This week Lorde dropped her single, “Yellow Flicker Beat.” There were a number of obvious reasons The Singles Party tackled it for this week’s column.
1. It’s Lorde.
2. It’s the official song for what could be the #1 movie of the year — The Hunger Games – Mockingjay, Part 1.
3. It was recorded in our backyard — Asbury Park, New Jersey.
4. It’s probably going to be the biggest song in the world in a few weeks.
So, here’s what the gang thought of the new one from Lorde.
Justin Matchick: I was surprised the song turned out as powerful as it did given the slow and moody opening. Lorde’s gentle lilt that begins the song segues seamlessly when the song picks up into a stronger beat that begs you to nod you head along with it. The lyrics go right along with the theme of uprising and empowerment of The Hunger Games movies, with Lorde giving us the perspective of a woman who shakes off her defeats to fight back. As powerful as the song gets, Lorde still keeps her singing calm and collected, complementing the beat instead of trying to overtake it. This is a rare song that I could either relax to or get pumped up by depending on my frame of mind when I listen to it. Either way, I say it’s a keeper. Verdict: Add to playlist
Nick Porcaro : It sounds like a Lorde song. If you like Lorde beyond “Royals”, you’ll like this. If you lost interest after “Royals” like I did, go ahead and pass. Verdict: Abstain.
Al Mannarino: Lorde may have gotten a lot of heat for winning Best Rock Video at the VMA’s, but it’s tough to not like her when she keeps on making quality music. Her latest track is no exception. Selecting Lorde to not only create a song for the Mockingjay soundtrack, but also curate the entire soundtrack. Lorde has a unique style that is perfect for the oblique dystopian world of The Hunger Games series. “Yellow Flicker Beat” is both harrowing and uplifting, just like the Mocking jay herself. Lorde has struck gold again, and I cannot wait to see what artists she adds to the highly anticipated soundtrack.
Verdict: Add to Playlist
Lisa Pikaard: I am not now a Lorde fan nor will I be. It is almost not fair to have me review “Yellow Flicker Beat” but I am a big Hunger Games fan so I gave it a shot. This song really is perfect for Mockingjay. It is eerie, haunting and harrowing enough to capture the essence of the film. To be honest, when I first heard this song, it reminded me of something Baz Luhrmann would have on one of his soundtracks. As for the song itself, I personally love people who just dig deep and belt out a song rather than the breathy crap that seems to be so popular these days. Lorde’s style is just not my thing and is not something I would ever listen to voluntarily. Verdict: Perfect for Hunger Games, not for me otherwise. I guess that makes it a one and done, or, in this case, a movie and done.
Kelly Spoer:Â Yes, it does sound like a “Lorde” song. But that’s not a bad thing! In fact, along with everyone else that has heard this song, I’ll agree that her voice fits perfectly with MockingJay and The Hunger Games in general. For the song itself, it love the beginning with the droning. It seems quite different than what would normally be played here in the US. And I can’t help but get so excited with this song. HELL YEAH, YOU SCREAMED MY NAME AND NOW YOU WHISPER IT. DAMN STRAIGHT. How can you not feel empowered? Verdict: Add to playlist.Â
Bill Bodkin: While I might not buy into the Olympian amount of hype heaped upon her nor do I believe she should’ve won “Best Rock Video” at the VMAs, I would never deny her ability to write a catchy song. The song is absolutely perfect for a soundtrack, particularly a Hunger Games soundtrack. Having seen the trailers for Mockingjay, the song fits the tone and theme of the film (or at least the tone and them I perceive) perfectly. The beat is hypnotic (in a good way) and Lorde delivers a vocal performance that doesn’t stray into territory we haven’t heard from her before. It’s a solid tune and I like “Royals” it’ll be a song that’ll grow on you. Verdict: Add to Playlist.
Verdict: We totally think you should add this new one from Lorde to your playlist.
