Bravado (song)
"Bravado" is a song by New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde, originally included on her debut EP The Love Club EP. It was later featured on her Tennis Court EP and the extended version of her debut album Pure Heroine (2013). The song was written by Lorde and Joel Little and was produced by the latter. The track was released as a single on 6 September 2013, via iTunes Stores, in a number of European countries and India. Characterised as a chamber pop and electropop song, "Bravado" addresses Lorde's introverted nature and the need to feign confidence in the music industry. The single was well received by music critics and peaked at number five on the New Zealand Artist Singles chart.
"Bravado"
Promotion and reception[edit]
On 6 September 2013, "Bravado" was released as a digital download single on iTunes Stores in India and various European countries.[1] Lorde held a concert at Le Poisson Rouge in New York, which was her first U.S. live show, and performed the song among other tracks from The Love Club EP.[14] On 3 October 2013, the singer held a concert at the Warsaw Venue in Brooklyn and performed the song among other tracks from the album.[15] In November 2013, Lorde performed the song on the Late Show with David Letterman to promote The Love Club EP and Pure Heroine. Throughout the show, she was only backed by a drummer and a keyboard player.[16] "Bravado" was additionally performed during Lorde's debut concert tour throughout 2013 and 2014.[17] In 2014, she performed the track at Silo Park, Auckland on 29 January 2014 as part of her make-up show for the 2014 Laneway Festival,[18] and at the Brazil edition of the Lollapalooza.[19]
"Bravado" was well received by music critics. Chris Schulz from The New Zealand Herald picked the song and "Million Dollar Bills" as the two best tracks from The Love Club EP.[6] Jason Lipshutz, writing for Billboard, described the track as "delightfully spooky".[14] In a review published in The Dominion Post, Tom Cardy compared the track's style to that of works by Florence Welch and Marina Diamandis, labelling it a "sharp, refreshing and smart" song.[20] The song peaked at number five on the New Zealand National Singles and number twenty-nine on the US Hot Rock Songs chart.[21][22]