Music Friday: Anti-Glam Pop Sensation Lorde Has ‘Never Seen a Diamond in the Flesh,’ But Her Song ‘Royals’ Just Went Double Platinum

Emerging from the obscurity of a “torn-up” town near Auckland, New Zealand, 16-year-old Lorde — who, according to her hit, “Royals,” has never seen a diamond in the flesh — is now the hottest performer on the planet.

The chart-topping song, which has numerous jewelry, gemstone and precious metal references, has gone double-platinum and majestically sits this week at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also hit #1 in Canada, Ireland and New Zealand.

“Royals” is a song with mixed messages. While on the surface Lorde takes an anti-glam sledge hammer to the material excesses of music celebrities, she also secretly aspires to be a star. Certainly, her catchy chorus emphasizes her homespun roots: “We’ll never be royals (royals) / It don't run in our blood / That kind of luxe just ain't for us.”

But later in the song, she admits that even though she and her friends don’t come from money, they’re driving Cadillacs in their dreams.

In the final line of the song, “Let me live that fantasy,” Lorde seems to be resigned to the fact that stardom is not in the cards for her. Little did she know that two weeks before her 17th birthday “Royals” would be edging out Katy Perry’s “Roar” and Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” for the top position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The painfully shy Lorde, who was born Ella Yelich-O'Connor, made an appearance on the “Ellen DeGeneres Show” earlier this month. Although she sang beautifully and was well receive by the audience, she was awkwardly unprepared when the bubbly host went to hug and congratulate her after the performance. See the video at the end of this post…

"Royals"
Written by Lorde and Joel Little. Performed by Lorde.

[Verse 1]
I've never seen a diamond in the flesh
I cut my teeth on wedding rings in the movies
And I'm not proud of my address,
In a torn-up town, no postcode envy

But every song's like gold teeth, Grey Goose, trippin' in the bathroom
Blood stains, ball gowns, trashin' the hotel room,
We don't care, we're driving Cadillacs in our dreams.
But everybody's like Cristal, Maybach, diamonds on your timepiece.
Jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash.
We don't care, we aren't caught up in your love affair.

And we'll never be royals (royals).
It don't run in our blood,
That kind of luxe just ain't for us.
We crave a different kind of buzz.
Let me be your ruler (ruler),
You can call me Queen Bee
And baby I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule.
Let me live that fantasy.

[Verse 2]
My friends and I—we've cracked the code.
We count our dollars on the train to the party.
And everyone who knows us knows that we're fine with this,
We didn't come for money.

But every song's like gold teeth, Grey Goose, trippin' in the bathroom.
Blood stains, ball gowns, trashin' the hotel room,
We don't care, we're driving Cadillacs in our dreams.
But everybody's like Cristal, Maybach, diamonds on your timepiece.
Jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash
We don't care, we aren't caught up in your love affair

And we'll never be royals (royals).
It don't run in our blood
That kind of luxe just ain't for us.
We crave a different kind of buzz.
Let me be your ruler (ruler),
You can call me Queen Bee
And baby I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule.
Let me live that fantasy.

Ooh ooh oh
We're bigger than we ever dreamed,
And I'm in love with being queen.
Ooh ooh oh
Life is great without a care
We aren't caught up in your love affair.

And we'll never be royals (royals).
It don't run in our blood
That kind of luxe just ain't for us.
We crave a different kind of buzz
Let me be your ruler (ruler),
You can call me Queen Bee
And baby I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule.
Let me live that fantasy.