This year's World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals begins Tuesday, Oct. 21. Because of this, the sports and music universes have collided. Bay Area radio listeners have been telling stations to ban playing Lorde's hit song "Royals" until the Series is over.
"We've had several emails and social media comments stating that we should remove 'Royals' by Lorde until the San Francisco Giants win the World Series," a statement from KOIT read.
Program Director Brian Figula made the ban official Friday: "Our listeners told us to do it, so we did it! As of 4pm today we've removed Lorde- Royals from the our [sic] playlist until the end of the World Series. Go Giants, beat the Royals!"
KFOG Radio also chipped in with the following Facebook announcement: "No offense, Lorde, but for the duration of the World Series, KFOG Radio will be a 'Royals'-free zone. We're sure you understand."
"Royals" was one of the biggest hits of 2013, and has little to do with baseball on the surface. But Giants fans are not paranoid: Lorde has said several times that the Kansas City baseball team inspired her breakout song.
"I had this image from the National Geographic of this dude just signing baseballs," she told VH1 last year. "He was a baseball player and his shirt said, 'Royals.' It was just that word. It's really cool."
The photo was of slugger George Brett, who starred on the 1985 world champion Royals team.
But Lorde was not solely focused on baseball.
"Obviously I've had this fascination with aristocracy my whole life," she said. "Like, the kings and queens of 500 years ago ... they're like rock stars. If there was a TMZ 500 years ago, it would be about like Henry VIII and Marie Antoinette and all those people."
