Lorde’s sold-out Columbus stop on her Ultrasound Tour Sept. 23 solidified her title as the “Man of the Year.”
After hours of anticipation and two opening acts, Lorde’s entrance filled the entire Schottenstein Center with exhilarating cheers. Her decision to open the concert with “Hammer” was genius. While “Hammer” is not my absolute favorite song on the new album, the intense beat and powerful opening verse filled me with excitement for the rest of the show.
I was equally excited to hear songs from “Virgin” as I was to hear older classics. Besides my disappointment that she skipped “Liability,” a track from the 2017 album “Melodrama,” I have no notes on the setlist. The performance included almost all of my favorite songs, such as “David,” “What Was That,” and “Green Light,” and it closed with a popular fan favorite: “Ribs.”
Lorde’s performance of “David” was one of, if not the most, insane concert experiences I have ever had. I was aware of her tradition of walking through the pit but could have never prepared myself for seeing it live. Although I was not in the pit, I was close enough to watch her exit the stage and walk through the crowd wearing a glowing vest. The song was beautifully performed, and the fact that Lorde felt comfortable walking through hundreds of people exemplifies her admirable relationship with her fans.
Throughout the concert, Lorde’s compassion for her fans was extremely clear. For example, she took almost no time to realize someone in the pit needed help when concertgoers flashed their phone lights. She went as far as to pause midsong to ensure the person was okay. Lorde got vulnerable with the audience, delivering an inspiring speech about how the hurt and violence around the world makes her feel. This speech contributed overall to the personable experience of the concert. At that moment, it felt more like she was talking to me than to everyone at the concert.
While I am relatively new to Lorde, she was able to make us feel connected to her and to each other, even if I wasn’t always confident on every lyric. Finishing the concert with “Ribs,” while all 20,000 of us screamed the lyrics and danced together, was something every teenage girl should experience.
Lorde showed her confidence and creativity through choreography, as well as through her unique props. At one point, she was singing while walking and jogging on a treadmill. I’ve never seen this done before, but I can imagine it’s very difficult. She utilized lighting that matched each song, such as the intense green lightwork during “Green Light.” She also spent a lot of time on different platforms within the stage and even dealt with some technical difficulties when she ended up getting stuck on one of the platforms. Watching her coming down on a ladder definitely contributed to the uniqueness of the show.
Lorde put on an exceptionally creative show, leaving me thinking “What Was That?” in the best way possible. Her raw emotion and creativity ensured that it truly was a night to remember and the best way to close out a long weekend.
Published and digitized October 2025.
