The Louvre (song) explained

The Louvre
Type:Song
Artist:Lorde
Album:Melodrama
Studio:
  • Conway (Los Angeles)
  • Rough Customer (Brooklyn Heights)
  • Westlake (Los Angeles)
Genre:Electropop

"The Louvre" is a song recorded by New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde for her second album, Melodrama (2017). She co-wrote and co-produced the track with Jack Antonoff, with additional production from Flume and Malay. "The Louvre" is an electropop song that has influences of other genres such as indie rock and ambient music. Its name derives from the Louvre, an art museum in Paris, France. The lyrics talk about Lorde's honest, lightly-manic analysis of a newly-sparked romance comparing it to a painting hung behind the quintessential works of the Louvre.

Reviewers praised the song's lyrics and production, and it landed on several year-end lists. Its guitar riff was compared to Bruce Springsteen's song "Born to Run" (1975), and the sound to Taylor Swift's album 1989 (2014). The track centers around themes of obsession and infatuation as it continues the narrative established in the previous song, "Homemade Dynamite".[1] Lorde performed "The Louvre", with five other songs, as part of a re-imagined Vevo series at the Electric Lady Studios where she recorded most of her album, and at the 2017 Glastonbury Festival. It was part of the set list of her Melodrama World Tour (2017–18).

Recording and composition

Lorde recorded "The Louvre" at three different locations in the United States. She began recording at Conway Recording Studios, in Los Angeles, California, assisted by recording engineer Eric Eylands. They also recorded at Rough Customer Studio, in Brooklyn Heights, New York, with Barry McCready and Jack Antonoff. Recording was completed at Westlake Recording Studios, in Los Angeles, with Greg Eliason. John Hanes mixed the song at MixStar Studios, assisted by John Hanes. Flume provided the song's bass line and drums, while Malay produced the electronic beats. Both provided additional production for the track.

"The Louvre" is composed in the key of C Major with a tempo of 124 beats per minute. Lorde's vocals span a range of E3 to A4 and its chord progression follows a sequence of C–C/E–F5–A5–G5 in the verses and outro.[2] It is an electropop song,[3] with influences of other genres such as indie rock[4] and ambient music.[5] According to Nolan Feeley of Entertainment Weekly, "The Louvre" describes the early stages of a casual relationship "doomed to fail". The song starts with Lorde's voice accompanied by a guitar, before becoming "a storm of glitchy electro-pop."[3] NME described it as a "wide-eyed, heart-skippy pop" track.[6] Alexis Petridis of The Guardian stated that it seemed "highly unlikely that any pop song this year" would craft a better chorus than "The Louvre".[7] Newsweek noted Phil Collins' influence on the track,[8] while its guitar riff was compared to Bruce Springsteen's song "Born to Run" (1975) and the production on Taylor Swift's album 1989 (2014).[9]

In a podcast interview with The Spinoff, Lorde revealed that she wanted to evoke the feeling of the "big sun-soaked dumbness of falling in love," and the intense emotion of "big dumb joy". She said that the "instrumentation" helped reflect those emotions.[10] The singer also disclosed that Frank Ocean's Blonde (2016) album served as inspiration for constructing the track's sound. Lorde spoke of how in a "post-Blonde landscape", instrumentation in songs has become more flexible. She stated that she could have made a "big, easy single" but refrained from doing so as she felt it would not mean much to "simplify the journey" or "force a big chorus."[11]

Reception

"The Louvre" received widespread critical acclaim from music critics, with many praising its lyrics and production; it was also called a stand-out track on Melodrama.[12] In a review roundup for The Fader, editor Aimee Cliff said that Lorde captured the "self-importance of first love so well." Patrick D. McDermott compared the guitar outro to the work of The Cure or The Cranberries.[13] Will Richards from DIY noted that a "rushed lyric half way through the second verse epitomises the whole record".[14] Kitty Empire of The Guardian called it a "dazzling synthesis of pro-dramatics and originality",[15] while Pitchforks Stacey Anderson noted the song captured a "shared frequency of love just as irrepressibly grandiose as its sound".[16]

Several critics placed "The Louvre" on their year-end, best songs lists. Stereogum put the recording in the number 13 spot on its year-end list.[17] On their year-end list, Vice editor Larry Fitzmaurice ranked the song at number 47, calling it one of the album's "weirdest moments".[18] On Spins year-end list, "The Louvre" was ranked at number nine, with the publication calling it one of Lorde's "strongest [songs] to date".[19] Pitchfork ranked the track at number 42 of the year-end list,[20] while on their retrospective list of the 200 Best Songs of the 2010s, "The Louvre" ranked at number 43. The publication praised Lorde for being able to take a "feeling everyone knows and transform it into something fresh".[21]

"The Louvre" entered the Recorded Music NZ Heatseeker Singles chart at number one on 26 June 2017.[22] It also entered the NZ Artists Singles Chart at number five that week,[23] before peaking at number four.[24] It was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for exceeding 35,000 shipments.

Live performances

Lorde first performed "The Louvre" at the Glastonbury Festival. The performance began with a clear box slowly filling with dancers, followed by Lorde's arrival. The box was described as tilting "back-and-forth" above the singer's head as the performance continued. She dedicated the track to any audience member "harbouring a secret crush."[25] The performance received acclaim from critics, with The Independent giving it a four out of five-star review, calling it a "bold and brilliant" debut.[26]

The track was also performed at the Bowery Auditorium in New York City, on the night of the singer's album release party, with two other tracks.[27] For the Melodrama World Tour (2017–18), Lorde performed "The Louvre" after her first costume change. It was proceeded by vintage video snippets that flicker across a "giant old-school TV." A reviewer for the London Evening Standard described the videos as "art and music merged into a cohesive exploration of love, loss and loneliness."[28] The track was performed second in a set of three acts. After the clips, Lorde returned to the stage wearing a white gown, a different look from the black chiffon dress she wore earlier.[29] She prefaced each song with a backstory, saying "The Louvre" is about the "ups and downs of a new crush."[30]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Melodrama.[31]

Recording and management

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2017)Peak
position
New Zealand Artist Singles (RMNZ)4
New Zealand Heatseekers (RMNZ)1

Notes and References

  1. News: Pareles. Jon. Lorde Learns She Can't Party Away Her Melancholy on 'Melodrama'. 24 December 2017. The New York Times. 16 June 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171227085806/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/16/arts/music/lorde-melodrama-review.html. 27 December 2017.
    News: McDermott. Maeve. Lorde's 'Melodrama' is 2017's best pop album so far. 24 December 2017. Independent Mail. USA Today. 16 June 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171224214701/https://www.independentmail.com/story/life/entertainthis/2017/06/16/lorde-melodrama-review-2017-best-pop-album-so-far/102839484/. 24 December 2017.
  2. News: Lorde "The Louvre" Sheet Music in C Major. 22 December 2017. Musicnotes.com. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171223160804/https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0176870. 23 December 2017.
  3. Feeney. Nolan. Lorde makes partying sound holy on Melodrama: EW review. 22 December 2017. Entertainment Weekly. 16 June 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170616175146/http://ew.com/music/2017/06/16/lorde-melodrama-review/. 16 June 2017.
  4. News: Adams. Cameron. Lorde album review: How does her new record Melodrama stack up?. 22 December 2017. news.com.au. News Corp Australia. 16 June 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170903040316/http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/lorde-album-review-how-does-her-new-record-melodrama-stack-up/news-story/6151d5d9d69f98c1c552f9115d9250a3. 3 September 2017.
  5. Hermes. Will. Review: Lorde's 'Melodrama' Is Fantastically Intimate, a Production Tour De Force. 23 December 2017. Rolling Stone. 16 June 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170929061102/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/review-lordes-melodrama-w487965. 29 September 2017.
    News: Goggins. Joe. Album Review: Lorde – Melodrama. 23 December 2017. Drowned in Sound. 28 June 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170912191517/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/19984/reviews/4151138. 12 September 2017.
  6. News: Mackay. Emily. Lorde talks fame, growing up and her new album 'Melodrama'. 23 December 2017. NME. 16 June 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170617220114/http://www.nme.com/features/lorde-interview-2017-melodrama-nme-2088564. 17 June 2017.
  7. News: Petridis. Alexis. Lorde: Melodrama review – a cocky challenge to her pop rivals. 23 December 2017. The Guardian. 16 June 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170616185013/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jun/16/lorde-melodrama-review-cocky-challenge-pop-rivals. 16 June 2017.
  8. News: Shaffer. Claire. The Influences on Lorde's 'Melodrama': Frank Ocean, Robyn, Bowie and 10 Other Artists Who Shaped Its Sound. 23 December 2017. Newsweek. 24 June 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170906204642/http://www.newsweek.com/lorde-melodrama-influences-frank-ocean-robyn-bowie-prince-628768. 6 September 2017.
  9. News: Wilson. Carl. Lorde's new album Melodrama, reviewed.. 23 December 2017. Slate. 19 June 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171102115415/http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/music_box/2017/06/lorde_s_new_album_melodrama_reviewed.html. 2 November 2017.
  10. News: Oliver. Henry. The Spinoff Exclusive: Lorde explains the backstory behind every song on her new album. 23 December 2017. The Spinoff. 19 June 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171223215719/https://thespinoff.co.nz/music/19-06-2017/the-spinoff-exclusive-lorde-explains-the-backstory-behind-every-song-on-her-new-album/. 23 December 2017.
  11. News: Martinez. Jose. Lorde Reveals How Frank Ocean's 'Blonde' Inspired Her Album 'Melodrama'. 23 December 2017. Complex. 19 June 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171020025733/http://www.complex.com/music/2017/06/lorde-reveals-how-frank-ocean-blonde-inspired-her-album-melodrama. 20 October 2017.
  12. News: Kuppermann. Jacob. Lorde's 'Melodrama' is the most interesting album of the summer. 23 December 2017. The Stanford Daily. 15 August 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171223160644/https://www.stanforddaily.com/2017/08/15/lordes-melodrama-is-the-most-interesting-album-of-the-summer/. 23 December 2017.
    News: Bryant. Taylor. Lorde Ushers In A New Chapter With 'Melodrama'. 22 December 2017. Nylon. 16 June 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171223160849/https://nylon.com/articles/lorde-melodrama-review. 23 December 2017.
  13. News: Cliff. Aimee. Myers. Owen. Tanzer. Myles. D. McDermott. Patrick. In a World of Playlists, Lorde's Melodrama Commands Your Attention. 22 December 2017. The Fader. 16 June 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170918231803/https://www.thefader.com/2017/06/16/lorde-melodrama-green-light-perfect-places-review-roundtable. 18 September 2017.
  14. News: Richards. Will. Album Review: Lorde – Melodrama. 23 December 2017. DIY. 16 June 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171223215821/http://diymag.com/2017/06/20/lorde-melodrama-album-review. 23 December 2017.
  15. News: Empire. Kitty. Lorde: Melodrama review – maximum overwrought. 23 December 2017. The Guardian. 18 June 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171223014704/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jun/18/lorde-melodrama-review-maximum-overwrought-green-light-liability. 23 December 2017.
  16. News: Anderson. Stacey. Lorde: Melodrama Album Review. 23 December 2017. Pitchfork. 16 June 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170919111906/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/lorde-melodrama/. 19 September 2017.
  17. News: DeVille. Chris. The Top 40 Pop Songs Of 2017. 22 December 2017. Stereogum. 14 December 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051534/https://www.stereogum.com/1971280/the-top-40-pop-songs-of-2017/franchises/the-week-in-pop/. 22 December 2017.
  18. News: Fitzmaurice. Larry. The 100 Best Songs of 2017. 22 December 2017. Noisey. Vice. 7 December 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171223023358/https://noisey.vice.com/en_uk/article/434wnb/noisey-100-best-songs-of-2017. 23 December 2017.
  19. News: Patel. Puja. The 101 Best Songs of 2017. 22 December 2017. Spin. 20 December 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171221193627/https://www.spin.com/featured/101-best-songs-of-2017/. 21 December 2017.
  20. News: Pelly. Jenn. The 100 Best Songs of 2017. 22 December 2017. Pitchfork. 11 December 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171223160747/https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-100-best-songs-of-2017/?page=6%3Fpage%3D6%3Fpage%3D6%3Fpage%3D6%3Fpage%3D6%3Fpage%3D6. 23 December 2017.
  21. News: Pitchfork Staff . The 200 Best Songs of the 2010s . 3 September 2020 . Pitchfork . 7 October 2019.
  22. Web site: NZ Top 40 Singles Chart . . 26 June 2017 . 20 February 2018.
  23. Web site: Top 20 New Zealand Singles Chart . Recorded Music NZ . 26 June 2017 . 20 February 2018.
  24. Web site: Top 20 New Zealand Singles Chart . Recorded Music NZ . 17 July 2017 . 20 February 2018.
  25. News: Savage. Mark. Radiohead mesmerise fans at Glastonbury with a wayward, but compelling, set. 23 December 2017. BBC News. 24 June 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170721183913/http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-40389552. 21 July 2017.
  26. News: Vincent. Alice. Lorde makes a bold and brilliant Glastonbury debut - review. 23 December 2017. The Independent. 23 June 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170911161104/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/lorde-makes-bold-brilliant-glastonbury-debut-review/. 11 September 2017.
  27. News: Minsker. Evan. Watch Lorde Perform Melodrama Tracks Live for the First Time. 23 December 2017. Pitchfork. 17 June 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170806143043/http://pitchfork.com/news/watch-lorde-perform-melodrama-tracks-live-for-the-first-time/. 6 August 2017.
  28. News: Aubrey. Elizabeth. Lorde review: Audacious, sincere and in total command of her audience. 23 December 2017. London Evening Standard. 28 September 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171223162035/https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/music/lorde-review-successor-to-bowie-in-total-command-of-her-audience-a3683126.html. 23 December 2017.
  29. News: Empire. Kitty. Lorde review – melodrama for the masses. 23 December 2017. The Guardian. 1 October 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171106090909/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/oct/01/lorde-review-melodrama-for-the-masses-alexandra-palace-london. 6 November 2017.
  30. Havens. Lyndsey. Lorde Brings the Melodrama, Chance Takes Sin City to Church and More at Life Is Beautiful Day One. 23 December 2017. Billboard. 23 September 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171001154758/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/festivals/7973828/life-is-beautiful-2017-day-one-recap-lorde-chance-the-rapper. 1 October 2017.
  31. Melodrama. Lorde. 2017. CD. Lava/Republic Records. B0026615-02 . United States.

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