page_title: Royals (song)
section_title: Lyrical interpretation
hierarchical_section_title: Royals (song) / Lyrical interpretation
caption_attribution_description: Čeština: Kurt Cobain (vepředu) a Krist Novoselic (vzadu) během vystoupení při udílení cen MTV Video Music Awards 1992. Deutsch: Kurt Cobain (vorn) und Krist Novoselic (links) während der MTV Video Music Awards 1992. English: Kurt Cobain (front) and Krist Novoselic (left) live at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards. Español: Kurt Cobain (primer plano) y Krist Novoselic (al fondo) presentándose en vivo en la ceremonia de los MTV Video Music Awards 1992. Italiano: Kurt Cobain (primo plano) e Krist Novoselic in concerto agli MTV Video Music Awards 1992. Português: Kurt Cobain (frentre) e Krist Novoselic (esquerda) no MTV Video Music Awards 1992.
context_page_description: "Royals" is the debut single by New Zealand singer Lorde, from her debut extended play, The Love Club EP. It was later included on her debut studio album, Pure Heroine and released through Universal Music. Lorde co-wrote the song with her producer Joel Little after the two were paired by her A&R representative Scott MacLachlan. "Royals" was described as an art pop and electropop song with influences of grime, hip hop, and indie pop. Its lyrics detail disapproval of the luxurious lifestyle of contemporary artists.
  "Royals" received widespread acclaim from music critics, who praised its musical style, lyrics, and Lorde's vocal performance. Several sites ranked it as one of the best songs of the year, with Slant and Consequence of Sound placing it on the top spot of their respective lists. The single garnered success on charts internationally, reaching the number one spot for nine consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, and simultaneously breaking several records. It also peaked atop record charts in other markets, including Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. "Royals" sold 10 million units worldwide, making it one of the best-selling singles of all-time.
context_section_description: "Royals"' message was compared to that of Nirvana's 1991 single "Smells Like Teen Spirit", as it decries "the pop industry of which it became a part". According to Brad Wheeler of The Globe and Mail, the song expresses disapproval of the "bejewelled lifestyle" of hip hop artists. The Guardian's Paul Lester likened its theme to those of "Million Dollar Bills" (from The Love Club EP) and "Tennis Court" (from Pure Heroine).
  Described as an "anti-luxury anthem", "Royals" expresses Lorde's displeasure at the sumptuous vivid style represented by some pop artists in their songs. She criticises consumer society, and ridicules luxury items mentioned in popular hip hop songs.  Other analysts noted thematic similarities—income inequality, or "unabashedly pop [songs] attacking unabashedly pop music"— with the songs: "Thrift Shop" (2012) by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, "Gangnam Style" (2012), "Primadonna" (2012) by Marina and the Diamonds, "The Fear" (2008) by Lily Allen, "Swimming Pools (Drank)" (2012) by Kendrick Lamar and "New Slaves" (2013) by Kanye West.
  Matthew Perpetua of BuzzFeed, felt the issue addressed in "Royals" is growing up in New Zealand "immersed in American cultural imperialism", and that the core of the song is the alienation of social classes. The New York Times critic shared a similar view noting the track's verses describe "growing up in drab reality amid a popular culture that flaunts luxury brands and celebrates wildly conspicuous consumption". Jonah Bromwich of The Village Voice, however, remarked that "Royals" has the "potential to sound like a celebration of the very things" she is criticising. Lorde explained the concept was about the opulence one finds in various music videos and how it is "far from [her] reality". The song is an honest criticism of a materialistic society.
caption: The message of "Royals" was compared extensively to "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana[48] (pictured in 1992)
exif: {"Image Orientation": "Horizontal (normal)", "Image XResolution": "72", "Image YResolution": "72", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Image Software": "paint.net 4.0.21", "Image DateTime": "2005:04:27 22:43:52", "Image HostComputer": "Mac OS X 10.3.8", "Image YCbCrPositioning": "Centered", "Image ExifOffset": "192"}