On the heels of news that her debut album, which we can now confirm as being titled Pure Heroine, will arrive on Sept. 30, 16-year-old Lorde has become the first female in 17 years to top Billboard's Alternative Songs chart with "Royals."
As Billboard points out, no female soloist had led the tally in Lorde's lifetime until this week. Tracy Bonham's "Mother Mother" last held the top spot on the chart in June 1996, months before Lorde (nee Ella Yelich-O'Connor) was born on Nov. 7 of that year.
"Royals," which has been climbing the charts for weeks, achieved a notable feat last month. As we previously reported, it marked the first time since 1997 that a track led by a solo female 1997 has made it into the top 10 of Billboard's Alternative radio airplay chart. Fiona Apple's "Criminal" spent its 11th and final week in the top tier of the chart dated Nov. 15, 1997.
Pure Heroine Tracklist:
1. Tennis Court
2. 400 Lux
3. Royals
4. Ribs
5. Buzzcut Season
6. Team
7. Glory And Gore
8. Still Sane
9. White Teeth Teens
10. A World Alone