For those who have been following Lorde since her hit single “Royals” came out more than ten years ago, Tuesday night was one for the books.
Nearly selling out the Moda Center as part of her Ultrasound tour, Lorde performed her newest album, “Virgin.” Portland was one of more than 35 stops the tour is making in the U.S. and Europe.
It wasn’t the 28-year-old’s first rodeo at Moda. She graced its stage in 2018 after the release of “Melodrama” and again in 2022 for the Solar Power World tour.
Historically, the New Zealand native is known for her ability to accurately and powerfully encapsulate youth into 3 or 4 minute songs. If you were a chronically online high schooler in 2015, you probably played her debut record, “Pure Heroine,” on repeat on your Urban Outfitters record player. And you probably also modeled your outfits after her iconic all black look with purple lipstick and Doc Martens.
But ever since her instant worldwide success at 16, her work has transcended age. I remember my mom singing along in the car and hearing Lorde’s song make an appearance as I watched “The Hunger Games” in theaters. Though she’s famously disappeared off the grid for years at a time, she’s become a larger than life figure who’s able to turn gut-wrenching, coming-of-age themes into something digestible for millions around the world.
“Virgin” is the singer’s fourth studio album. It received critical praise after its release in June. The album explores her relationship with femininity, sexuality, rebirth and a new era of maturity that still intertwines nostalgia.
In an interview with Australian media company triple j, Lorde revealed her intentions with “Virgin” were to make it honest and straightforward. No more dramatics that her previous records might have entailed.
This objective shone through on every aspect of her live performance. The pop star entered the stage in nothing but a white T-shirt and torn boyfriend-style jeans. Her minimal wardrobe was played with throughout the show. She stripped to her boxers (a nod to the gender themes on her record) and pranced barefoot. Near the close, she retreated to her jeans and performed with just duct tape around her chest. Her undressing was physical and metaphorical, to give the audience the truest version of herself she could.
Sticking with the theme of powerful simplicity, there was not much of a stage setup or more than three backup dancers at a time. Her team played with cameras going into the audience and screens projecting aerial shots of her on stage. At one point, she laid down to sing “Supercuts” while staring so close into the camera you could see beads of sweat dripping down her forehead. Later in the set, the overhead camera showed her performing while lying down with her band, as if you were all friends just listening to music on her living room floor.
Though I have listened to her music for over a decade, I heard it again in a whole new light Tuesday night. What stuck with me the most is the way her iconic, synthy beats felt like a heartbeat throughout the venue. Sure, it played into the medical feeling of the album’s imagery, but it reminded me even more of how her music has been a backbone for many others.
To bring things to a close, Lorde got fully dressed again, this time zipping up in a black coat. Surprising many diehard fans, she made the brave trek across the Moda Center floor and onto a very small platform by the soundboard. Her encore consisted of “A World Alone” and “Ribs,” two tracks from “Pure Heroine.”
I jumped around with my best friend to songs that were the soundtrack of my teenage years. As I watched Lorde, not far above a sea of fans recording on their phones, I realized she’s just like one of us — a woman who experienced all the complexities of growing up just shortly before I did. The only difference is she was able to transform those feelings into something that was able to comfort so many of us as we navigated growing up.
Around me, to my surprise, were mostly teenagers younger than me. In a weird way, I almost felt jealous they were getting to experience her music for the first time at age 15. And that’s the thing about Lorde: I believe her music will remain timeless for the many generations to come.
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