Whether or not you tuned into the sixtieth-annual Grammy Awards a couple of weeks ago, you probably heard that singer-songwriter Lorde’s Melodrama (2017) was nominated for Album of the Year. If you’re at all like me, you were probably stoked to see a female nominee up against four major male artists like Jay-Z and Bruno Mars. Lorde herself is only twenty-one years old and has already made a name for herself in in the music industry, acquiring two Grammy wins back in 2014 for her smash hit “Royals.” She has been an unstoppable force for over five years, and her contagious charisma has attracted listeners around the world who find comfort in her universal yet poignant lyrics. So, it’s worth asking ourselves – why was Lorde denied an individual performance at the Grammys?
According to Pitchfork, Lorde was the only nominee of the five to be denied the opportunity to perform her own material at the awards show. Instead, she was offered a part in the Tom Petty tribute, which would not allow for any promotion of Melodrama. Lorde turned down the invitation and, according to Billboard, refused to walk the red carpet in an act of defiance against what can only be called blatant sexism on behalf of the Grammy organizers. It’s difficult to understand why Lorde wasn’t asked to take the stage, especially considering the popularity of songs like “Green Light” and “Homemade Dynamite,” both from Melodrama. How did Lorde respond, you might ask? Not only did she tweet about her upcoming Melodrama world tour, reminding fans that she can “murder a stage,” she also took out an ad in a New Zealand newspaper, thanking fans for “believing in female musicians.” In the midst of the TIME’S UP movement and other, similar campaigns, Lorde has lent her own voice to the rallying cry of women everywhere. Her message is plain and simple: women are powerful, and they are not going to be denied the representation they deserve.
Personally, I was disappointed to see that Lorde was not going to be performing. Since its release last June, I have listened to at least one song from Melodrama every day; it helped me through a particularly rough break-up and taught me about the subtle beauty of moving on. If you haven’t listened to the album, I highly suggest finding a pair of headphones and letting the beauty of Lorde’s lyrics wash over you. If you enjoy them, good news – tickets to hear them live are on sale now. And if you don’t? Listen more closely. Lorde is telling you exactly what you need to hear.