Lorde covered Kanye and the internet went mental

Lorde performs at the free iHeart Radio concert at Vector Arena on Saturday night. Photo / Chris Loufte

She's already sitting at No. 8 on the US singles charts, is selling out shows overseas and she performed her biggest ever New Zealand gig on Saturday night.

But a random cover of a Kanye West song has earned Kiwi songstress Lorde praise from far and wide - and sent the internet into overdrive.

The cover, of West's Yeezus track Hold My Liquor which also features Justin Vernon and Chief Keef, came halfway through her headlining show at Auckland's Vector Arena on Saturday night, a promotional gig for online radio station iHeartRadio.

Around 5000 fans were there as Lorde sang hits like Royals and Tennis Court, as well as new tracks White Teeth Teens and Ribs, taken from her debut album Pure Heroine, due for release later this month.

The North Shore teen earned overwhelming praise for her performance - but it was the Kanye cover that grabbed attention on social media.

She sang two minutes of the song, starting by cooing the song's "I can't handle no liquor, but these bitches can't handle me" intro over a simple bass thump, before rapping her way through lines like "Okay, I smashed your Corolla, I'm hanging on a hangover," like a seasoned rap veteran.

The 16-year-old skipped some of the song's more explicit lines, but she immediately earned praise as fans took to Twitter to rave about her performance.

This 16 year old girl is a genius!! #lorde @lordemusic covers @kanyewest s Hold my Liquor #yeezus http://t.co/Mpfd8DDabD

Can we all just step back a moment and bask in the gloriousness of @lordemusic covering "hold my liquor" by @kanyewest #iHeartLorde #perfect

The guts a 16yo Kiwi chick gotta have to cover Kanye West. RT @JessEtheridge: Lorde performs Hold My Liquor by Kanye http://t.co/OL9lOcX6eW

Can we just discuss the fact that everyone at the Vector tonight witnessed Lorde doing "hold my liquor" by kanye FRICKING SICKEST OF ALL

Lorde's @kanyewest Hold My Liquor cover was so on point. I really hope she does more hiphop crossover stuff in the next few years.

. @lordemusic covering @kanyewest .....I just died. ?

Watch the video here.

Read a full review of the show here.

- nzherald.co.nz