Should Lorde Postpone 'Homemade Dynamite'?

[POP2 4,206]

This Friday, it is has been heavily speculated that Lorde will release Homemade Dynamite as her next single. After some thought, I'm starting to think that releasing this as the next single is a very bad idea. In the wake of 19 people dying and 50 being injured in a suicide bombing attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, UK, releasing a song about explosives seems to be a bad choice for a single. 

With lyrics like:

"Blowing **** up with homemade d-d-d-dynamite" and "Red and chrome, All the broken glass sparkling, I guess we're partying"

It seems rather insensitive to use this as album promo. I'm not saying it shouldn't be on the album (because it really should), I'm just saying that now is not the time for it to hit the airwaves. I don't think it will be looked at as a good choice. This is all speculative and is just my opinion. What are your thoughts on this issue? Should Lorde continue with this as a second single or should she release Sober (the other potential single)?

Side Note: This post was not meant to be insensitive towards the victims of this tragic event. My thoughts are with everyone affected by this terror and violence. Obviously this single is nothing compared to the lives lost and I in no way want this post to reflect that. I just want to discuss how Lorde will handle this issue.  

[Morphine Prince 104,658]

No. 

This reminds me of the whole Kesha issue with "Die Young"

[POP2 4,206]

Just now, Morphine Prince said:

This reminds me of the whole Kesha issue with "Die Young"

Thanks for bringing that up! I was thinking the same thing, actually. That event really hurt that song.

[pink sushi 4,351]

Just now, Morphine Prince said:

No. 

This reminds me of the whole Kesha issue with "Die Young"

OMG I remember that.  Right after the Sandy Hooks shooting. 

[FATCAT 59,855]

I don't understand how she thought that was a good title to begin with.. But, no. Go big or go home, I suppose.

[Gohan 16,329]

It's not like she made the song after the incident or decided to release it after it

[POP2 4,206]

1 minute ago, Gohan said:

It's not like she made the song after the incident or decided to release it after it

I know. But the GP doesn't know that. As far as the GP knows, it's a brand new song. 

[Sorcerer 12,368]

The song is not even about the incident or anything. She can release it or not as a single if she wants. 

But to avoid stupid insensitive people's comments, it's up to Lorde is she will avoid. 

[dlioncourt91 765]

No.

[Bio 23,538]

yes

[Bebe 17,048]

She probably should, It's not a criticism of Lorde it's just that the mood of the world, and especially the UK, currently isn't:

"Our rules, our dreams, we're blind
Blowing **** up with homemade d-d-d-dynamite"

"Blowing **** up with homemade d-d-d-dynamite
Blowing **** up with homemade d-d-d-dynamite
Now you know it's really gonna blow"

"Might get your friend to drive, but he can hardly see
We'll end up painted on the road
Red and chrome
All the broken glass sparkling"

To me it's not even totally about insensitivity, it's just knowing what the mood is. It happens in reverse too, think of all the songs that came in the wake of incidents like 9/11

https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2011/sep/09/musical-responses-9-11

Songs like "Where is the Love?" by the Black Eyed Peas, along with many other songs, captured the mood of the world and tapped into how people felt.

 

After Westminster Bridge I'm not sure many people in the UK want to hear a song describing a car crash that results in the road being painted red with broken glass sparkling. After this attack at Ariana Grande's concert I don't think they want to hear a song about blowing up with home-made explosives (yes, even if it's all poetic). It's just not currently what a lot of people want to listen to in the wake of such a tragedy. 

Die Young is a good example of a song that had an unfortunately release, but I also remember in Australia the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009 that killed 173 people and injured hundreds more. Popular Australian star Jessica Mauboy recently had a hit called "Burn"  that contained lyrics like:

"I need a doctor 'cause this is startin' to burn
Try to fix it now, the bridge is to the ground
This love is over so baby just let it burn"

and

"I'm on fire, I'm on fire, no way to cool me down
Boy you're burnin' me up
I'm on fire, I'm on fire, no way to cool me down
Boy you're burnin' me up, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh"

It had already been a hit in Australia, already reaching #1 on the Australian charts, but it was removed from Melbourne contemporary hit radios playlists because of it's title and lyrics.


I don't think the risk is that people with think it's about the attack or was written after the fact. I think the risk is just that, with the terrorist attacks of late, the mood of the public just doesn't suit the song.

[Irrelevant 20,281]

Just delay it, release a buzz single to compensate. Cause if she releases it at this time, there would be lots of bad controversy 

[littlepotter 74,825]

Logic and common sense say no.

But since when has the media had common sense? She'll get a truckload of shir for this. Better postpone or choose another song.

[River 112,570]

reminds me when the Pokemon the anime used to remove episodes that were too close to some natural disasters in Asia.

It's called respect and I think it's better to wait a week and release it..

And honestly, I don't know why she did this song in the first place after all the terror attacks in the recent years..

[toewsy 1,842]

Hmmm, I definitely see both sides to this- on one hand, it can definitely be read as callous by the GP, yet this release has been planned for some time now, and some might call that "letting the terrorists win." Frankly I don't see her being given the benefit of the doubt, even though she's obviously harmless- so I'd pass if it were me