Royals

Recorded when Lorde was just sixteen years old, 'Royals' radically dismantled the maximalist club-pop dominating the charts with its sparse, finger-snapping minimalism. Co-written and produced by Joel Little, the lyrics serve as a pointed critique of the conspicuous consumption and luxury branding endlessly promoted in contemporary hip-hop and pop music. Its massive global success effectively triggered a multi-year shift toward moody, understated alternative pop.