Growing Up with Solar Power
Image by Jonas Leupe
Lorde’s long-awaited third studio album, Solar Power, has garnered mixed reviews from fans since its release on August 20th. I’ve read several reviews of the album online, and I’ve found that many believe Lorde’s new sound appears almost out of touch, or too “upbeat”, compared to her previous work.
While I can admit that Solar Power’s new pop sound is far from what we’ve seen with Pure Heroine and Melodrama, I’m enjoying this new era quite a bit. The album touches on healing, growing up, and reflecting on the past and our future – all topics that feel relevant to me as a college student preparing to embark on my journey after graduation.
After listening to Solar Power, the album’s lead single, I, and many other fans, were unsure of what to expect. Many theorized that the album would serve as a commentary on climate change, and others wondered if Lorde had officially transitioned to a more mainstream pop sound after her three-year hiatus.
I had a conversation with my roommate recently about the album, and we discussed the lack of open-mindedness we’ve seen regarding Lorde’s new sound. It seems that a certain number of fans have been tough on Lorde’s new beginning, and they aren’t giving her room to evolve as an artist. As Lorde’s first album, Pure Heroine, released when she was only 16 years old, it would only make sense for her work to grow over time, just as her fans have. I found that Lorde’s previous albums spoke to me a lot in my teenage years, and now that I’ve entered adulthood—or am at least preparing to enter adulthood—it feels as though Lorde’s work has grown up with me.
One of my favorite songs on the album, Secrets from a Girl (Who’s Seen It All), is a perfect example of this growth. The song talks about life lessons and growing through our experiences. It’s a song that, to me, says, “You’ve changed, and you’ve learned from your mistakes. Look where you are now and look at how much more lies ahead.” The lyrics in this song touch me so deeply, and at the same time it's a fun summer sound makes me want to get up and dance around my room. It’s about healing, enjoying life, and taking our experiences and turning them into something beautiful.
“’Member all the hurt you would feel when you weren't desired? (Doing anything for more touch)
’Member what you thought was grief before you got the call?
Baby girl, no one's gonna feel the pain for you
You're gonna love again, so just try staying open
And when the time comes, you'll fall
Yeah, when the time comes, you’ll fall”
These lyrics feel incredibly relevant, as I’m sure so many of us have felt that our teenage feelings and heartbreak would last forever. It’s easy to feel trapped in the moment, but this verse speaks on staying open, enjoying the present and knowing that in time, everything will feel okay. It’s almost as if Lorde is speaking to her younger self, her younger fans, and even the past emotions she felt while producing her previous albums.
To me, Solar Power feels like an album about finding peace. Themes of growth and healing remain present throughout each of the songs, and they bring about feelings of comfort. In Oceanic Feeling, as another example, Lorde positions herself as a guide toward healing as someone who has been through heartbreak and change. She reflects on her past and references these experiences to say that she has once been in the same position of pain and feeling stuck, and while those emotions were real and valid, things do get better.
“Little brother, I think you’re an angel
I see your silver chain levitate
When you’re kick-flipping
Baby boy, you’re super cool
I know you’re scared, so was I
But all will be revealed in time (time, time)”
She then begins to ponder her future, and what her life will be like as a mother and a lover. The song feels like a trip through time, beginning with reflection on past angsty teenage years, and concluding with peace and enlightenment. She admits during the song’s outro that she has not fully reached “enlightenment,” but she gradually continues to work toward healing. She’s getting closer everyday, taking it “one year at a time,” and knows that one day she will feel okay.
In short, listen to Solar Power. The themes of healing transition found in each of the songs ring true for so many listeners. And for anyone like me who’s preparing to graduate and is perhaps feeling reflective about the past and where our lives will eventually lead, an album like Solar Power feels reassuring and real. Things will be okay, and Lorde emphasizes this theme in her work, as she has evolved over time and knows that pain and heartbreak don’t last forever.
By Maddy Fink
Journalism major and avid baker. Lover of yoga and very dedicated plant mom.