Ximena Arceo ‘29

Few artists can make a venue with 20,000 people feel as intimate and personal as Lorde does. From the moment she appears on stage, the energy she brings is felt closely throughout the crowd.

On Wednesday, Oct. 1, Lorde sold out Madison Square Garden, marking it one of the biggest shows of her career. The Ultrasound Tour features songs from her new album “Virgin”, as well as other fan favorites from her entire musical career. The show's openers were the indie artists Chanel Beads and The Japanese House, setting a dynamic atmosphere in anticipation of Lorde's set.

At first glance, Lorde’s outfits and props may have seemed simple, initially appearing in a plain white t-shirt and blue jeans. In reality, her outfits all played an important role in creating a narrative throughout her performance. By showing herself just as she is, the rawness and vulnerability of her album were able to shine through.

After the first songs of the night, which included her hit “Royals,” she told the audience that this concert felt very special to her, since it was her first time performing in the city since she moved to New York.

In the middle of singing “Current Affairs,” Lorde took off her pants, showing off the pair of boxers she was wearing. The artistic choice represented her exploration of gender identity, as discussed in the album. By the use of something as simple as clothing, or lack thereof, she was able to express her truest self in the moment. The boxers, combined with the later reveal of her duct-taped chest during the song “Man Of The Year,” reflected on her complex journey of self-acceptance. The duct tape replicated a look she wore in her music video for “Man of the Year.” People in the audience wearing a rendition of that outfit screamed and pointed to the screen as she sang.

Immediately after, she sang “Supercut,” lying on the floor and staring at the camera above her. As the song progressed, she went from singing on her knees to standing up and hopping on the treadmill placed in the middle of the stage. She began walking at a normal pace, ending up running for the climax and final part of the song. Just like her movements throughout the song, the energy of the audience started to slowly grow until it loudly exploded at the end. The emotional intensity of the song was perfectly captured in this moment: a catharsis of all the thoughts and feelings of replaying the precious moments shared in the past relationship she was singing about.

Later, one of the most emotional parts of the show took place. Right before singing “Liability,” Lorde gave a six minute speech on what the tour and album mean to her, as well as her purpose for creating it. She explained, “In making this album, I really tried to tell the truth. I do not lie on ‘Virgin,’ I don't even dramatize. Everything is exactly as it was for me. Everything is as plain and raw as possible. The older I get I think that's where the magic is, you know?”

She then took a moment to thank the audience for coming and appreciate the shared community her music has created. “I truly believe, New York, that all of us in this room, howling into the air, squeezing the blood out of our friends' hands, that's the fucking medicine. It really means something.”

One of the highlights of the concert was during the song “Green Light,” when everyone could be seen jumping and singing every lyric. Few attendees took out their phones during that moment—a rare thing for live shows nowadays—showing just how much people wanted to be fully present and in the moment.

Nearing the end of the concert, Lorde wore a jacket with bright lights, walking through the crowd as she sang “David.” Eventually, she walked all the way to a small second stage right in the middle of the venue, where she performed the encore.

The final song of the night, “Ribs,” was the perfect choice to end the show. The crowd was chanting so loudly that Lorde's voice was barely heard, creating a true and real connection between everyone present, with people crying and friends hugging each other. As the song ended, she raised her hand to touch the blue light reflected on the main stage, holding that position as the light dimmed and the music faded.

Lorde was in total control of everyone's attention for the whole hour and fifty minutes that the concert lasted, allowing fans both new and old to live every emotion through her setlist. She was able to create a place in time where everyone could be as free and wild as possible.

Lorde’s Ultrasound Tour at Madison Square Garden