Melodrama is the second album from New Zealand singer-songwriter, Lorde. This came four years after her debut studio album, Pure Heroine. Melodrama has 11 songs that tackle different emotions, relationships, and friendships. Her unique style of lyricism has become very influential to new artists like Olivia Rodrigo. I love Melodrama because of the interesting production and lyrics. 

Here are some of the highlights on this album:

Green Light

The biggest hit and lead single to the album. Lorde describes a situation, in which she has just left a relationship but cannot “let go.” She tells the listener she is waiting for the green light to move on. The production is nothing exciting until Lorde starts chanting in the background towards the end of the song.

Sober

Lorde describes a relationship with her lover where she wonders if alcohol is the thing that gives them chemistry. While the topic seems cliche, Lorde’s lyricism shines through as she describes them as “King and Queen of the Weekend.” In terms of production, triumphant trumpet sounds add to the royalty line. 

Liability

This was the song that introduced me to the album. I heard Olivia Rodrigo say she loved this song and wished she had written it. Lorde sings over a piano ballad instrumental as she describes herself as a liability to other people and “a little much for everyone.” In terms of self-reflective pop songs, it is one of the best I have heard. 

Supercut

Easily my most-played song on the album. The production was quite good for a pop song and I found it very catchy. It was produced by multi-Grammy award winner and Taylor Swift’s main producer, Jack Antonoff, who I also love with Lana del Rey. The lyrics describe looking back on a relationship and only seeing the best parts of it.

Perfect Places

The closing track perfectly encapsulates the theme of the album. Lorde describes the stereotypical party life of a young adult. She describes doing these immature things to find “perfect places.” But to finish she asks what are perfect places because it turns out that life was not as promising as it seemed.

Overall this is one of my favorite pop albums and definitely worth a listen if you like Olivia Rodrigo. While Lorde has won several Grammys, I do not see many people listening to her. But Melodrama is a phenomenal album.