Top 10 Lorde Songs | Best Lorde Songs Ranked

Lorde has been the queen of introspective, alternative pop ever since her teenage years. Her snarky, bolshy view of the world and stripped-back instrumentals defined a large part of 2010s popular music, particularly the explosive popularity of her early single ‘Royals.’

From a fear of growing up, to despair over failed relationships and the impact of her fame, to throwing all that out of the window and deciding not to chase the mainstream, every album has documented the stages of her life. Now Lorde is coming back with her fourth album Virgin in 2025, it’s the perfect time to look back at her discography for her best songs.

Alongside her new album, Lorde will also be touring the UK in November, with VIP tickets available for Manchester and Birmingham. Register your interest with Seat Unique to be first in line when tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday 16th May.

10. ‘Royals’

Having ‘Royals’ as your debut song is both impressive and very difficult to follow on from. It was first released on Lorde’s The Love Club EP in 2012, and was included on her 2013 album Pure Heroine, first written when she was just 15. That teenage view of the world is evident in its lyrics, criticising the luxurious lifestyle she saw on TV, preferring one as minimalist as the song’s production with its finger snaps and staccato percussion.

9. ‘Oceanic Feeling’

‘Oceanic Feeling’ encapsulates the hopeful reflection present in the Solar Power album, as Lorde sings softly about her father and her potential future daughter doing the same things she’s doing now. The song is also minimalistic, but the beachy guitar and laid-back drums set it apart from her previous projects. The lyric “Now the cherry-black lipstick's gathering dust in a drawer / I don't need her anymore” particularly shows how Lorde has moved on from the persona she had during the Pure Heroine album.

8. ‘Team’

As soon as the handclap beat and simple synth chords start, you’re immediately transported back to a millennial era of music, one that Lorde had a big hand in creating. Among charts full of EDM-based hits and lyrics about partying from Lady Gaga, Black-Eyed Peas, and Miley Cyrus, Lorde declaring “I'm kind of over getting told to throw my hands up in the air” was a direct response in her own uniquely precocious way.

7. ‘Mood Ring’

The 2021 Solar Power album came out of left-field for Lorde, and its positive outlook was jarring for many fans after the much more raw and despairing Melodrama. ‘Mood Ring’ however proved that Lorde still had a snarky streak, criticising pseudo-spirituality and wellness culture when her previous singles had people believing they’d lost her to that lifestyle. The airy and acoustic instrumentation evokes the emptiness of the holistic culture that she satirises in her lyrics.

6. ‘What Was That’

‘What Was That’ is Lorde’s latest single, and the first release from her upcoming Virgin album. It definitely harks back to the minimalist production and lyrical content of Pure Heroine, especially as she reminisces about “MDMA in the back garden.” Similarly, there are thematic parallels to Melodrama, but where the 2017 album sees Lorde attempt to move past the pain of a breakup, ‘What Was That’ sees her wallowing in grief. A new song that draws so much from the last decade of her career is sure to excite long-time fans.

5. ’Supercut’

‘Supercut’ paints a bittersweet picture of reliving joyful memories of a past relationship, but when reaching out for it realising the illusion is no longer there. Upbeat, tinkling electro synths make the song sound positive and danceable, but the lyrics show Lorde is still healing from the loss of love. The realness and relatability have made the song a fan favourite over the years, especially during her Melodrama World Tour.

4. ‘Liability’

While the piano ballad instrumental for ‘Liability’ is quite simple, it's what makes the lyrics hit so much harder. Lorde totally wallows in her self-pity and insecurity, lamenting that everyone leaves her in the end and she’s “a little much for everyone.” It shows the reflection on her rise to fame, making it an excellent continuation from Pure Heroine and a song that is sure to make anyone emotional.

3. ‘Tennis Court’

Minimalism is what the listener comes to expect from the Pure Heroine album, and ‘Tennis Court’ puts an almost ominous spin on it with pulsing synths and a hip-hop beat, especially with the slightly creepy imagery of the music video, featuring Lorde lip syncing to the song with dark, demonic eyes. The message is clear – teenage Lorde has had her first taste of fame and she isn’t convinced by superficiality and is missing her hometown in New Zealand.

2. ‘Green Light’

‘Green Light’ is definitely Lorde’s most disco, dance-pop sounding song, complete with a repetitive piano hook and screamed lyrics to boot. It was the first single released from 2017’s Melodrama, introducing a complete change to the downtempo sound of her debut album, which was very well received by critics and fans alike. The upbeat rhythm yet downbeat lyrics show an acceptance of longing and anger after a breakup, and Lorde wants that “green light” to finally begin moving on.

1. ‘Ribs’

‘Ribs’ is truly the darling of Lorde’s discography, loved by everyone when talking about her best songs. It’s nostalgic and euphoric, yet lyrically it’s bittersweet as Lorde confesses her fears about ageing and losing the simplicity and fun of her teenage life in Auckland, wishing things could never change. Sonically, Lorde stacks her vocals into a chorus, with an underlying club beat that feels like the song is playing from a different room at a house party.

Get Lorde Tickets

You will be able to buy VIP tickets for Lorde’s shows at AO Arena, Manchester, and Utilita Arena, Birmingham here at Seat Unique. Official VIP tickets and hospitality will get you amazing perks during your concert experience to make sure you don’t forget a single moment!

The best seats in the house
Fast-track entry into the venue
Access to exclusive lounges and bars
Complimentary refreshments

Please note these inclusions are based on average package offerings and may vary for future tour dates.