Lorde’s ‘Virgin’ Review: The Artist Strips Herself Bare with Raw Honesty

Lorde’s ‘Virgin’ dives deep into her personal journey, revealing raw emotions and bold explorations in this intimate and powerful album.

Lorde’s Bold Return: An Intimate Confession

When Lorde teamed up again with Charli XCX last year for a remix, she stunned everyone with a raw, heartfelt confession. “For the last couple years / I’ve been at war in my body,” she revealed in her first new music since the 2021 album Solar Power. This candid admission signaled a new chapter for the Kiwi singer — one that her new album Virgin picks up on, exposing a side of Lorde we haven’t seen before: vulnerable, inquisitive, and unfiltered.

Breaking Free: Overcoming Personal Battles

Off the contraceptive pill and more in tune with her rawest emotions, Virgin reveals just how tough it was for Lorde to reclaim her body and mind. On the track Broken Glass, she opens up about her struggles with an eating disorder, lamenting the toll it took with “rotted teeth” and “lost libido.”

Her chorus is a defiant, triumphant challenge to herself:

“It might be years of bad luck / But what if it’s just broken glass?”

This song is an anthem of breaking free and redefining self-worth.

Exploring Identity: Gender and Self

Lorde continues her exploration of gender on the liberating track Man Of The Year. Inspired by attending the GQ awards, she embraces a more masculine persona, unafraid to express intimate details like “swish mouthwash” and “jerk off.” The raw, unpolished production — with tinny crash cymbals and gravelly synths — sounds like Lorde chipping away at the layers of her identity in real time.

On the abrasive If She Could Only See Me Now, she steps into a stronger, more confident self:

“I’m a mystic / I swim in waters / That would drown so many other bitches.”

These tracks showcase the fluidity and complexity of her evolving identity.

Family Ties: A Glimpse Into Her Relationship With Her Mother

Favourite Daughter offers a rare look at Lorde’s relationship with her mother. Set to a rollicking beat, she sings about “breaking my back” and suffering “panic attack[s]” to maintain the role of the golden child, ultimately striving to be “brave as my mother.” This song hints at the old idea of virginity—seen not as sexual innocence but as fierce independence.

Sonically Adventurous and Emotionally Raw

Virgin doesn’t just explore themes deeply; it also pushes boundaries sonically. The icy Shapeshifter nods to the creaking future garage vibes of Burial, while Clearblue stands out as a stunning, autotuned a capella piece reminiscent of Imogen Heap’s iconic Hide And Seek. Here, Lorde confronts the intense emotions of taking a pregnancy test, her guttural cries adding a breathtaking layer of vulnerability.

You can feel the rawness in her voice and the minimalist production in this clip of Hammer:

Some Production Hiccups

Not every track hits the mark perfectly. What Was That carries the tension reminiscent of her earlier album Melodrama but lacks its payoff. Current Affairs confuses with its bland instrumentation but tries to salvage itself by adding a warped dancehall sample from Daseca and Dexta Daps, alongside a spoken word call-and-response section that feels out of place. Despite these missteps, the album largely maintains a cohesive balance between experimentation and accessibility.

A Masterful Blend of Lorde’s Signature Styles

Ultimately, Virgin feels like a vibrant mix of all the best parts of Lorde’s previous work, plus something new. It blends the emotional intensity of Melodrama, the stark minimalism of Pure Heroine, and the breezy ease of Solar Power. Though the album is titled Virgin, Lorde isn’t shy about stripping herself bare — revealing her most personal, raw, and fearless self yet.

Album Details

• Record Label: Universal Music New Zealand
• Release Date: June 27, 2025

Conclusion

Lorde’s Virgin is not just another album; it’s a brave, unfiltered diary set to sound. It challenges, comforts, and confronts listeners with the complexities of identity, body, and self. So, what part of Lorde’s raw honesty resonates with you the most?

FAQs

• What themes does Lorde explore in Virgin?
  Lorde dives into personal struggles with body image, gender identity, family dynamics, and emotional vulnerability.
• How does Virgin compare sonically to her previous albums?
  It combines the emotional depth of Melodrama, the minimalism of Pure Heroine, and the freedom of Solar Power, while experimenting with new sounds like future garage and a capella autotune.
• Which song reveals Lorde’s battle with eating disorder?
  Broken Glass details her struggles with an eating disorder and the journey toward healing.
• Are there any collaborations on the album?
  While Virgin is mostly a solo effort, her previous work with Charli XCX influenced her openness and raw emotion on this album.
• What makes Favourite Daughter significant?
  It offers insight into Lorde’s relationship with her mother and plays with the idea of virginity as independence rather than innocence.

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