Lorde solar power close up

What is 'Solar Power' by Lorde?

'Solar Power' is the new single by Lorde, released in June after a four-year hiatus. The song received mixed reactions upon its release, with many comparing it to George Michael’s ‘Freedom! ‘90’ and Primal Scream’s ‘Loaded’.

Is Lorde's 'Solar Power' a good album?

Other reactions to the record have been similarly tepid. In The Ringer, Rob Harvilla wrote that the album lacked any potential for pop hits as well as the “propulsion and the melancholy severity” of her past work. In Pitchfork, Anna Gaca lamented, “Most of Solar Power doesn’t solicit strong emotion in either direction.

What did Lorde's 'Solar Power' receive upon its release?

Upon its release, Lorde's 'Solar Power' received a mixed reaction. Many said that it hewed too closely to two other pop songs: George Michael’s “Freedom! ‘90” and Primal Scream’s “Loaded.”

Why does 'Solar Power' feel sunnier than Lorde's previous works?

Her use of mixolydian is significant for several reasons: while it’s a key reason the album feels sunnier than her previous works, it also makes it feel more monotonous and light on conventional pop hits.

Is Lorde's 'Solar Power' a pop oddity?

Time will tell whether Lorde’s Solar Power is a pop oddity, or the precursor to a once dominant mode coming back into vogue. Lorde's heavy use of the mixolydian mode—which propels "Royals" and "Green Light"—makes "Solar Power" feel both sunny and monotonous.

What mode does Lorde heavily use in 'Solar Power'?

Lorde's heavy use of the mixolydian mode—which propels "Royals" and "Green Light"—makes "Solar Power" feel both sunny and monotonous. Time will tell whether Lorde’s Solar Power is a pop oddity, or the precursor to a once dominant mode coming back into vogue.