Coláiste Lurgan have followed up their cover of Garth Brooks ‘Callin Baton Rouge’ with a less-controversial artist. Beautiful harmonies constructed in the form of an Irish language orchestral choir – what’s not to love? One of the biggest smash hits of the year is a big ask but Coláiste Lurgan pull it off, yet again.

Lorde is a New Zealand singer-songwriter. Born in Takapuna and raised in Devonport, Auckland, she became interested in performing as a child. At age 13 she signed with Universal Music Group and was later paired with songwriter and record producer Joel Little. Her debut work The Love Club EP was commercially released in March 2013 and included the song “Royals”, which became an international crossover hit and won two Grammy Awards. Her first studio album, Pure Heroine, was released in September 2013 to generally positive reviews and commercial success.

“Royals” is a song recorded by New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde for her extended play debut, The Love Club EP, and also included on her September 2013 debut studio album, Pure Heroine. It was released as her first single on 2 August 2013. The song was drafted by Lorde in half an hour then refined with Joel Little, the single’s producer. An art pop and minimal pop song, “Royals” was intended as a “response to everything that’s on pop radio”, with lyrics that revolve around aspirationalism, counterpointing popular artists’ luxurious lifestyles.
The track and lyrics largely received critical acclaim from international media, with widespread praise of both production and message. The eventual commercial success of “Royals” exceeded most expectations: occupying the United States Billboard Hot 100 chart’s top-spot for nine consecutive weeks, with Lorde the first New Zealander solo act to top that chart. In the US, the single has been certified six-times platinum by RIAA and has topped mainstream charts in New Zealand, Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom – plus reaching the top five in Australia and Switzerland.
To promote the song, Lorde performed on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and the 2013 New Zealand Music Awards. Two music videos for “Royals” were directed by Joel Kefali; an international version and a US version. They featured lives of Lorde’s schoolmates in slow motion. By the end of 2013, the track was listed as one of the year’s best songs by media outlets including Rolling Stone, Time and Spin. The song won an APRA Silver Scroll Award, and then Best Pop Solo Performance and Song of the Year at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards. A live mashup with Disclosure and AlunaGeorge’s song “White Noise” at the 2014 BRIT Awards was released as a charity single in 2014.

Cór chúrsa A faoi stiúir Jenny Ní Ruiséil lena leagan de “Royals” le Lorde.