Lorde went home empty-handed at the 2014 American Music Awards, losing out in all four of her nominated categories. And while one could quibble about those results — losing out to Imagine Dragons in the alternative category was definitely a gut-punch — Lorde still reigned as the queen bee of the ceremony on Sunday night (Nov. 23). Here are five reasons why:
1. That “Yellow Flicker Beat” Performance Was Scary Good.
Not every pop star wants to open an awards show performance by being trapped in a box onstage and creepily humming to themselves, but Lorde made the white walls work for her until the chorus of the Hunger Games: Mockingjay anthem hit and the cage was lifted. The rest of the performance was an honest, impeccable portrayal of Lorde’s most idiosyncratic qualities — surrounded by outsiders dressed in white and whipping her curls around, Lorde gave “Yellow Flicker Beat” a fittingly intense awards show debut after understated takes on “Royals” and “Tennis Court” in the past year.
2. She Made Taylor Swift Freak Out. Lorde and Taylor Swift are well-documented BFFs, so the sight of Swift rocking out to her pal’s “Yellow Flicker Beat” display was no great surprise. But, come on, how many people on earth can make the world’s biggest pop superstar do this?
Taylor Swift dancing to Lorde’s ‘Yellow Flicker Beat’ performance at the AMAs pic.twitter.com/9METqeKZLt
— Lorde Daily (@LordeDaily) November 24, 2014
Game, set, Lorde.
3. She Was Delightfully Supportive of Taylor Swift.
Before accepting the Dick Clark Award of Excellence, Swift hugged a cavalcade of friends, but embraced her comrade Lorde perhaps the hardest. The pride in Lorde’s eyes was shimmering!
4. She Danced Jubilantly To ‘Bang Bang.’
When Jessie J wormed her way through the front section of the audience to open “Bang Bang,” she swung around the starriest row of artists, and while Sam Smith’s jaunty bop was winning, Lorde ultimately had the most joyful on-camera reaction. How is she not sick of “Bang Bang” yet? Don’t ask questions, just enjoy her youthful spirit.
5. She Compared Pitbull To The President. All hail our new commander-in-chief, Mr. 305:
also i met pitbull backstage, felt this wave of his charisma and loveliness wash over me, probably not dissimilar to meeting the president
— Lorde (@lordemusic) November 23, 2014
No award wins? Who cares? Brush off the haters, young Lorde. You won the AMAs.