Royals

“Royals”, written and sung by Lorde, is a really popular song these days. This song just recently won the Grammy for best song of the year! Of course this chart topping song has its reasons for being so popular. I closely analyzed the lyrics, and how they showcased classism in our modern day world, and have begun to see even more value in its meaning.

After closely analyzing “Royals” lyrics, I realized that it’s not only about classism in the world, but literally about how many of the songs on the radio today are un-relatable to the majority of listeners. Most of the lyrics are about all the material items that the richer, upper class people/singers have.

“But everybody's like Cristal, Maybach, diamonds on your timepiece./ Jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash.” This is a part of the song, stating just some of the bizarre items that the upper class have access to, and what todays pop culture artists sing about. Can you relate to watches with diamonds and tigers with gold leashes? The majority of the people reading this can’t. Tigers with gold leashes have no real deep meaning.

This is why, when Lorde says, “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”, it is clear that she is not one of the richer, upper class people exposed to many or the above luxuries… She’s saying that there’s nothing too unique, nothing too special or interesting or worthy of sharing about what she has

Hearing about all the things richer people have, just doesn’t matter to her. In the following lyrics, Lorde expresses the meaninglessness of the topic of many pop songs to her, and others like her, (as in middle or lower class.) “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.” I believe that when Lorde says she wants to be “ruler”, she might be trying to say that she can try and teach her ways of live and living, and what life is like for her and the many others like her.

After closely analyzing the lyrics of “Royals,” it has become very clear to me that there are many ways to interpret the song. Classism in our world to day is portrayed and shown in an interesting way- even if it seems hidden.