We use cookies to help us understand how you use our site, and make your experience better. To find out more read our privacy policy.
Play

00:00

/

00:00

Full screen
Video quality

Low 0 MB

High 0 MB

HD 0 MB

Captions
Volume
Volume
Hero image for Royals

Royals

Lorde , Music Video – 2013

from the EP The Love Club (2013)

'Royals' took Lorde far indeed. The Auckland teen found herself topping the charts in ten countries, with her debut single (which she co-wrote with producer Joel Little). The award-winning music video has been seen a mind-boggling 680 million+ times online. The clip was born from conversations between Lorde and director Joel Kefali about what it was like to be a teen in Auckland. Kefali has said the intent was to "capture a mood, capture a particular (sometimes ignored) slice of teenage life". The American version of the video features slightly more of Lorde than the original.

The talent were non-actors. It was their first time on camera, so to avoid any self-consciousness that may have come with inexperience we shot in a way that would avoid them being conscious of the camera.
– Director Joel Kefali on making Royals, on website Promo News, 9 October 2013

Key Cast & Crew

If you liked this, you might also like...

Thumbnail image for Lorde
Artist

Lorde

Ella Yelich-O’Connor was born in Takapuna in...

Collection
Collection image for Kiwi Music Videos: The Award-Winners

Kiwi Music Videos: The Award-Winners

Guitars, Diamonds and Smiles: a collection of...

Collection
Collection image for Kiwi Song Birds

Kiwi Song Birds

A salute to the women of New Zealand music – the songs...

Thumbnail image for Anthems: New Zealand's Iconic Hits (excerpts)

Anthems: New Zealand's Iconic Hits (excerpts)

Lorde talks about the success of this song (see second clip)

Thumbnail image for Tennis Court

Tennis Court

Lorde's second music video, from the same director

Thumbnail image for Intermediate Schools Battle of the Bands - Lorde excerpt

Intermediate Schools Battle of the Bands - Lorde excerpt

Lorde before she was famous

Thumbnail image for Waiata Anthems - Lorde excerpt

Waiata Anthems - Lorde excerpt

Lorde sings in te reo Māori

Thumbnail image for Secrets from a Girl (Who's Seen it All)

Secrets from a Girl (Who's Seen it All)

An award-winning Lorde music video

Thumbnail image for Young Blood

Young Blood

Another global hit helped along by director Joel Kefali

Thumbnail image for Hearts Like Ours

Hearts Like Ours

Joel Kefali was also a director on this music video

Thumbnail image for Green Light

Green Light

Single from Lorde's second album

Thumbnail image for Death Goes to Disco

Death Goes to Disco

'Royals' co-writer Joel Little sings on this

Thumbnail image for The Night

The Night

'Royals' co-writer Joel Little sings on this

Thumbnail image for Don't Worry Bout' It

Don't Worry Bout' It

Another Kiwi chart topper

Thumbnail image for Punching in a Dream

Punching in a Dream

Joel Kefali also worked on this award-winning music video

Thumbnail image for Me at the Museum, You in the Wintergardens

Me at the Museum, You in the Wintergardens

A single from an album also nominated for the 2015 Taite...

Thumbnail image for Got It Bad

Got It Bad

Anther award-winning video directed by Joel Kefali

Thumbnail image for You Gotta Know

You Gotta Know

Winner of Best NZ Music Video, the year Lorde was born

Thumbnail image for Just a Little Bit

Just a Little Bit

Winner of NZ's Best Video the previous year

Thumbnail image for Tōku Tuakiri

Tōku Tuakiri

Another teenager singing about identity

Thumbnail image for Bones

Bones

Another hit music video from the same year