Clearly she's commenting on how the music industry / pop culture is all about materialistic stuff.
Most rappers / pop starts sing/rap about all the things she mentions: crystals, jet planes, islands, tigers on gold leashes and gold teeth (etc). Which she doesn't care much for...because in her dreams she's made it (symbolism for drivin' Cadillacs in our dreams) but she still knows she will never be part of that group of people (Royals).
She doesn't have that blood (wasn't born into fame or has family in the industry that has made it big) or belongs old money (postal codes - old money tend to live around the same areas i.e. Beverly hills).
So when she says she wants to be Queen Bee or Ruler, she is fantasizing about pop culture not being about what the Royals love (their materialistic lifestyles), she craves a different kind of buzz (doesn't care much about money but just having a "good life without a care") and will rule with that in mind.
You're on the right track. I think these lyrics indicate a willingness to accept what you have rather than to accept materialism. Not only that, Lorde dramatizes mediocrity. She is overly content with what she has and believes that she has more than a music industry/pop culture simply because she isn't materialistic.
You're on the right track. I think these lyrics indicate a willingness to accept what you have rather than to accept materialism. Not only that, Lorde dramatizes mediocrity. She is overly content with what she has and believes that she has more than a music industry/pop culture simply because she isn't materialistic.
First of all, I think the stage name "Lorde" is very much symbolic of this song. The word "Lord" references authority, control, and power, and Ella (her real name) uses the name Lorde almost as satire- she creates the name to treasure the normal everyday life....
First of all, I think the stage name "Lorde" is very much symbolic of this song. The word "Lord" references authority, control, and power, and Ella (her real name) uses the name Lorde almost as satire- she creates the name to treasure the normal everyday life. It's like the expression "one man's trash is another man's treasure." Lorde finds treasure in living a regular traditional life, not a dramatized materialistic life in society.
Lorde says, "We don't care, we're driving Cadillacs in our dreams." This line references a willingness to look beyond materialism and realize that materialism isn't really treasured. I will coin Train's lyrics from their song Calling All Angels, "In a world where what we want is only what we want until it's ours." This is basically Lorde's premise. She dreams beyond materialism.
Lorde contradicts herself but within reason. She mentions "we'll never be royals," but later mentions in the same syntax "let me be your ruler, you can call me Queen Bee." Lorde wants people to see her as a lord who advocates non-materialistic attributes. In other words, she wants to be a queen, but she doesn't want to be a royal queen. She wants the responsibilities of a queen, but she does not want want the extra materialistic incentives.
Lorde says "We're bigger than we ever dreamed," indicating that she believes in herself and believes in being a non-materialistic queen. Basically, she implies that she is very royal not because of materialism, but because she admires the duties of a queen and a successful society aside materialism. Unfortunately, everyone else is blind to the fact that Lorde is a ruler and would rather have these materialistic incentives, which is why she states "But everybody's like Cristal, Maybach, diamonds on your timepiece."
In a nutshell, Lorde knows she will never be royal, but she believes she is royal in her own parameters. She says "And we'll never be royals" and follows this up with "Let me live that fantasy." She may not want to be materialistically royal, but she certainly takes royalty in her own values and willingness to lead aside from materialistic qualities. In an ironic kind of way, Lorde is very royal, just not the typical royal everyone longs for.
And ironically, her lyrics have become part of a materialistic music industry. It's become a popular song even against her willingness to accept royalty. Quite ironic, but the song sells. And I'd bet most people think the song means more about being materialistically royal than it does about being yourself and finding out what is royal in your personal life. Typical royal society that adds to the overall irony the song portrays.
Clearly she's commenting on how the music industry / pop culture is all about materialistic stuff.
Most rappers / pop starts sing/rap about all the things she mentions: crystals, jet planes, islands, tigers on gold leashes and gold teeth (etc). Which she doesn't care much for...because in her dreams she's made it (symbolism for drivin' Cadillacs in our dreams) but she still knows she will never be part of that group of people (Royals).
She doesn't have that blood (wasn't born into fame or has family in the industry that has made it big) or belongs old money (postal codes - old money tend to live around the same areas i.e. Beverly hills).
So when she says she wants to be Queen Bee or Ruler, she is fantasizing about pop culture not being about what the Royals love (their materialistic lifestyles), she craves a different kind of buzz (doesn't care much about money but just having a "good life without a care") and will rule with that in mind.
You're on the right track. I think these lyrics indicate a willingness to accept what you have rather than to accept materialism. Not only that, Lorde dramatizes mediocrity. She is overly content with what she has and believes that she has more than a music industry/pop culture simply because she isn't materialistic.
You're on the right track. I think these lyrics indicate a willingness to accept what you have rather than to accept materialism. Not only that, Lorde dramatizes mediocrity. She is overly content with what she has and believes that she has more than a music industry/pop culture simply because she isn't materialistic.
First of all, I think the stage name "Lorde" is very much symbolic of this song. The word "Lord" references authority, control, and power, and Ella (her real name) uses the name Lorde almost as satire- she creates the name to treasure the normal everyday life....
First of all, I think the stage name "Lorde" is very much symbolic of this song. The word "Lord" references authority, control, and power, and Ella (her real name) uses the name Lorde almost as satire- she creates the name to treasure the normal everyday life. It's like the expression "one man's trash is another man's treasure." Lorde finds treasure in living a regular traditional life, not a dramatized materialistic life in society.
Lorde says, "We don't care, we're driving Cadillacs in our dreams." This line references a willingness to look beyond materialism and realize that materialism isn't really treasured. I will coin Train's lyrics from their song Calling All Angels, "In a world where what we want is only what we want until it's ours." This is basically Lorde's premise. She dreams beyond materialism.
Lorde contradicts herself but within reason. She mentions "we'll never be royals," but later mentions in the same syntax "let me be your ruler, you can call me Queen Bee." Lorde wants people to see her as a lord who advocates non-materialistic attributes. In other words, she wants to be a queen, but she doesn't want to be a royal queen. She wants the responsibilities of a queen, but she does not want want the extra materialistic incentives.
Lorde says "We're bigger than we ever dreamed," indicating that she believes in herself and believes in being a non-materialistic queen. Basically, she implies that she is very royal not because of materialism, but because she admires the duties of a queen and a successful society aside materialism. Unfortunately, everyone else is blind to the fact that Lorde is a ruler and would rather have these materialistic incentives, which is why she states "But everybody's like Cristal, Maybach, diamonds on your timepiece."
In a nutshell, Lorde knows she will never be royal, but she believes she is royal in her own parameters. She says "And we'll never be royals" and follows this up with "Let me live that fantasy." She may not want to be materialistically royal, but she certainly takes royalty in her own values and willingness to lead aside from materialistic qualities. In an ironic kind of way, Lorde is very royal, just not the typical royal everyone longs for.
And ironically, her lyrics have become part of a materialistic music industry. It's become a popular song even against her willingness to accept royalty. Quite ironic, but the song sells. And I'd bet most people think the song means more about being materialistically royal than it does about being yourself and finding out what is royal in your personal life. Typical royal society that adds to the overall irony the song portrays.