How Did a Lorde Deep Cut Become a Generational Anthem (And a Decade-Late Hot 100 Hit)?

Longtime alt-pop star Lorde boasts two new entries on the Billboard Hot 100 this week (dated May 10). One of them is predictable: “What Was That,” her first totally new solo song in nearly a half-decade (and presumed lead single from her upcoming Virgin album, due in June) bows at No. 36, following a big premiere event at New York’s Washington Square Park. But the other one might be a little more surprising: “Ribs,” a fan favorite from Lorde’s 2013 debut album Pure Heroine, which makes its first appearance on the Hot 100 (at No. 99) over a decade after its initial release.

On this week’s Great Moments in Pop Star History episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staff writer Hannah Dailey to talk about the 12-year journey of “Ribs” from fan favorite deep cut to stealth Gen Z anthem to now Billboard Hot 100 hit. We share our own stories of how we first got stuck on “Ribs,” try to capture the song’s extremely unconventional and totally singular appeal, and dive deep into the sonic and lyrical details that have added up to it improbably becoming one of the defining songs of its era.

Along the way, we answer all the most pressing questions about “Ribs”: How did this then-15-year-old write one of the century’s most convincing and relatable songs about getting old and bracing mortality? What made it such a perfect song for a bunch of increasingly impatient Lorde fans to sing and dance to while waiting for her to pop up in NYC two weeks ago? Why has such an obviously evocative and cinematic song never been used for a big movie or TV synch? Did “Ribs” really become a pump-up anthem for extremely online Philadelphia 76ers fans? And finally: Will “Ribs” one day pass “Royals” as Lorde’s best-known, most-beloved song?

Check out our discussion above, and subscribe to the Greatest Pop Stars podcast on Apple Music or Spotify (or wherever you get your podcasts) for weekly discussions every Thursday about all things related to pop stardom!

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