Billboard No. 1 Hit, Lasting for Nine Weeks, Was Written in New Zealand by a 15-Year-Old

Lorde’s “Royals” became a rare global breakthrough: a song written in New Zealand by a 15-year-old that went on to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stay there for nine weeks. 

The song helped introduce Lorde, born Ella Yelich-O’Connor, to a worldwide audience and became one of the defining pop songs of 2013.

According to Rolling Stone, Lorde wrote “Royals” when she was 15. She wrote the song in about half an hour, drawing from her teenage life in New Zealand and her interest in the way pop and hip-hop artists presented wealth, luxury and fame.

The song was written with New Zealand producer and songwriter Joel Little. Together, they created the track during Lorde’s early recording years, when she was still attending school.

The success of “Royals” was not limited to the United States. The song reached No. 1 in several countries, including New Zealand, Canada and the United Kingdom. On the Billboard Hot 100, it became Lorde’s first No. 1 hit.

Billboard’s chart record lists “Royals” as debuting on the Hot 100 in July 2013. It eventually reached the top position in October and spent 44 weeks on the chart.

The story behind “Royals” began with a young Lorde writing lyrics at home.

Rolling Stone described the song as being written “in like half an hour” by a 15-year-old New Zealander. Lorde and Little later recorded it in Auckland during a school break.

The song’s writers are credited as Ella Yelich O’Connor and Joel Little.

Lorde’s inspiration came from several places. One important source was a photograph of baseball player George Brett in a 1976 issue of National Geographic, according to Far Out Magazine. Brett was shown signing baseballs while wearing a shirt with “Royals” written across it.

Lorde later explained the moment to VH1: “It was just that word. It’s really cool.”

That single word became the title of a song that would eventually dominate radio and music charts around the world.

The track also reflected Lorde’s interest in aristocracy and royalty. She had been interested in figures such as Marie Antoinette and Henry VIII, which also influenced the stage name she chose.

But “Royals” was not a song celebrating a life of luxury. Its lyrics questioned the images of expensive cars, jewelry, alcohol and celebrity wealth that often appeared in popular music.

Lorde said she was listening to rap and Lana Del Rey while writing the song. She also looked at the difference between those glamorous images and her own everyday life.

As Lorde explained to The Observer, per Far Out Magazine: “This is our reality! If I write songs about anything else, then I’m not writing anything that’s real.”

“Royals” was first released through Lorde’s The Love Club EP before becoming a major international hit. It was later included on her 2013 debut studio album, Pure Heroine.

The song’s success also brought major awards. At the 2014 Grammy Awards, “Royals” won Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance.

Its influence continued beyond its chart run. The minimalist sound of “Royals” was widely associated with the rise of alternative-leaning pop and later bedroom-pop music. Lorde’s teenage perspective also became an important part of the song’s identity.

Rolling Stone placed “Royals” at No. 30 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in its 2024 edition.

At 15, Lorde had written the words to a song that would become a No. 1 hit. A few years later, “Royals” had become a Grammy-winning international hit and a lasting part of modern pop music history.

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