And that’s a wrap! Last night, Lorde completed the last show of the European leg of the Ultrasound world tour here in the pop-music production capital, Stockholm. Over the past three months, the Kiwi songwriter performed over 40 different shows in 14 different countries, spread across two continents. Supporting the release of her new album, Virgin, she announced her first tour since 2022, creating extreme excitement among fans who had been patiently waiting to come and be brought together by an artist that they love.
At 04:00 on Tuesday morning, both international and local Lorde lovers were already camping outside Annexet’s entrance no.6, hoping to reach the barricade first for this very special closing night. Line updates were given on social media platforms, reporting that at 12:00, over 180 people were queuing, making it impossible for late arrivals to be barricaded. The line progressively got longer, creating fear within the working and student audiences who were eagerly counting down the minutes until they finished their long days. Although the day felt endless, 16:30 finally arrived, setting us free to go and join the never-ending line. Upon our arrival, we noticed over 390 people sitting on the dirty cobblestone streets, drenched by the rain, and shivering due to the cold. What wouldn’t fans do for our beloved Lorde? Not long after, security appeared behind the glass doors, making our month-long dreams of this day a reality.
The gig commenced with an indie alternative opener, The Japanese House. The band is led by the English songwriter, Amber Mary Bain, whose music is produced by the renowned George Daniel from The 1975, hence the many influences and similarities with the British rock band. The crowd proved to be the loudest when screaming the lyrics to the song “You Seemed so Happy” and begging for guitar picks through lit-up signs, which Amber couldn’t read. After the 40-minute set opening, the lead singer kindly gifted the setlist and a multitude of picks to ecstatic fans. Following their set, we enjoyed a half-hour interlude where fans made their last predictions as to how the grand finale was going to look.
Before we even knew it, the whirring lasers were on in the pitch black room, and the sustained synthesiser started playing, alerting all fans that we were about to experience the most life-changing concert of their lives. The show as a whole felt like multiple acts, each telling the musician’s incredible story. Each and every part was incredibly symbolic and metaphorical. Not only making it a show musically, but also artistically through the dancing and lighting. Whether Lorde was on the treadmill during “Supercut” as a metaphor for running away from a situation but going nowhere, or tightening her belt during “Broken Glass” as a symbol of her eating disorder, every single person standing in that room was left in awe.
Though there were many songs from Virgin, some love was also shown to the lesser-known tunes “Big Star” and “Oceanic Feeling” off the quarantine album Solar Power. Before singing “Liability” off Melodrama, a fan favourite about feeling like being “too much” or a burden to others, Lorde took a pause and reflected on her career and her past shows in Stockholm. She stated how the last time she performed in the Swedish capital was in 2022 during the summer festival Lollapalooza, where she remembers the loudness of the crowd and the beautiful early July sunset which accompanied her during her set. During this very intimate musical break, many tears were shed within the crowd as she brought up the impact songwriting has had on her eventful journey and how we, as fans, have been her motivation or drive to keep going. This beautiful moment will forever be remembered and associated with the musical masterpiece “Liability”.
Global issues and politics are something that Lorde stands by and uses her voice to support. During “Team”, for example, she portrayed the Palestinian flag, and during “Buzzcut Season”, her lyrics allude to the overwhelming pressure of media and the news. “Buzzcut season”, according to Charlotte D, “is almost like a pause and reflection for the whole crowd, due to the lyrics ‘I live on a standout, I’m safe on my own’ making it a safe sanctuary, amplifying the songs true meaning of finding peace and safety from the mess of the outside world, which in the moment everyone is doing in their own way.”
So far, Lorde has played in venues with capacities usually ranging from 10-20 thousand; however, Stockholm was one of the smallest shows, with Annexet’s capacity being just over 3400 people. This created a real connection between the artist and the audience, as Victoria M. said, the song “Green Light” proved this sentiment to be true, “The meaning behind the song was something that a lot of people could relate to, especially the line where it says, ‘Oh, I wish I could get my things and just let go’, it felt as if in that moment everyone was letting go, heart break, friendship, grief, anything, in this moment it felt like we were all one and were just in the present.” This real bond was once again felt during her hit “David”, where she walked into the crowd while wearing a light-up jacket with only a few bodyguards by her side. By breaking the usual concert norms and removing the physical barrier, she decided to stand in the middle of the fans, portraying herself as one of ‘us’ for a span of 3 minutes and 24 seconds. This impactful moment was extremely emotional as it marked the end of the show, the end of the hour and a half of pure safety and belonging in a room full of people who were gathered together by an artist that we adore.
That wasn’t the end though. We still wanted our encore. One of her biggest songs, the nostalgic teenage-friendship anthem, “Ribs”. This song holds a special place in our hearts as it perfectly encapsulates the bittersweet feeling of growing up, capturing the fear of not living to the fullest and appreciating every moment with your friends before life sets you apart. The loss of innocence is also a prominent message in this song through the progressive transition to adulthood and the uncertainty which it brings. As soon as the ambient synthesised buzz started playing and Lorde said, “Grab on to your friends’ hands real tight”, an overwhelming rush of nostalgia was felt by every individual in that room. Seeing every fan singing and crying their hearts out to this song was an incredible experience and fully captured the message behind the song, especially when a chorus of “you’re the only friend I need” echoed back and forth.
Countless memories were made during this gig, and as Lorde sings in “Ribs”, is truly “how you wish it would be all the time”. Lorde’s comeback exceeded all our expectations and allowed fans to feel seen and heard through her relatable and poetic music and lyricism. Her music is timeless and will continue to give goosebumps to every listener who comes across her works. So, what are you waiting for? Go stream “Ribs” and have the most intense nostalgic experience you’ll ever have!
