Zara Larsson’s Pop Twist: You Know Her Songs, But Do You Know Her?
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If you’ve been anywhere near a radio in the last decade, you’ve heard of Zara Larsson. Maybe you belted out “Lush Life” with your friends, or cried to “Never Forget You”, or sang your heart out to “Symphony”. Her music is everywhere, choruses stuck in your head that are core pop memories. Yet, despite all of this, there’s a strange disconnect. Everyone knows her songs, but the name behind them? Not always.
This became clear this past year, when her lyric with Clean Bandit, “I just wanna be part of your symphony,” resurfaced and went viral on TikTok. People posted pictures of the Lisa Frank rainbow dolphins, adding insane captions such as “I have a gambling addiction” or “I’m under your bed.” Even Zara Larsson herself joined in, asking the internet, “What the fuck is happening?” The crazy part? So many of the users joining the trend had no idea who Zara Larsson was – but they all knew the lyrics. It’s proof of her odd pop paradox: she’s everywhere, yet also unknown at the same time.
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Now it's 2025, and Zara isn’t headlining in arenas across the world. Rather, she’s opening for singer Tate McRae, a newer star who recently rose to fame and is now selling out massive venues. For those who know and love her as an established artist with tons of international hits, playing before someone newer to the industry feels like such a twist.
When you think about it, it might seem like a step back. Zara has been in the industry since she was a teenager, and her resume is lengthy – she was a big part of the 2010s. She also has a reputation of someone who speaks her mind, whether it's about politics, feminism, or anything she believes in. By these measures, she should be a household name, so why is she warming up the crowd instead of headlining the night?
The answer is more complex than it seems. The music industry is ruthless, constantly looking for the “next big thing,” and careers never follow a straight upward path. Zara made her debut during the era of radios and DJs. Tate McRae, by contrast, came up in the TikTok algorithm era, where so many people are discovered by 15-second snippets. One catchy part can make or break your entire career. The two came up in completely different generations of pop music, colliding on one stage.
However, being an opener doesn’t mean being overshadowed. Many can jump-start their careers this way, such as Chappell Roan, Olivia Rodrigo, and Sabrina Carpenter. Opening for another artist isn’t necessarily a downgrade – it’s a pipeline. For Zara, this has been her chance to reintroduce herself. She’s recently introduced a newer project, “Midnight Sun”, authentically rebranding herself. Opening for Tate gives her the chance to be in front of packed arenas, in front of younger fans who haven’t yet connected the dots between her name and her music.
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And she never leaves the stage quietly. At her last closing set, and many of her other performances, she brings out a giant inflatable dolphin – a fun stage prop poking fun at herself and the viral trend. In doing so, she’s showcasing her breathtaking talent and stage presence.
Fans have, of course, commented on this, however, sparking debates where the two artists are pitted against each other. Some claim Zara has been “demoted,” while others argue that she is a much better artist than Tate. However, Zara quickly shut this down, praising Tate’s talent and work ethic.
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The timeline of Zara Larsson’s career is so compelling. She’s proof that you can be recognized without being known. Everyone has sung along to her songs at some point, but not everyone knows the artist behind them. Now, as she’s taken the stage before a younger headliner, dolphins and all, Zara is having audiences embrace their nostalgia and take her for who she is today. She’s proof that artists can have great comebacks, headlining her own tour this upcoming year, reminding us that she has so much more left in her career.
Strike Out,
Writer: Erica Huang
Editor: Elizabeth D’Amico
Graphic Designer:
Tallahassee