Lorde Pulls Out ‘No Better’ for the First Time in Over a Decade at Ultrasound World Tour Opener

Lorde sure had her fun at the Ultrasound World Tour opener. The singer kicked off the tour in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday, with an electric setlist focusing on her fourth studio album Virgin. But she took fans by surprise when she performed “No Better,” which she hasn’t sung live since 2014.

Lorde wore boxer briefs and a bright red T-shirt as she broke into a playful performance of the sticky summer ode. Throughout the song, she sang directly at a videographer on stage while the up-close shot played on the stage’s big screen. At one point, the videographer even held Lorde’s mic while she danced freely to the trip-hop beat.

More from Rolling Stone

The last time Lorde performed “No Better” live was on the Pure Heroine tour 11 years ago. Since 2013, the song has been a fan-favorite. It was released that December as a digital download on the iTunes Store as part of a special promotion and quickly gained popularity. For years, fans who didn’t nab the digital download could only listen to the song on YouTube. In 2021, “No Better” was finally added to streaming services.

Besides the thrill of “No Better,” the Ultrasound World Tour opener was filled with exciting moments. Lorde performed “Supercut” while running on a treadmill and even walked right into the venue’s pit for “David” and “Ribs.” Talk about the right way to do it.

Lorde’s show-stopping stage presence has been years in the making. In her Rolling Stone cover story, the singer opened up about her debilitating stage fright and how she fought to combat it during the Solar Power tour with MDMA and psilocybin therapy. “I was touring without stage fright for the first time,” she told RS. “It made me realize how much I love and kind of need that very deep, visceral response to feel my music.”

Best of Rolling Stone

Sign up for RollingStone’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.