One of my favorite pieces I wrote for UT-Austin campus music publication Afterglow ATX. I took inspiration from popular YouTube content creator, AJayII, and the ongoing evolution of music criticism.

Lorde fans heard it everywhere — the squeals that shook the internet in summer 2017.

Not many videos on YouTube are purer than the one of content creator AJayII reacting to Lorde’s sophomore effort, Melodrama. The 22-minute clip has it all: uncensored emotion, frenetic dance moves, and iconic soundbites. 

AJay’s use of profanity as an endearment and her unintelligible, yet enthusiastic singing of Lorde’s “Sober” are just a few of the things that make the video comedic gold.