Usually, there’s a ton of melodrama once we realize an artist isn’t actually singing during a performance.
When Lorde took to the MTV Video Music Awards stage Sunday night, she made it very clear that she would not be lending any live vocals to her performance of “Homemade Dynamite.” (MTV announced it as a remix, though Lorde later tweeted she “didn’t know why they said” that.)
Instead of being awkward, though, her interpretive dance number was lovely, mystifying and a bit strange, much like the singer herself. Sans microphone, the “Green Light” songstress happily swayed and pranced in a tinfoil-esque, tutu-ish outfit, looking like she was having more fun that most other people there. (Though she did manage to confuse a goodportion of the audience, if Twitter is any indication.)
The GIFs are so good, we’ll let them speak for themselves.
Her VMAs dance routine made this earlier tweet, where she wrote “been rehearsing for the VMAs and my knees are covered in bruises,” make a little more sense.
Earlier in the night, the singer tweeted about her red carpet look, revealing that she has the flu. It’s possible her illness led to her self-imposed vocal rest onstage.
DJ Khaled and Nicole Tuck attend the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Chico Beans (L) and Karlous Miller attend the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Joe Jonas of DNCE attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Taboo attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
(L-R) Pete Nappi, Ethan Thompson and Samantha Ronson of Ocean Park Standoff attend the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Terrence J (L) and Katy Perry attend the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Cardi B attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Host Katy Perry (L) speaks onstage during the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Alessia Cara accepts the Best Dance award for 'Stay' onstage during the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Katy Perry is lowered onto the stage during the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
(L-R) Dinah Jane and Ally Brooke of Fifth Harmony, Gucci Mane, and Normani Kordei and Lauren Jauregui of Fifth Harmony pose backstage during the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Shawn Mendes performs onstage during the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Jared Leto speaks onstage during the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Cardi B performs onstage during the the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
(L-R) Billy Ray Cyrus, Noah Cyrus, Ellen DeGeneres, and Miley Cyrus poses during the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Pink performs during the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Hailee Steinfeld speaks onstage during the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Pink performs onstage during the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Ed Sheeran and Ellen DeGeneres pose together during the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
\Ludacris (L) and Olivia Munn pose backstage during the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Miley Cyrus performs during the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Kesha speaks onstage during the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Lorde performs onstage during the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Logic performs onstage during the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Ellen DeGeneres and Chance The Rapper pose together during the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Host Katy Perry (L) and DJ Khaled speak onstage during the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Katy Perry poses in costume during the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Lil Uzi Vert performs onstage during the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Ed Sheeran performs onstage during the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Kendrick Lamar performs onstage during the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Miley Cyrus and Millie Bobby Brown attend the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Miley Cyrus performs onstage during the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
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