The 17-year-old, New Zealand-born singer, who rose to international prominence with her hit single, Royals, was highly critical of Reggae music during a recent edition of her VEVO vlog titled, The World According To Lorde.
“I hate Reggae, Reggae makes me feel like am late for something,” she said.
Though the comment was made months ago, a report in the Jamaica STAR Tuesday brought the comment to light, triggering mixed views among Jamaican music insiders. However, Dancehall artist, Spice, who remixed Royals in January, lambasted her upon hearing of the comment..
“I’m really disappointed in her statement, because I was such a big fan of her music, and fell in love withRoyals the moment I heard it,” she told the Jamaica STAR Tuesday. “I’m not a fan anymore, and will just delete her album and move on. Reggae is the most soulful genre, so I can’t understand how someone could hate it. I really regret even doing a reggae cover to her single. Everyone knows the origin of reggae music is Jamaica, and by black people. So my question is: Is it the music that she really doesn’t like, or just the black race?”
Spice
However, ZIP 103FM regular and selector, DJ Chrome was of a contrasting opinion.
“If that’s how she feels, then that’s OK. It’s her opinion. I personally wouldn’t say that I hate any genre of music,” he told the newspaper. “They might not be my favourite, but I wouldn’t go as far to say that I hate them. If she thinks Reggae is that bad, then it’s no big deal.”
This is not the first time Lorde has courted controversy with her comments on other genres. In an interview given to Complex Magazine last fall, saying she did not relate well to music from Nicki Minajand Drake because they ‘all sing about such opulence,’ while also saying, ‘How are we listening to this? It’s completely irrelevant.’
She later clarified her comments on Twitter, saying that loves and admires both rappers, saying, “Just because their songs aren’t my reality (being 17 and from Auckland) doesn’t mean I don’t admire their musicianship and careers!
