Lorde was just 15 years old when she wrote the lyrics to 'Royals' in 30 minutes. The song was a critique of the luxury-obsessed culture of modern pop and hip-hop, contrasting the 'gold teeth and Grey Goose' of celebrities with her own mundane life in New Zealand. The title was inspired by a National Geographic photo of Kansas City Royals baseball player George Brett. Produced by Joel Little, the song’s minimalist sound—consisting mostly of a finger-snap beat and multi-layered vocals—was a radical departure from the 'loud' EDM-pop that dominated the charts in 2013. 'Royals' spent nine weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making Lorde the youngest solo artist to top the chart in 26 years. It won two Grammy Awards and is credited with opening the door for a new wave of 'alt-pop' stars like Billie Eilish and Halsey.