Lorde just dropped new music for the first time in four years, and her new track “Solar Power” is climbing up the charts.
This song is about getting outside and enjoying nature, disconnecting from social media and throwing your phone far away. But this naturalistic vibe also comes with some problematic nods to the way Lorde defines freedom.
There’s a genuine desire here to enjoy being outside (“But when the heat comes, something takes a hold/Can I kick it? Yeah, I can”) during the summer (“Turn it on in a new kind of bright/It’s solar”) and away from any technological distraction (“And. I throw my cellular device in the water/Can you reach me? No, you can’t”).
In the same breath, Lorde suggests that summer is great time to start over: “Forget all the tears that you’ve cried/It’s over/It’s a new state of mind.”
The video for this song effectively captures it’s carefree vibe, as a group of women and some men dance in the sand, along with Lorde, who sports a crop top. The video looks as if Lorde is leading some sort of summer-bound cult (although this is clearly intentional and not literal).
But this cry for freedom also includes wearing less (and perhaps lyrical nods at wearing nothing): “My cheeks in high color, overripe peaches/No shirt, no shoes, only my features.” And it should be noted that the album cover for the song features a very revealing image of the pantsless singer jumping over a someone taking a picture of her unclothed backside.
Lorde also refers to herself as “a prettier Jesus” as she asks friends to join her on the beach.
Lorde’s obviously striving to be fully present in the moment, outdoors and away from technology. That’s a great thing. But she also calls upon the natural world for answers.
Lorde says that this track is “a celebration of the natural world, an attempt at immortalising the deep, transcendent feelings I have when I’m outdoors. … In times of heartache, grief, deep love, or confusion, I look to the natural world for answers. I’ve learnt to breathe out, and tune in. This is what came through.”
Lorde’s longing for a transcendent experience is a God-given part of being made in His image. But apart from a relationship with Him, that longing is ultimately misdirected here.
Kristin Smith joined the Plugged In team in 2017. Formerly a Spanish and English teacher, Kristin loves reading literature and eating authentic Mexican tacos. She and her husband, Eddy, love raising their children Judah and Selah. Kristin also has a deep affection for coffee, music, her dog (Cali) and cat (Aslan).
