Lorde, First Woman to Top Billboard Alt Chart in 17 Years
New Zealand singer/songwriter, Lorde, has landed the top spot on the Billboard Alternative Songs Chart with her hit single ‘Royals’. Not only is she the first solo woman to top the charts in her lifetime, but she is also the first New Zealander ever to top the chart. The previous solo-female artist to reach the coveted top shop was Tracy Bonham in 1996 – six months before the Kiwi artist was born.
In addition to this top spot, Lorde’s EP The Love Club has spent the last two weeks at No. 49 on the Billboard 200, having sold 51,000 copies in the U.S. to date, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Lorde has been in the US recently doing a series of performances on the back of the release of the hit single. One show in Los Angeles was so popular that tickets were reportedlyselling for $120.
In a recent interview with the Huffington Post, Lorde spoke of being compared to other female artists.
“I’ve seen people compare me to just about every female slightly alt[ernative] female musician because people feel the need to put females with other females. I guess I understand, but I think I’m different because my music is accessible, but it’s also smart and those are two things that don’t often go together musically. I think it’s probably because I’m an Internet kid. I’m watching ‘Adventure Time’ but I’m also reading Allen Ginsberg. I’m a mesh of references — fun and smart? I don’t know where I’d put myself. I’d like to think I’m doing something different.”
Lorde full-length debut album, “Pure Heroine,” is expected on Sept. 30 in the U.S.
