“Music writing isn’t sports writing, you don’t need to report on the ramifications of a manager being dropped or speculate on the next album. You can’t critique art that hasn’t happened.”
That’s a tweet favored by Lorde after her split with longtime manager Scott Maclachlan, but she is wrong of course. Music handicapping is the exact same thing as sports handicapping, the charts are the same as the team standings, and the movement of labels and management always effects the finished product.
But Lorde, who I would claim I myself greatly underestimated dismissing Pure Heroine for months before finally succumbing to its charms, is right about one thing, don’t underestimate herself. Who knows what to expect on the newbie but I think she is right that it will be major. With a lot to prove, the young lady must have the songs on pocket and the world on her shoulders, but with the Team Lorde reeling, will the break up with the man who steered her career since she was eleven years old, simply make a major move that much more difficult?
“Hey, men – do me and yourselves a favour and don’t underestimate my skill.”
So tweeted Lorde, though quite why it is a question of sex. I guess so, I also guess we will be checking out her sales figures the way we do a sports team standings and critique what hsn’t happened.