Single Review: ‘Team’ by Lorde

For a seventeen year-old singer who has the amazing vocal ability that she has, you would think that there would have been more attention given to her on our side of the globe.

But that is not the case because her name is just beginning to be built up here in the Philippines. So there are some who still don’t know what to make of her. Can you blame them?

Not really. Because Lorde literally came out of nowhere!

Yet, she was able to make such a huge splash with her debut album predominantly in the States, then in Europe, and just fairly recently in Southeast Asia.

Indeed, Lorde’s name has travelled far and wide from that of an unknown singer-songwriter from her quiet town in Devonport in New Zealand to now becoming one of the best newcomers in the music industry in recent memory.

And she proves this again in her latest single “Team” from her breakthrough debut album ‘Pure Heroine.’ Lorde shows her sense of continuity when it comes to the theme of her singles–that she is proud of her roots and she has no qualms about it. It is the same theme as was in her first single “Royals” which I had reviewed also recently. And I think that is one reason why more music aficionados are beginning to support her. They see someone who is true to herself !

Now, when it comes to the production of “Team,” there are a few noticeable differences I spotted after a few repeated listens to the track. For one, this track leans more towards an Electronic influence although it can’t be clearly categorized specifically as a pure EDM track.

Instead, it sort of just teases the listener into believing it is headed in that direction as you got swirling synths, and in the middle part of listening to Team, you will notice a minor change done to her voice with the addition of a vocal effect that wasn’t done in her previous two singles.

When you compare Team to her lead single “Royals,” it doesn’t quite have that “snap” in the chorus section. It isn’t that catchy either. Whereas in Royals it was that distinct bass line in the chorus section that got my attention, in Team it is the predominant sound of handclaps that caught my attention aside from her highly impressive vocal work.

Speaking of her vocal work, I find it amusing that a lot of other mainstream artists have attempted to imitate how she performs. Often, they fall short of even executing a decent rendition of any of her three hits! Does Lorde have a most unique inimitable voice? Possibly. But I think it just proves that her own songs that she composes herself are really meant to be sung only by her.

All in all, Team proved to be another chart topper here.

Thumbs up!