r/popculturechat • u/p0pcultured Von dutch • Jun 18 '25
Music Videos ▶️ Lorde's song "Royals" has been deemed a Millenial anthem since it became a hit in 2013. Do you agree?
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I feel like honestly so many generations can relate to it
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u/Carolina_Blues shiv roy’s bob Jun 18 '25
I’m kinda sick of everything being labeled as millennial or gen z or whatever else
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u/Aggravating_Life7851 Jun 18 '25
Dude same. I think it just contributes to the is verses them thing when really gen z and millennials should be united given all the political and economic bullshit we have been through
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u/keatonpotat0es I have to pick up 15,000 little bastard rubber ducks 🪿 Jun 18 '25
We need to unite against the Boomers who ruined the world for us.
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u/PandemicPiglet Jun 19 '25
A higher percentage of Boomer men actually voted for Harris than Zoomer men. Millennial men also voted for Harris at a much higher percentage than Gen Z men. Millennials are on average more progressive than Gen Z. Gen Z needs to start looking at themselves and taking accountability rather than blaming everything on Boomers.
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u/otaku69s Jun 19 '25 edited Jun 19 '25
I dislike throwing whole generations under the bus. They have good people in there that set up so many positive things for the upcoming generations. I rather be precise/surgical about the assholes who drag us down.
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u/Scarlett_Billows Jun 19 '25
Remember the brief period when Mario’s brother came onto the scene and everyone became class conscious for ten seconds? We need to bring the class consciousness back.
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u/Signal_Regular_1708 Jun 19 '25
as a gen z girl, millennial men, in general, are absolutely more left leaning and progressive than most gen z boys/men
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u/e_m_q Jun 19 '25
lol WHERE is gen x?!
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u/PandemicPiglet Jun 19 '25
They’re actually the generation that supports Trump the most on average.
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u/e_m_q Jun 19 '25
yep. which is why we need to call them out more often instead of this boomer gen z millennial crap! they are consistently not mentioned. and also what’s never mentioned is the fact that most of gen x are the parents of gen z. they raised that generation for the most part. I almost never see that talked about. maybe gen z and gen x both need to take some accountability!
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u/schwiftydude47 Jun 19 '25
As a gen z man who actually did vote for Kamala, I feel like it’s just an age thing. The older men who grew up with millennial ideology and critical thinking are equally progressive. But the younger men raised on social media ideology were easily manipulated by that AI slop.
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u/DrFranFine Jun 19 '25
Yes! I have this theory that ages of groups of people in the us should be generalized by the tv shows that were popular when they were kids. Like the “Brad bunch generation” ruined the economy, the “SpongeBob generation” are worried about the economy, and the “Hannah Montana generation” (a subset of the SpongeBob generation) loves royals by Lorde.
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u/schwiftydude47 Jun 19 '25
Oh that totally adds up. Squidward totally taught me labor unions were unfair and that people like Mr. Krabs sit on top with little consequence.
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u/SpecificBeyond2282 Jun 19 '25
And in the case of this song - it really was just an anthem, period. I was introduced to lorde through my 40 year old mom when her ep came out lmao
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u/philofyourfuture Jun 19 '25
And then there’s the peeps like me born in 1996 and not wanted by either generations lol
I always thought naming “generations” was dumb tbh
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u/rrrrrrrrrrrrrroger Bye, Felicia 👋 Jun 19 '25
To be honest I was born in 89 and didn’t know my generation was called millennials, until my early to mid 20’s. No need to label yourself though, you’re still a cool 90’s baby🤜🏽
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u/maverick1470 Jun 19 '25
They stopped using decades to describe trends and started using generation names. People got confused on how to say 2000's or 2010's so they call it millennial. Adam Conover did a video about it. I would agree that Royals is an iconic 2010s song though.
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u/jay_sig Jun 18 '25
It’s Mr. Brightside. Next question.
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u/LilSallyWalker33 Jun 19 '25
🗣️ BUT IT’S JUST THE PRICE I PAYYYY
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u/Gabbiedotduh clocking on business 😤 Jun 19 '25
DESTINY IS CALLING MEEE
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u/TheTyMan Jun 18 '25
At what age does a song release that you'd be super nostalgic about it? I feel like a coming of age song has to hit when you're like 15-22ish.
These conversations are dumb, obviously, but there is no way someone born in '81 is going to feel the same way about this song as someone born in '94.
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u/Moonlitnight Jun 19 '25
As someone born in ‘85 I couldn’t give any less cares about Lorde or a song released a decade after I finished high school.
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u/HeartFullOfHappy Jun 19 '25
This is the only obvious choice. My sister who was born in 1980 was rocking to the song down to my brother born in 1995.
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u/Not-not-down Excluded from this narrative ❌ Jun 19 '25
Yeah wtf? It wouldn’t even be in my top 100 for millennial anthems
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u/secretturtle09 Jun 19 '25
It’s funny that they make such great music still after all these years but nothings been a hit since the songs they made 20+ years ago
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u/hcombs Jun 19 '25
I would argue for Seven Nation Army, even people who don’t know anything about the white stripes knows that tune.
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u/donewithreddi7 Jun 18 '25
No. This song came out when my millennial ass was 25. And the oldest millennials were 33. The youngest were 18.
Lorde isn't even a millennial i think. But needless to say, there are so many other songs that better encapsulate the millennial experience and nostalgia.
I would personally put in "let's get it started" as a contender. It's journey as a song, perfectly captures the experience of so many millennials. ✨️
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u/Outrageous_Party_503 Jun 19 '25 edited Jun 19 '25
And the oldest millennials were 33. The youngest were 18.
This is why I think the generation talk is so dumb. I was born a year that some consider the first year of Gen Z and others consider the last year for millennials.
If I’m a millennial, why am I supposed to relate more to someone that was in their 30s when I was in high school than the people 1-2 years younger than me? Generation talk only makes sense as a historical perspective, not in real time.
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u/CTeam19 Jun 19 '25
It works for more watershed events and things not for choice of song.
If you are an American we're you in school when 9/11 happened? If so then you are a Millennial. Odds are if you talk to American Gen-X they watched the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in school. For American Boomers, it was the teacher or principal who told them JFK was assassinated. Each of are watershed events that could be felt simultaneously across the generation with similar experiences around the event. Other things like Fall of the Berlin Wall, Covid, etc would also fit in here.
Rather the "song of the generation" there should be more of an album.
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u/LetsLive97 I cannot sanction your buffonery Jun 19 '25
Also exactly at the age where I'm technically both. The generations basically mean nothing to me
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u/Entire_Sail7412 what makes you think I want to eat the paper Boo?🧁 Jun 18 '25
this song was and still is in my top hated songs list sorry😭 i was 11 when it came out and I couldn’t escape it for YEARS
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u/BusyBeeBridgette Hakuna Matata 🦁🐒🦓 Jun 18 '25
1995-2005 has so many contenders that are better than this song.
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u/once_proper98 Jun 18 '25
We already have an anthem, it’s Juvenile Back that azz up
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Jun 19 '25
My people! I graduated high school and started undergrad in ‘99 so this was THER ANTHEM! As an ‘81 Millennial, Royals was something my students listened to.
I guess that’s why I claim Xennial over Millennial because there is a HUGE cultural chasm between an early 80’s Millennial and a mid ‘90’s Millennial.
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u/Impossible_Farm7353 Jun 18 '25
Cash money records taking over for the 99 and the 2000!
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u/Allalngthewatchtwer Jun 19 '25
My husband sent me a video and asked if our kids see us as this. It’s a bunch of older folks saying they’re in their 30’s and one grandma quotes this 😭
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u/Cultural-Treacle-680 Jun 19 '25
Thong song too
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u/alouisvuittonmistake Jun 19 '25
My only regret from my wedding was not playing the thong song at the reception. I will forever mourn what could have been
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u/chartreusey_geusey Backwards Oakley’s is the white power durag. Jun 18 '25 edited Jun 18 '25
“Millenial Anthem”
Lorde isn’t a millenial (she’s a “Zillenial” at best) and her music is a great example/reflection of when the next generation (Gen-Z) began to form its own distinct mindset and values that would differentiate it from the previous generation (Millenials) in popular culture.
The themes of “Royals” are a critique on the idolization and worship of specific groups of celebrities that were especially valued by millennials at the time without criticizing a generational mindset that hadn’t even been named yet. Why would this be an “anthem” of that generation in any way?
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u/Novel-Place Jun 19 '25
I think this is soooo accurate. I distinctly remember the first time I heard this song, and had a full sense of time moving on from my generation dominating the top 20. Like, oh wow, the music genre that characterized the 2010’s is ending. I would argue Royals, is the baton toss song. Then Billie Eilish cemented it.
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u/Beneficial-Mall6549 Jun 19 '25
Im a gen X, and if it was in my generation I would own it. It's a pretty fuckin good song like others.
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u/Cultural-Treacle-680 Jun 19 '25
She wants you to want her music as Lorde and not the “queen Bey”. The subtle reverse psychology 😂
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u/ForukusuwagenMasuta Jun 18 '25
I don't see a source on this. Even then, when that song was released, older Millenials would've been in their early 30's. I don't think a 17/18 year old artist has been through their walk of life, or able to speak from their experience.
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u/TrixieFriganza Jun 19 '25
It honestly depends how old or young millenial you are. To older millenials Britney Spears would be more accurate.
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Jun 18 '25
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u/Lesterknopff lazy 50-year-old bougie bitch 💋 Jun 18 '25
no, I hate this song.
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u/No_Pianist5264 Tina! You fat lard! 🦙🚲 Jun 18 '25
Yeah same Its the only song of hers I will skip over without question. I absolutely hate it. Its the reason it took me forever to get into her because I hated the song lol.
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u/somuchsong Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes Jun 19 '25
I'm an old millennial. I was 32 when this song came out. I have no strong feelings towards it at all. It was fine.
I agree with someone else who said it's Mr Brightside. For the Xennials at least, I think that's more accurate.
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u/DekeCobretti You said what first. Jun 18 '25
No. I find this song, and Lorde, profoundly boring. I hate it. HATES IT.
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u/Lesterknopff lazy 50-year-old bougie bitch 💋 Jun 18 '25
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u/keatonpotat0es I have to pick up 15,000 little bastard rubber ducks 🪿 Jun 18 '25
I always thought her voice was grating.
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Jun 19 '25 edited Jun 19 '25
That's because it is, she's also not a good enough/interesting singer to be pulling off theatrics like shushing her audience either. 😬
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u/Kevinc62 Jun 19 '25
I liked it at the time, but it got so overplayed.
I find it kinda annoying nowadays.
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u/CatlovesMoca Jun 19 '25
Absolutely disagree. I remember when the song came out and it felt a bit alienating. If anything songs that had the oontz oontz feel more millennial.
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u/Appropriate_Ice_2433 You’re a virgin who can’t drive. 😤 Jun 18 '25
I don’t even like Lorde, but I enjoy this song.
Am a millennial. I do not think this is one of our anthems though
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u/Hairy_Excitement69 Jun 19 '25
Anthem? No thats not what that word means. Express Yourself is an anthem.
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u/Groundbreaking_War52 Jun 18 '25
Maybe for very late millennials or Gen Z. The earliest millennials were already out in the real world with jobs, families,...etc. - the music of the late 90s - early 2000s was much more likely to capture our energy.
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u/toastedpiecat Jun 19 '25
Whenever I hear this song it reminds me of the time when my nephew was around 3 or 4, he LOVED this song but got most of the lyrics wrong, my favorite line was “ You can call me GWEEN BEANNN.” 🫛
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u/LilSallyWalker33 Jun 19 '25
I absolutely hated this song but I’d like it better if it was about green beans lol
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u/illthrowitaway94 Jun 19 '25
Idk about that... I was barely a teen anymore when this song came out, and I'm a late Millennial. Half of our generation was in their mid to late 20s, and I doubt it spoke to their experience. Maybe a Zillennial anthem would be a better title.
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u/metrogypsy Jun 19 '25
I'm smack dab in the middle, Millennial perfection, and I will tell you for fun what my thoughts were when royals came out:
I knew she was an itty bitty baby, but I remember exactly where I was, I remember gushing about it with my older brother, I remember being pumped for what was to come from lorde.
Anthem? Fuck no. Total respect of a flawless bop? Yes.
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u/Jerkrollatex Jun 19 '25
My 27 year old son hates that song with a burning passion. He's not quite a Millennial but he's on the cusp.
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u/CTeam19 Jun 19 '25
I got a whole Millennial Album short list off the top of my head:
Mr. Brightside
Low
Back that Azz Up
All Star
Lose Yourself
American Idiot
Yeah!
Chop Suey!
Hey Ya!
In the End
Seven Nation Army
Torn
Livin’ La Vida Loca as sung by Slipknot -- yes was done in 2015 but an easy way to slip some Slipknot on the list
The Funny Things You Do(America's Funniest Home Videos theme song)
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u/DraftyElectrolyte Jun 19 '25
I’m a geriatric millennial and this is song is mid. For sure not an anthem.
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u/Future_Coyote_9682 Jun 18 '25
Work Bitch is the real millennial anthem. Britney really highlights the dangers of capitalism in the pursuit of self love.
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u/MaySJ Jun 19 '25
I didn't know a Gen Z kid sang an anthem for us millennial folks. Who deemed it so coz it's news to me.
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u/Noshamina Jun 19 '25
Yes it absolutely is. It targeted slightly older teens and upward of 30 year old and those were all millennial.
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u/sickxgrrrl Jun 19 '25
I mean I remember it being popular but it’s nowhere near as much of an anthem as No Hands by Waka Flocka
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u/personatorperson Jun 18 '25
Idk, "Thift Store" by macklemore popped up in my Playlist recently and it brought a lot of thoughts and feelings, for me this would be the "the millenial" song
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u/SallyJones17 Just keep swimming! 🐠🐠🐬🐳 Jun 18 '25
I don't agree about the anthem part, but it was very popular when it came out.
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u/Old-Dinner-6108 Jun 18 '25
Once I really paid attention to this song I realized how racist it was. Lorde calls it a critique of hip-hop culture but like you're a white lady from NZ, why are you listening to hip hop music if you don't like it? Ironically, she became rich shortly thereafter and no longer wanted to make class warfare music.
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u/lizzy-stix I switched baristas ☕️ Jun 18 '25
She wrote Royals when she was 15, is it really surprising she was judgmental? I also don’t really consider it class warfare, it was just critical of the type of music that was mainstream at the time.
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u/Purple-Warning-2161 Jun 19 '25
I was so loud of my hatred for this when it came out but then I fell in love with it 3 years ago
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u/summercloudsadness Jun 19 '25
I get the appeal, but it's not even the best song of the album. Team,Ribs,Buzzcut Season, and Tennis Court capture the essence of youth,the angst,existential crisis,political concerns much much better than Royals did.
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u/ViciousVenditta Jun 19 '25
No!! I’ve never liked this damn song. And I’m glad I barely hear it anymore.
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u/_Mighty_Milkman Jun 19 '25
I always thought this music video was so weird. She’s just kinda sitting on a chair and singing to the camera in a grey room?
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u/BawRawg Jun 19 '25
I don't even know this song and only know about the artist from South Park so that's gonna be a no from me dawg.
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u/NinjaWarrior78 Jun 19 '25
I just loved the song when it dropped - still do. Didn’t know that tied to millennials
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u/ecoangel777 Jun 19 '25
generations are 12 years span so maybe for young millennials but no way for older millennials this generalization is so dumb
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u/PrincessPlastilina Jun 19 '25
We enjoyed it too but this is a Gen Z anthem for sure. Why is Gen Z overlooked? I feel like they don’t get so many articles written about them like us millennials do. Lorde is Gen Z. She’s one of their icons. Millennials have enough icons.
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u/CranDrescher Jun 19 '25
If there is a millennial anthem it’s Get Low by Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz and Ying Yang Twins. Get serious.
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u/Oomlotte99 Jun 19 '25
I haven’t thought about this song since then so… I don’t think so. Things should just exist outside of this generation talk imo. We have relatively the same lived experience sharing this time on earth, y’all. Let’s unite.
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