Lorde's Bold Moves: Pulling Music from Israel, Viral TikToks, and Her Ultrasound World Tour
·3 min
The episode opens with Lorde's recent political activism, as she officially joins the No Music for Genocide boycott and removes her entire catalog from streaming platforms in Israel. This move aligns her with over a thousand artists, including Bjork and Paramore, and follows her vocal support for Palestine during a performance at Madison Square Garden. Her actions have ignited controversy, drawing fierce criticism from media outlets that accuse her of anti-Semitism and highlight her minimal current music sales. Despite this backlash, Lorde's career remains active with her massive ultrasound world tour to support her fourth studio album, Virgin. The tour includes sold-out dates at iconic venues like Madison Square Garden and an upcoming show at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley on October 19, with supporting acts Japanese House and Empress of. Virgin has received critical acclaim, being hailed as Lorde's boldest self-discovery to date, particularly for tracks like Man of the Year and The Man of the Year. These songs delve into personal themes such as gender identity, eating disorder recovery, and heartbreak. Man of the Year has gained additional attention by exploding into a viral TikTok trend, where Gen Z users repurpose its themes to air grievances in past relationships. Lorde acknowledged this trend in a wry TikTok response, adding a personal touch to the social media phenomenon. Business-wise, industry insiders criticize Lorde for reportedly low current North American sales, but her live show demand remains strong, indicating a disconnect between sales metrics and fan engagement. The episode weaves together these elements to present a comprehensive view of Lorde's current public and professional life, balancing her activism, artistic output, and the mixed reactions from critics and fans alike.
