LOS ANGELES: New Zealand singer Lorde´s mega-hit "Royals" won the song of the year Grammy on Sunday, as music´s biggest night drew towards its climax.

"Thank you everyone who has let this song explode... it´s been kind of mental," she said, accepting the award on stage in Los Angeles with co-songwriter Joel Little. She beat rival songs "Just Give Me A Reason" by Pink, "Locked Out Of Heaven" by Bruno Mars, "Roar" by Katy Perry and "Same Love" by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis in the category.

The 17-year-old Kiwi had already upset music veterans to win the Grammy for best pop solo performance, including Mars, Perry and Justin Timberlake. Lorde, whose real name is Ella Yelich-O´Connor, stormed through international charts last year with "Royals," her genre-defying tale of aspirational luxury.

With the song, Lorde became the first act from New Zealand to top the Billboard chart in the United States.Lorde was also nominated for best record, the coveted top award due to be announced at the end of Sunday´s three-and-a-half-hour show.

SOURCE: AFP