Lorde performing during one of two shows at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena this week as part of her Ultrasound World Tour. Photo / TikTok
Lorde performing during one of two shows at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena this week as part of her Ultrasound World Tour. Photo / TikTok
Aotearoa pop icon Lorde stripped her pants off last night, performing part of her show in a pair of maroon boxer briefs.
The star, born Ella Yellich-O’Connor, earned rave reviews for her sold-out performance at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on the latest stop of her Ultrasound World Tour.
News.com.au reported16,500 enthusiastic fans packed out the venue, primed to hear the 29-year-old sing now-retro tunes from Pure Heroine – the album that catapulted the then-teen to global acclaim – to songs from her 2025 release Virgin, which she played in its entirety.
Lorde performing at the Sydney stop of her Ultrasound World Tour on Wednesday. Photo / TikTok
During the night’s third number, Broken Glass, the singer reportedly removed her belt, later dropping her trousers altogether and performing for a half-hour in a pair of dark red briefs.
Footage posted by fans to TikTok show the singer jogging on a treadmill in her undergarments singing Supercut, a multi-platinum-selling song from 2017’s Melodrama album.
“Best night of my life,” one TikTok user commented on a clip from the show.
“I’m gonna sob... this was life changing,” wrote another.
A third fan said the experience was a “core memory unlocked”.
“I remember playing tiny clubs, I remember playing Laneway here when I was 16,” Lorde told fans during some stage patter.
Lorde's performance in Sydney last night included her running on a treadmill. Photo / TikTok
“You would just show up and with so much passion.
“You’re down to f*** around and find out, that’s why we’re still meeting up like this after 13 years.”
Lorde impressed when performing at Auckland's Spark Arena last week. Photo / Sam Penn
Last week, Lorde brought her tour home to New Zealand for two sold-out shows at Auckland’s Spark Arena and Wolfbrook Arena in Christchurch, where she also shed her clothes as part of a stage routine to reveal her Calvin Klein underwear.
Lifestyle reporter Mitchell Hageman, who reviewed the show, saidthe night was “ethereal, raw, quirky, emotional, bizarre”.
“It was hard not to feel a pang in your heart and realise the gravity of our homegirl’s achievements, and what it means for her to represent us on the world stage,” he said.
“Lorde proved to her Tāmaki Makaurau brothers and sisters that being yourself, especially when things are against you, is one of the most empowering things you can do.”
Lorde’s Ultrasound World Tour will play a second Sydney show tonight, before moving to Melbourne later this week and one final show in Perth next week.
