Her first single, "Royals", was released on Republic on 8 March 2013. It reached number one on the US "Billboard" Hot 100, in Canada, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand and number two in Australia. It made her the first solo artist from New Zealand to have a number one in the US. "Royals" also made her the youngest person (age 16) to have a US number one in 26 years. A controversial article on Feministing by Veronica Bayetti Flores described the song 'deeply racist'. Music and culture critic Ed Hightower has offered an appraisal of Lorde's song that rejects Flores' accusation. The song has been covered by Pixie Lott, Neon Jungle, and Mutya Keisha Siobhan.