Lorde’s Rooftop Performance of ‘Solar Power’ on Colbert’s Show is a Visual Treat
Grammy winner and pop star, Lorde performed the title track ‘Solar Power’ from her forthcoming third album, on the rooftop of the Ed Sullivan Theatre at Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It was part of ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’. Clad in a bright yellow summer skirt with a matching tank top, the singer-songwriter starts her musical performance while peering down the street before sauntering over to a mirrored performance platform, overlay with reflective circles. Lorde is surrounded by her seven band members in muted suits, as she dances and sings the upbeat track across the rooftop. The swarm of bubbles, as the chorus kicks in, adds to the visual treat.
Lorde was the co-writer and producer of ‘Solar Power’ which was released earlier this summer, along with her frequent collaborator, Jack Antonoff. Clairo and Phoebe Bridgers are credited with the backing vocals on the song. Lorde drew inspiration for her album name during a trip to Antarctica, where she wrote in an email to fans, “questions about how to change my personal and professional footprints on this earth occupied much of my time.”
Lorde might be spreading a positive message with the mirrored platform which may symbolize using solar energy for a clean and green future.
“The album is a celebration of the natural world, an attempt at immortalizing the deep, transcendent feelings I have when I’m outdoors,” Lorde said in a statement. “In times of heartache, grief, deep love, or confusion, I look to the natural world for answers. I’ve learned to breathe out and tune in. This is what came through.”
The song has a beautiful summer vibe which is an ode to starting anew and letting go of all the blues. The setting is a beach, where she is seen dancing around and soaking in the golden rays of sunlight.
“Forget all of the tears that you’ve cried, it’s over,” Lorde sings. “It’s a new state of mind.” The message is clear.
Earlier this week, Lorde revealed that she was experiencing a bit of a culture shock returning to the ‘pop star world’ after a few years out of the spotlight, post the release and tour for 2017’s Melodrama. However, at the same time, she seems to be hell-bent on getting back into the zone.
“I really think it’s such a good record. I feel so proud of it that I’m keen to get out there,” she said. “The sound is sort of ‘60s/’70s folk with early 2000s bubblegum pop. It’s a little bit S Club, a little bit TLC, mixed with like, your classics- Fleetwood Mac. It’s quite a buzzy mix.”
The band members of Primal Scream were flattered by the fact that the title track was inspired by their 1990 song ‘Loaded’.
Lorde’s third studio album, ‘Solar Power’ will follow the singer’s 2017 album ‘Melodrama’ and is set to arrive on the 20th of August before she embarks on a massive world tour in 2022.
Watch Lorde’s captivating performance of ‘Solar Power’ below.
—Silviya Yohannan
