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Topping our Best Australian & New Zealand Songs of the 21st Century So Far<\/a> list is a single that didn\u2019t just dominate charts \u2014 it changed pop music forever.<\/p>\n Lorde\u2019s debut, \u201cRoyals\u201d, burst onto the scene in 2013 with a minimalistic sound and razor-sharp social commentary, immediately marking the arrival of a voice that would redefine modern pop. Her youthful perspective \u2014 given she was just 16 at the time \u2014 combined with her sharp, ironic commentary, made \u201cRoyals\u201d feel revolutionary. In a matter of weeks and months, the song became a phenomenon, seemingly born out of nowhere.<\/p>\n While fans could make strong pitches for other songs like \u201cRibs\u201d or \u201cGreen Light\u201d, or more recently \u201cMan of the Year\u201d as Lorde\u2019s best, none had the cultural impact that \u201cRoyals\u201d did, which is why we named it No. 1 on our Best Australian & New Zealand Songs of the 21st Century So Far<\/a> list.<\/p>\n