11 June 2021 to coincide with thesolar eclipse.[8]It was originally scheduled for release on 21 June 2021, during thesummer solstice.[9]
Composition and recording
edit"Solar Power" has been described as a guitar-ledindie folk,[10]pop,[11]psychedelic,[12]andsunshine popsong.[13]Lorde wrote and produced "Solar Power" with Jack Antonoff, with whom she had previously worked onMelodrama(2017). For their part,Malayprovided additional production; Chris Gehringer handled themasteringand Will Quinnell acted as assistant.Mark "Spike" Stentdid themixwith the help of Matt Wolach;Matt Chamberlainworked on theprogrammingand played thedrums.Antonoff also performed on various instruments: acoustic guitar, electric bass,twelve-string guitar,percussion, and drums; while Cole Kamen-Green participated in the trumpet, Evan Smith with the saxophone, and the artists Phoebe Bridgers and Clairo in thechoirs.[14]Lorde began writing the song in July 2019 while inDukes County,Massachusetts; subsequently, she moved toNew York Citywhere she shared the first advances with Antonoff and expressed her desire to incorporate characteristic sounds of the music of the 2000s. The songwriting process took around six to eight months and ended once thechoruswas devised.[4]
Artwork
editThe cover image was photographed by Lorde's friend Ophelia, showing Lorde'sbuttocks.[15]The cover art was released on Lorde's official website and the official Instagram account of her frequent collaborator Jack Antonoff on 7 June 2021, and was widely shared on social media. However, due to a large scaleDMCAtakedown, many Twitter accounts sharing the cover were locked for several hours.[16]The photo quickly went viral online. Lorde responded that, "It's a specific experience thinking about everyone in your life seeing your butt. I have no regrets. I love this cover and am happy for this to be how people see my butt."[17]There is another version of the cover art, which obscures Lorde's butt with sunlight. This obscured version was shown to Spotify users in Japan, users of China's top music streaming platforms likeNetEase Cloud MusicandQQ Music,Apple Music users in mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.[18]
Critical reception
editWriting forPitchfork,Anna Gaca called the song a "soft-touch anthem for the [summer] season's simple pleasures", and remarked that it "flipped the script" when compared to the sound of Lorde's 2017 albumMelodrama.[19]Rhian Daly ofNMEgave the song five out of five stars, labelling it a "sun-kissed ode to starting anew", and drew musical comparisons to the Primal Scream albumScreamadelica,Joni Mitchell,andWolf Alice's sound sinceVisions of a Life.[20]Writers for New Zealand magazineThe Spinoffgenerally praised "Solar Power", withToby Manhirecalling the song an "instant classic", and Stewart Sowman-Lund calling the song "so perfectly summery that it makes me want to drive straight toDevonport(or wherever people swim inAuckland) ".[21]
Sal Cinquemani ofSlant Magazinestated that the track "boasts a breezy, psychedelic quality that's perfectly paired for summer drives and beach trips, and an optimistic outlook", while lacking "the urgency of her best songs".[22]Writers forVulturereceived the song well, with Justin Curto describing it as "a sunny, acoustic-driven song about a good day on the beach, as the cover art teases" and noted that its bridge is reminiscent of George Michael's "Freedom! '90",[23]and Craig Jenkins called it "slight and fun", though it felt "more like a carefree vacation update than the blockbuster comeback we've been anticipating since the simpler times", while noting similarities to "thepsychedelicdance-rockof early'90sUKravekings likeHappy Mondaysand Primal Scream ".[24]
In aBillboardpiece, Jason Lipshutz wrote that "Lorde's new single 'Solar Power' is a playful splash of salt water onto our faces in time for the summer", calling it "deceptively simple", noting the saxophone and trumpet in the mix, and asserted that "Lorde remains one of the best at filling the corners of her songs with personalized knickknacks".[25]In a five star review, Rachel Brodsky ofThe Independentpraised Lorde for "finding a new way to express a universal feeling", comparing it tothe Beach Boys' song "Kokomo".[26]Consequencenamed it "Song of the Week", describing it as "light, bouncy, and nonchalant", emphasising its departure from Lorde's previous works.[27]
Music video
edit
The music video for "Solar Power" was released on 11 June 2021, directed by Lorde and Joel Kefali, which "posits Lorde almost as the leader of a happy-go-lucky, hippie solstice cult — almost a benign,yassified[sic] version ofMidsommar".[28]Stewart Sowman-Lund ofThe Spinoffalso noted a similar connection, writing that "the music video is like ifMidsommarwas shot in New Zealand ".[21]Lorde toldTriple Jthat "we built literally basically a universe on a secret beach. The first video is me introducing you to the world of the album and the videos, I play a kooky tour guide almost". In one scene Lorde takes a hit from a bong made out of a plant root to show her support of cannabis use.[29]The music video was met with a mixed reception from critics.[30]
Filming location
editWith a presumption that the video was filmed in New Zealand,Newshubclaimed that the location of the music video was Cactus Bay onWaiheke Island,guessing that the landmass in the distance was theCoromandel Peninsula,and presuming that a cargo ship in the background placed the video's location north of Auckland.[31]The chair of theWaiheke Local Board,Cath Handley, also claimed that the location of the music video was Cactus Bay, which she called a "beautiful beach", but that she hoped that the music video "doesn’t hurdle huge numbers of people towards Waiheke".[32]While not disclosing the location of the beach, in an interview withJesse MulliganofThe Project,Lorde asked people not to "go and desecrate any beaches with selfie sticks or anything" when asked about where the video was filmed.[33]
Credits and personnel
edit- Lorde– vocals, songwriting, production
- Jack Antonoff– songwriting, production, bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, drums, percussion, 12-string acoustic guitar
- Phoebe Bridgers– background vocals
- Clairo– background vocals
- Matt Chamberlain– drums,programming,percussion
- Evan Smith – saxophone
- Cole Kamen-Green – trumpet
- Spike Stent–mixing
- Matt Wolach – assistant mixing
- Chris Gehringer–mastering
- Will Quinnell – mastering
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
|
Year-end chartsedit
|
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[57] | Platinum | 40,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[58] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[59] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
|
‡Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | 11 June 2021 |
|
Universal Music New Zealand | [60] |
| Australia | Universal Music Australia | [61] | ||
| United States | 14 June 2021 | Triple A radio | [62] | |
| 15 June 2021 | Alternative radio | [63] | ||
| Italy | 25 June 2021 | Contemporary hit radio | Universal | [64] |
Te Ao Mārama / Solar Power
edit| "Te Ao Mārama / Solar Power" | |
|---|---|
| SongbyLorde | |
| from the EPTe Ao Mārama | |
| Language | Māori |
| Length | 3:11 |
| Label | Universal |
| Songwriter(s) | |
| Producer(s) |
|
| Lyric video | |
| "Te Ao Mārama / Solar Power"onYouTube | |
"Te Ao Mārama / Solar Power"is a song recorded by New Zealand singer-songwriterLorde.It is the second track from herTe Ao MāramaEP, and is performed fully in theMāori language."Te Ao Mārama" translates to "world of light" in Māori, which is both a reference to the title ofSolar Power,and the phrase "mai te pō ki te ao mārama", which Leonie Hayden ofThe Spinoffcalled "the transition from night to the enlightened world that comprises part of theMāori creation narrative(similar toAdam and Eve'sapple,but from the point of view that knowledge is a good thing) ".[65]
The song was translated into Māori by Hēmi Kelly, who said of the song, "I love the warmth of summer so it was easy for me to connect with the lyrics. It talks about leaving your worries behind and moving into a positive space. That reminded me of the transition in our creation narratives of moving from darkness, te pō, into the world of light, te ao mārama. That’s a transition we continually navigate throughout our lives."[66]
Charts
edit| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand Te Reo Māori Singles (RMNZ)[67] | 5 |
Year-end charts
edit| Chart (2021) | Position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand Te Reo Māori (Recorded Music NZ)[68] | 10 |
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