Lorde’s ‘Royals’ Banned In San Francisco Until After World Series

San Francisco fans of Lorde’s song “Royals” will have to wait until after the World Series to hear their favorite song on the city’s radio airwaves, as area radio stations have banned the song, which names their World Series opponent, until after the Fall Classic is over.

According to KMBC (Kansas City), at least two San Francisco radio stations, KFOG Radio and 96.5 KOIT, have banned the song “Royals” until after the World Series. This means that the earliest “Royals” could be back on the air in San Francisco would be October 25, if the Series only lasts four games; and the latest it could be back on the air would be October 29, if it goes all seven games. However, regardless of who wins, it’s not likely to be back on the air in San Francisco any time soon anyway; after all, win or lose, why play a song that mentions your team’s opponent at all?

But Lorde need not worry about the San Francisco “Royals” ban cutting into her, uh… royalties. KOIT’s Kansas City “sister station” 99.7 “The Point” KZPT has her back, according to Program Director Tony Lorino.

“I respect the work of Mr. Brian Figula, 96.5 KOIT Program Director, and his team of broadcast professionals at our sister stations in San Francisco, but we won’t let their anti-Royals spirit ruin this moment. A few angry San Franciscans who don’t have a song called ‘Giants’ won’t rain on our parade.”

The Point plans to play “Royals” every hour, on the hour, every day from 7:00 A.M. until 7:00 P.M. until the World Series is over.

Oddly enough, apparently no one at any of the radio stations involved in this story has realized that Lorde’s song only obliquely has anything to do with the Kansas City baseball team. The song’s lyrics are about teenagers coming to grips with the notion that their lives will never live up to the image of lavish lifestyles that the media presents, according to AZ Lyrics.

My friends and I—we’ve cracked the code.
We count our dollars on the train to the party.
And everyone who knows us knows that we’re fine with this,
We didn’t come from money.

According to Huffington Post, Lorde (whose real name is Ella Yelich-O’Connor, according to ABC News) was inspired to write “Royals” when she saw a photo of Royals third baseman George Brett wearing his Royals uniform, and surrounded by adoring fans clamoring for autographs, in one of her dad’s old National Geographic magazines. In other words, she was inspired by the juxtaposition of the word “Royals” with the adoring fans. And that’s it. That’s all the song “Royals” has to do with the Kansas City Baseball team.

Still, that hasn’t stopped Kansas City media, and the Royals baseball team, from making the song their own, nor has it stopped San Francisco stations from banning it during the World Series.

[Image courtesy of: Hollywood Life]