Wikipedia

Mood Ring (Lorde song)

"Mood Ring" is a song by New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde. The song was released through Universal Music New Zealand on 18 August 2021, as the third single from her third studio album, Solar Power. "Mood Ring" was written and produced by Lorde and Jack Antonoff.

"Mood Ring"
Single by Lorde
from the album Solar Power
Released18 August 2021 (2021-08-18)
Recorded2020–21
Length3:45
LabelUniversal
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Lorde
  • Jack Antonoff
Lorde singles chronology
"Stoned at the Nail Salon"
(2021) 		"Mood Ring"
(2021) 		"Fallen Fruit"
(2021)
Music video
"Mood Ring" on YouTube

Background

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The track listing for New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde's third studio album Solar Power was announced on 21 June 2021, with "Mood Ring" as the album's eleventh track.[1] On 16 August 2021, Lorde's website was updated with a mood ring chart.[2] The same day, Lorde announced the release of "Mood Ring" on 18 August 2021, via her website.[3][4] In a statement, Lorde said the following of "Mood Ring":

This is a song I am very excited about, it’s so much fun to me. Obviously when making this album I did a deep-dive into ’60s, Flower Child culture. I wanted to understand the commune life, dropping out from society and trying to start again. That really resonated to me when writing this album. One thing that occurred to me as a major parallel between that time and our time is our wellness culture and our culture of spirituality, pseudo-spirituality, wellness, pseudo-wellness. Things like eating a macro-biotic vegan diet or burning sage, keeping crystals, reading tarot cards or your horoscope. These were all things that they were dabbling in back then, and that me and my girlfriends are dabbling in today. I was like “I think there’s a pop song in here.” So this is kind of my extremely satirical look at all of those vibes.

— Lorde[5]

Critical reception

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Writing for Billboard, Hannah Dailey called the song a "airy, guitar-led track", which "both lightly mocks the promotion of a phony holistic lifestyle and sympathizes with people who find comfort in that same lifestyle".[6] Claire Shaffer of Rolling Stone called "Mood Ring" a "mellow acoustic track with only the faintest hint of percussion", sonically comparing it to the previously-released "Solar Power" and "Stoned at the Nail Salon".[7] In a negative review, Pitchfork described it as "less exciting than hoped for" and said that Lorde's critique of wellness culture seemed "pretty trite for someone who's previously been so ahead of the curve".[8]

Music video

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A music video for the song, directed by Lorde and Joel Kefali, was released at 7AM NZDT on 18 August 2021.[4] Claire Shaffer of Rolling Stone described the video as "a continuation of her "Solar Power" visual", where "[Lorde], now with bleached-blonde hair, leads a cult-like ceremony under a sunlit tent, surrounded by her followers in matching jade green outfits".[7] Vulture writer Zoe Haylock stated that the video displays Lorde "using crystals, vitamins, sun salutations, and more to 'get well from the inside.'"[9]

Track listing

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Streaming[10]
  1. "Mood Ring" – 3:45
  2. "Stoned at the Nail Salon" – 4:26
  3. "Solar Power" – 3:12

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from Tidal.[11]

Charts

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Chart performance for "Mood Ring"
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[12] 29
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[13] 76
Global 200 (Billboard)[14] 93
Hungary (Single Top 40)[15] 29
Ireland (IRMA)[16] 44
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[17] 10
Portugal (AFP)[18] 141
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[19] 16
UK Singles (OCC)[20] 48
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[21] 18
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[22] 11

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Various August 18, 2021
Universal [23]
Italy August 27, 2021 Contemporary hit radio [24]
United States September 27, 2021 Adult alternative radio
[25]

References

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  1. ^ Lavin, Will (21 June 2021). "Lorde reveals release date and tracklist for new album 'Solar Power'". NME. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  2. ^ Kenneally, Cerys (16 August 2021). "It looks like Lorde's next Solar Power single will be "Mood Ring"". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Lorde announces imminent release of latest single Mood Ring". The Irish Times. 16 August 2021. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  4. ^ a b Gallagher, Alex (16 August 2021). "Lorde announces new single 'Mood Ring' will arrive this week". NME. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  5. ^ Minsker, Evan (17 August 2021). "Lorde Shares Video for New Song "Mood Ring": Watch". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  6. ^ Dailey, Hannah (17 August 2021). "Lorde Goes Blonde in 'Satirical' Video for New Song 'Mood Ring': Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  7. ^ a b Shaffer, Claire (17 August 2021). "Lorde Meditates, Consults Her Crystals on New Song 'Mood Ring'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Lorde States The Obvious on The Breezy 'Mood Ring'". Pitchfork. 17 August 2021. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  9. ^ Haylock, Zoe (17 August 2021). "Lorde Satirizes Spirituality in Her "Mood Ring" Music Video". Vulture. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Mood Ring - Single by Lorde". Spotify. 21 July 2021. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Credits / Mood Ring / Lorde". Tidal. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Lorde – Mood Ring". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Lorde Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  14. ^ "Lorde Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  15. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  16. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  17. ^ "Lorde – Mood Ring". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  18. ^ "Lorde – Mood Ring". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  19. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 34". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  20. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  21. ^ "Lorde Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  22. ^ "Lorde Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  23. ^ "Mood Ring by Lorde on Apple Music". 18 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021 – via Apple Music.
  24. ^ "LORDE "Mood Ring" | (Radio Date: 27/08/2021)". Radio Date. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  25. ^ "Triple A Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
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