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What Was That

Updated: 12/11/2025, 4:24:06 PM Wikipedia source

"What Was That" is a song by New Zealand singer and songwriter Lorde. It was released on 24 April 2025 through Universal and Republic Records as the lead single from her fourth studio album, Virgin (2025). The song was written and produced by Lorde and producer Jim-E Stack, with production assistance from Dan Nigro. Inspired by the drums on the 2007 song "Reckoner" by English rock band Radiohead, "What Was That" is an electropop, synth-pop, and dance song. The lyrics of the song reminisce on a previous relationship and its aftermath. The song received positive reviews from music critics, who praised its lyrics and its production elements, which received comparisons to her earlier works. It was included in Rolling Stone's best songs of 2025, reached number one in New Zealand, and charted inside the top 20 in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the Billboard Global 200 chart. Lorde and Terrence O'Connor directed the music video for "What Was That", which shows Lorde walking alone through various parts of New York City before culminating in a spontaneous dance performance at Washington Square Park, where she was surrounded by fans recording the moment.

Infobox

Released
24 April 2025 (2025-04-24)
Studio
Electric Lady (New York, NY)
Genre
Electropop synth-pop dance
Length
3:29
Label
Universal New Zealand Republic
Songwriters
Ella Yelich-O'Connor James Harmon Stack
Producers
Lorde Jim-E Stack Daniel Nigro

Tables

· Critical reception › Accolades
Exclaim!
Exclaim!
Publication
Exclaim!
Accolade
20 Best Songs of 2025
Rank
11
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Publication
Rolling Stone
Accolade
Every Lorde Song Ranked
Rank
11
Time Out
Time Out
Publication
Time Out
Accolade
The 40 best songs of 2025
Rank
26
Publication
Accolade
Rank
Ref.
Exclaim!
20 Best Songs of 2025
11
Rolling Stone
Every Lorde Song Ranked
11
Time Out
The 40 best songs of 2025
26
Weekly chart performance for "What Was That" · Charts › Weekly charts
Australia (ARIA)
Australia (ARIA)
Chart (2025)
Australia (ARIA)
Peakposition
9
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)
Chart (2025)
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)
Peakposition
19
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
Chart (2025)
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
Peakposition
45
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)
Chart (2025)
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)
Peakposition
31
Colombia Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino)
Colombia Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino)
Chart (2025)
Colombia Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino)
Peakposition
13
Croatia International Airplay (Top lista)
Croatia International Airplay (Top lista)
Chart (2025)
Croatia International Airplay (Top lista)
Peakposition
40
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)
Chart (2025)
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)
Peakposition
70
Estonia Airplay (TopHit)
Estonia Airplay (TopHit)
Chart (2025)
Estonia Airplay (TopHit)
Peakposition
19
Germany (GfK)
Germany (GfK)
Chart (2025)
Germany (GfK)
Peakposition
33
Global 200 (Billboard)
Global 200 (Billboard)
Chart (2025)
Global 200 (Billboard)
Peakposition
18
Greece International (IFPI)
Greece International (IFPI)
Chart (2025)
Greece International (IFPI)
Peakposition
28
Ireland (IRMA)
Ireland (IRMA)
Chart (2025)
Ireland (IRMA)
Peakposition
6
Israel International Airplay (Media Forest)
Israel International Airplay (Media Forest)
Chart (2025)
Israel International Airplay (Media Forest)
Peakposition
18
Italy Airplay (EarOne)
Italy Airplay (EarOne)
Chart (2025)
Italy Airplay (EarOne)
Peakposition
43
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)
Chart (2025)
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)
Peakposition
12
Latvia Streaming (LaIPA)
Latvia Streaming (LaIPA)
Chart (2025)
Latvia Streaming (LaIPA)
Peakposition
16
Lithuania (AGATA)
Lithuania (AGATA)
Chart (2025)
Lithuania (AGATA)
Peakposition
26
Lithuania Airplay (TopHit)
Lithuania Airplay (TopHit)
Chart (2025)
Lithuania Airplay (TopHit)
Peakposition
40
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
Chart (2025)
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
Peakposition
83
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
Chart (2025)
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
Peakposition
1
Norway (VG-lista)
Norway (VG-lista)
Chart (2025)
Norway (VG-lista)
Peakposition
43
Panama Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino)
Panama Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino)
Chart (2025)
Panama Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino)
Peakposition
11
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100)
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100)
Chart (2025)
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100)
Peakposition
93
Portugal (AFP)
Portugal (AFP)
Chart (2025)
Portugal (AFP)
Peakposition
67
San Marino Airplay (SMRTV Top 50)
San Marino Airplay (SMRTV Top 50)
Chart (2025)
San Marino Airplay (SMRTV Top 50)
Peakposition
31
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)
Chart (2025)
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)
Peakposition
60
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)
Chart (2025)
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)
Peakposition
74
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)
Chart (2025)
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)
Peakposition
54
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
Chart (2025)
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
Peakposition
33
UK Singles (OCC)
UK Singles (OCC)
Chart (2025)
UK Singles (OCC)
Peakposition
11
US Billboard Hot 100
US Billboard Hot 100
Chart (2025)
US Billboard Hot 100
Peakposition
36
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)
Chart (2025)
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)
Peakposition
6
Chart (2025)
Peakposition
Australia (ARIA)
9
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)
19
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
45
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)
31
Colombia Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino)
13
Croatia International Airplay (Top lista)
40
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)
70
Estonia Airplay (TopHit)
19
Germany (GfK)
33
Global 200 (Billboard)
18
Greece International (IFPI)
28
Ireland (IRMA)
6
Israel International Airplay (Media Forest)
18
Italy Airplay (EarOne)
43
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)
12
Latvia Streaming (LaIPA)
16
Lithuania (AGATA)
26
Lithuania Airplay (TopHit)
40
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
83
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
1
Norway (VG-lista)
43
Panama Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino)
11
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100)
93
Portugal (AFP)
67
San Marino Airplay (SMRTV Top 50)
31
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)
60
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)
74
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)
54
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
33
UK Singles (OCC)
11
US Billboard Hot 100
36
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)
6
Monthly chart performance for "What Was That" · Charts › Monthly charts
Estonia Airplay (TopHit)
Estonia Airplay (TopHit)
Chart (2025)
Estonia Airplay (TopHit)
Peakposition
20
Lithuania Airplay (TopHit)
Lithuania Airplay (TopHit)
Chart (2025)
Lithuania Airplay (TopHit)
Peakposition
55
Chart (2025)
Peakposition
Estonia Airplay (TopHit)
20
Lithuania Airplay (TopHit)
55
Year-end chart performance for "What Was That" · Charts › Year-end charts
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)
Chart (2025)
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)
Position
29
Chart (2025)
Position
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)
29
Certifications for "What Was That" · Certifications
New Zealand (RMNZ)
New Zealand (RMNZ)
Region
New Zealand (RMNZ)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)
United Kingdom (BPI)
Region
United Kingdom (BPI)
Certification
Silver
Certified units/sales
200,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Region
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Region
Certification
Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)
Gold
15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)
Silver
200,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Release dates and formats for "What Was That" · Release history
Various
Various
Region
Various
Date
24 April 2025
Format(s)
Digital downloadstreaming
Label
Universal New ZealandRepublic
United States
United States
Region
United States
Date
28 April 2025
Format(s)
Adult alternative radio
Label
Republic
29 April 2025
29 April 2025
Region
29 April 2025
Date
Alternative radio
Italy
Italy
Region
Italy
Date
2 May 2025
Format(s)
Radio airplay
Label
Universal
Region
Date
Format(s)
Label
Ref.
Various
24 April 2025
Digital downloadstreaming
Universal New ZealandRepublic
United States
28 April 2025
Adult alternative radio
Republic
29 April 2025
Alternative radio
Italy
2 May 2025
Radio airplay
Universal

References

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  81. ".@lorde's 'What Was That?' will go for immediate airplay at US Alternative & Adult Alternative (Triple A) Radio formats upon its release at midnight. It will officially impact Adult Alternative (Triple A) on April 28th & Alternative on April 29th (via @RepublicRecords)"
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  82. EarOne
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