Lorde is channeling beats and bees in her new single "Yellow Flicker Beat." Today (Sept. 29), the "Royals" singer dropped her first new single since the release of her debut album Pure Heroine for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 soundtrack and it's a stripped down, haunting new melody.
Lorde's new single starts off with a round of hums, likened to a buzzing of a bee or a flickering light and clearly playing off the "flicker beat" or the song's title. The round of a cappella music is soon supported by the light tap of the drumsticks before the track goes into full beast mode.
In typical Lorde fashion, "Yellow Flicker Beat" remains largely stripped down and haunting, despite additional chorus elements and looped vocals. Screeching synth effects are piled onto the melody, adding dangerous tones to the otherwise driving ballad. The slow build of the song is fit for a civil war, a battle against all odds, and obviously The Hunger Games.
Lyrically, Lorde is all about revenge. "People talk to me, I'm slipping out of reach / People talk to me and all their faces blur / I've got my fingers laced together and I made a little prison / And I'm locking up everyone who's ever laid a finger on me," she sings.
Basically, don't mess with the Queen Bee.
Listen to the new Lorde single "Yellow Flicker Beat" below:
Lorde's new single "Yellow Flicker Beat" is from the upcoming soundtrack to The Hunger James: Mockingjay Part 1. Lorde not only has the lead single from the film's soundtrack, but the 17-year-old star has also curated the full LP. The soundtrack is due for release on Nov. 18. The film will follow with a Nov. 21 theater date.
