New Zealand’s own Princess, Lorde, gave fans a surprise performance at Glastonbury Festival, and it was emotional. Her set happened just as her much-awaited album Virgin dropped, only hours before she hit the stage. In her usual mysterious style, the performance was kept under wraps as much as possible, making it the best surprise gift for her fans.
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Lorde appeared cool, confident, and casual, proving once again that just being herself is all the promotion she needs. Her performance celebrated her music rather than flashy showmanship, which felt refreshingly different. Virgin feels like a look back at her earlier work, but this time from a more grown-up perspective. Including bits from Pure Heroine and Melodrama highlighted how Lorde has stayed true to herself throughout her career. With this album expected to be the summer’s top “cool-girl” soundtrack, Lorde reminded us why she’s always had that title.
She confidently took the stage at 11 a.m., a time when most festivalgoers are still waking up. But the buzz about her surprise appearance had already gotten fans up and ready. She performed at the Woodsies stage, a smaller part of Glastonbury known as “an alternative hang out for the day,” which suited Lorde’s unique style perfectly.
She played Virgin from start to finish, giving fans a first listen straight from her. The album is emotional, raw, and feels like reading a personal diary, similar to Pure Heroine, but twelve years later.
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It’s powerful to see Lorde revisiting the same emotional themes she explored at 17, but now with more wisdom. The similar vibe in Virgin feels intentional, like a thank-you note to her past self. It marks a fresh chapter for Lorde, she’s now fully confident and true to who she is.
Her choice to perform without announcement on a smaller stage reflected that same honesty and self-awareness. Over her ten years in the spotlight, Lorde has stayed grounded. Even through moments of confusion (remember the “shushing incident”?), she’s shown that her main goal is simply to share her music with the people who care.
Getting famous at a young age can easily change someone, but Lorde has stayed real and still puts on genuine, intimate shows. Virgin is shaping up to be the summer’s go-to album, following Brat and her recent appearance on Charli XCX’s “Girl, so confusing” remix. At Glastonbury, she proved once more that she’s the ultimate cool artist.
Her look, just white jeans and a white shirt, matched the low-key vibe. She embraced her early time slot, giving off the relaxed feel of hanging out with friends rather than debuting a major album live.
Lorde has that clout…Since Pure Heroine, she has enjoyed a devout fanbase, many of whom look on her as a big sister figure.
It was bold of Lorde to play a set full of songs no one had heard yet, but people are saying
Even if the crowd didn’t know the new tracks, they were there for her. The set felt more like a listening party, with fan-favorites “Ribs” and “Green Light” sprinkled in at the end, rather than a flashy festival performance. Lorde gave Virgin space to be heard slowly and naturally.
Sure, the album release lining up with Glastonbury seems a little too perfect, but there’s something super cool about a global star casually showing up to the world’s biggest festival with no announcement and becoming one of the weekend’s highlights. Lorde clearly understands herself, her fans, and the power of her music.
Her surprise set was more than just a performance; it was a reminder of who she is. Lorde has always gone against the grain, and this kind of surprise is way more fun than building hype for weeks. Who needs that stress? Even after ten years, she’s still taking creative risks and doing things her way.
She doesn’t give in to the usual pop star pressures because she’s constantly shaping what pop music can be. Her sudden appearance was a breath of fresh air and a quiet but powerful reminder that true artistry always wins over over-the-top spectacle. Lorde is so back, and she’s doing it entirely on her own terms.
Source: Collider