The linen skirt flows behind the heroine as she faints in her captor’s arms. He embraces her in open arms as the back of her palm rests on her forehead. The curtains draw as the audience applauds her performance. This is an example of melodrama. Such feelings of heartbreak, drama, and solitude are exemplified in Lorde’s second studio album, “Melodrama.” Lorde wrote “Melodrama” as an outlet for her listeners to feel less alone in the world, highlighting feelings of being trapped and the inevitable exhaustion that comes with adhering to societal norms.

Unfortunately, the transition between your teenage years to your twenties is a major jump, as new priorities such as navigating college or maintaining certain relationships come in. Lorde encapsulates this feeling of melodrama as a teenage house party that provides that euphoric feeling of adrenaline and raving joy. Lorde was inspired by notable artists Kate Bush and David Bowie to craft this musical masterpiece. Here are four of the 11 tracks that depict escapism and existentialism. 

“The Louvre” 

“They’ll hang us in the Louvre

Down the back, but who cares—still the Louvre

Okay I know that you are not my type

(still I fall)

I’m just the sucker who let you fill her mind”

This track captures a perfect photograph of a picture-perfect relationship being displayed in a world-renowned museum. Although the relationship is imperfect, it is still preserved. Throughout the song, Lorde captures the intense and overwhelming feelings of new love. Specifically, she uses metaphors to capture this exaggeration that this relationship is imperfect, but she still returns to it because of the love for her partner. Additionally, Lorde hones in on the vulnerability of the relationship which adds to the complexity of the intensity of the romance. 

“Liability”

“The truth is I am a toy that people enjoy

‘Til all of the tricks don’t work anymore

And then they are bored of me

I know that it’s exciting running through the night, but

Every perfect summer’s eating me alive until you’re gone

Better on my own”

This track holds a dynamic nature from self-loathing to self-love. Lorde expresses the horror of feeling like a burden in a relationship due to being herself. She acknowledges how ironic it is to feel loved, yet so distant from the relationships she cares deeply for, due to insecurity and feeling like others are walking on eggshells around her. However, later in the album, Lorde writes a reprise of “Liability” to express her realization that she was never the problem, but the perceptions of her supposed loved ones were. This shift from a strained mindset to one of self-worth reflects her ideals of being too full of life to be someone’s maybe. 

“Writer In the Dark”

“I am my mother’s child, I’ll love you ’til my breathing stops

I’ll love you ’til you call the cops on me

But in our darkest hours, I stumbled on a secret power

I’ll find a way to be without you, babe”

In the song, Lorde solidifies the comfort of an extremely difficult breakup and the bittersweet mentions that follow it. After moving on, she embraces her career as a songwriter and turns into the “writer in the dark,” displaying how she changes the intense pain of a breakup into a powerful and emotional piece of art. By realizing that she is stronger alone, she finds the strength and vulnerability in moving on, but promises to always love the relationship.

“Supercut”

“‘Cause in my head
In my head, I do everything right
When you call, I’ll forgive and not fight
All the moments I play in the dark
Wild and fluorescent
Come home to my heart, uh”

Here, Lorde symbolizes heartbreak as an aesthetic and an outlet to romanticize the ideal memories one is left with, which mindlessly replays in their heads. She expresses that indulging in such delicacies preserves the giddiness of the relationship. The feeling of regret and nostalgia is displayed, navigating the “what ifs,” and reflecting on the result of their relationship if it had been altered for the better. Lorde sings of the idea of how we often retell our past to decipher the confusion that comes with it.

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As the year begins to come to a halt, we tend to reflect on all of the negative and painful events that have happened. Although this may bring you down and affect others significantly, Lorde provides the comfort needed through her music. From her music, anyone can find a safe place to reflect on the negative or significant events in their lives. Even if it may feel like there is too much darkness to bear, there will always be light with those around you bringing great joy.