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Lorde’s return: The power of community and emotional resonance

Opinion Report

Lorde’s return: The power of community and emotional resonance

After four years away, Lorde’s single "What Was That" shows the power of a loyal community. No big promo, no hype machine, just organic buzz and global impact driven by her fans.

Published on
April 30, 2025
Sence Opinion Report Highlights
Lorde’s event at Washington Square Park sparked broad excitement and anticipation, demonstrating the strength of her online community.
Fans expressed deep emotional connection, linking her new release to earlier albums and nostalgic life stages.
In contrast, Katy Perry’s 2024 comeback sparked more mixed reactions, with many calling out a lack of originality and emotional depth.

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This report is not just about Lorde’s music; it's about the personal connection she maintains with her community. In an era where artists often struggle to engage meaningfully with their audiences, Lorde's approach stands out for being genuine and personal.

To better understand what creates a successful comeback, we compare her release to Katy Perry’s in 2024 with her single "Woman’s World," which faced a more mixed reception. This opinion report explores how audiences responded to both comebacks and what brands can learn from their differences.

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20k+ opinions decoded
250+ unique fan references
130+ brands in the spotlight
15+ narratives shaping the conversation

Lorde's overall sentiment

  • 72% Positive
  • 19% Neutral
  • 9% Negative

The online conversation surrounding Lorde’s return was overwhelmingly positive. Her simple and authentic approach from the guerrilla-style surprise event at Washington Square Park to the raw, heartfelt music video strengthened her bond with fans. The success of her comeback highlights the enduring power of authentic community engagement in an increasingly crowded and polished music industry.

Lorde’s return resonated because it felt personal, grounded, and emotionally aligned with her audience. In contrast, the mixed response to Katy Perry’s return underscores how perceived authenticity can build trust and significantly influence public sentiment.

Key Theme

Nostalgia and timeless emotional connection

Capturing 32.7% of the conversation, this theme shows how Lorde’s return resonated emotionally with fans. Many tied What Was That to memories of growing up with albums like Pure Heroine and Melodrama, describing her comeback as a reunion with an old friend. Community opinions highlight how emotional experiences are deeply ingrained in memory and can be cued at various stages of life.

Opinions expressed from the community
"She was with me when I was 13. She’s with me now and I’m 23. Getting old doesn’t feel so scary anymore, and that’s enough for now."
"I like this! Feels like Melodrama’s older sister that processed everything differently years later.."
"Im ngl , i kinda miss solar power a little - like i obviously love this too - but it feels like a forced movment back towards what wuld be considered popular - i hope the albums great tho❤"
"This is so 2017… gurl move on"

Katy Perry’s overall sentiment

  • 47% Positive
  • 27% Neutral
  • 27% Negative

Katy Perry’s comeback through Woman’s World generated a more mixed response. 27% of discussion sentiment was negative compared to Lorde’s 9%. Concerns over the song’s perceived lack of originality, outdated messaging, and choices that felt disconnected from audience expectations.

Key Theme

Katy's comeback was perceived as uninspired and creatively flat

Capturing 12.7% of the conversation, this theme reflected disappointment with Woman’s World, describing it as underwhelming and uninspired. While some welcomed the familiar references, others felt it leaned too heavily on dated formulas and missed the chance to present a fresh direction. The mixed response highlights how, unlike Lorde’s emotionally grounded and original comeback, nostalgia without depth or reinvention can feel disconnected from what audiences now value. Online conversations show that audiences respond more positively when they see authentic artistic evolution. In 2025, creating meaningful moments rather than relying on a large production budget. This is what truly fosters connection and loyalty from audiences.

Opinions expressed from the community
“As someone who loves the album Teenage Dream dearly and wants Katy to make a comeback, this song was not it. “
"This sounds so dated. Combining all the worst of 2015's "inspirational anthem" cliches.
“I love the beat but the song is so generic and gives me early 2000 vibes...and not in a good way.”
"C’mon, it’s a good, catchy song. Don’t care about the likes of a crowd"

The brand lesson: Community drives comeback success

Lorde’s comeback highlights a critical lesson for brands. Sustained community building creates resilience and long-term relevance, even during periods of inactivity. A strong, engaged community can act as a brand's foundation, ensuring that when a new product, feature or message goes to market, it is received by a core audience of advocates. In an era where attention is fleeting and our connected world gives consumers easy access to choose between brands, cultivating an online community creates real, lasting value.

Sence Check

Checks to elevate your engagement strategy

Are you hearing the latest insights from your community?Listening to your community is a two-way street. Regularly gathering and acting on feedback ensures you stay in tune with their evolving needs, preferences, and concerns.
Is your community active without you?
 Strong communities don’t wait for campaigns. They self-sustain, talk, and organize, even when you’re quiet.
Are you building emotional memory, not just visibility?
Emotional resonance outlasts attention. Nostalgia only works if there’s real depth behind it.
Are you creating moments your audience wants to be a part of?
Surprise drops, humor, games and shared rituals build narrative and connection, not just engagement metrics.

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Sources
Lorde - YouTube, Lorde - Facebook, Billboard - Facebook, The Spinoff - Facebook, r/popheads - Reddit, r/lorde - Reddit, Joey Nato - YouTube, Bascome Twins - YouTube, Eljohne Macaranas - YouTube, Naomi Cannibal - YouTube, New York Times - Facebook, ABC News - Facebook, Katy Perry - Facebook, Entertainment Tonight - Facebook
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