Lorde continued her reign of pop stardom with a live performance of “Tennis Court” at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday (May 18).
Following a spirited introduction from Nicki Minaj, Lorde took the stage dressed in a striking all-black ensemble, complete with a wide-brimmed Zorro-style hat. Close-ups showed the singer squeezing the emotion out of every word, as she performed the electro-goth song.
The performance marked the first ever televised rendition of the song, which appears on Lorde’s 2013 debut album “Pure Heroine.”
The 17-year old New Zealand native has been riding high since “Royals” became a surprise hit last year. It eventually topped the Hot 100 and earned the Grammy for Song of the Year. Subsequent singles “Team” and “Tennis Court” have peaked at 6 ant 71, respectively.
Billboard Music Awards 2014: Red Carpet Photos
Lorde is tied with Imagine Dragons for being a finalist in the most categories at this year’s Billboard Music Awards, and in the first half of the show she won Top New Artist and Top Rock Song, for “Royals.”