Solar Power (2021) did not deserve the hate

Photo courtesy of Krists Luhaers / Wikimedia Commons

Four years after the release of Lorde’s album Solar Power (2021), we finally have new music. Many fans anticipated this announcement as Lorde tends to release new music at four-year intervals. While she has yet to officially announce an album name or release date, Lorde has teased a new song with a 15-second clip.

Amidst all this excitement about Lorde's new music, it is important to take a look back at all the amazing music she released in the past. Specifically, I want to talk about Solar Power (2021), an album that has notoriously received intense backlash from fans. This album is noticeably different from previous releases, and many fans hated this new direction. 

In previous albums, Lorde focuses on sounds and transporting listeners to different worlds. While this album does the same, it has brighter energy and a “sunny day” vibe. Even so, what many overlook, is the environmental consciousness Lorde manages to weave within the music. 

In 2021, while many were stuck inside their homes because of the pandemic, Lorde was spreading a message that needed to be heard: an appreciation for the sun rising and a reminder to take a deep breath into the universe around you. This concept went over the heads of many so-called longtime “fans.” 

One big complaint amongst fans is that the songs in this album sounded too similar to each other. To be blunt— were these people listening to this song with ears? Saying that each song on the album sounded no different from the last is completely unreasonable. Of course, each song features Lorde’s unique voice— but that is about the only common thread between them. In my opinion, each song has its own unique message about joy, loss, and love.

I feel that the complaints about this album boil down to fans’ personal situations. Although the album illuminates bright, outdoor vibes, many fans probably could not relate to the songs because they were stuck inside the pandemic and not in an area where they could truly enjoy and appreciate these songs.

This angry sentiment held by fans is akin to claiming songs about heartbreak are not good because you are in a happy relationship. Lorde is not creating music for each fan at home to listen to and relate to in its entirety. Instead, she creates songs based on her personal experience and all that she has dealt with in her own life. 

I personally think that much of the dislike from fans comes from a place of not understanding. In certain songs, Lorde makes jabs at pop culture and the toxicity of the dominant media. Many of those themes and messages may have gone right over listeners' heads. Ironically, they contributed to this toxic media content with their hate for the album. 

As many true Lorde fans know, she has little tolerance for her haters within the media. In many interviews after the release of her album, she expressed her lack of negativity towards those who dislike her album. This attitude has kept fans hopeful, as it shows she will stick to her roots with new music and continue contributing to the industry with her talented voice and other performance skills.