From sad girl to angry punk rocker, Olivia Rodrigo’s sophomore album GUTS explores the journey from girlhood to adulthood through angsty lyrics and powerful instrumentals.
Album, released in September. 8 was highly anticipated after the singer’s debut success.”SOUR” Following the album’s concert tour, Rodrigo retreated from the mainstream spotlight, building anticipation and leaving fans hungry for new music from the young artist. On June 30, two years after the release of “SOUR”, Rodrigo released a new single, “Vampire”.
A far cry from the heartbroken 17-year-old she was when she released “Drivers License,” “Vampire” showcases Rodrigo’s mature vocals, impressive range, and stunning lyrical ability. Rodrigo after facing intense public scrutiny due to alleged controversies involving celebrities. Joshua Bassett, Sabrina Carpenter, Paramore And Taylor Swift, expands on the same question she asked in her song “Cruel”: “Who am I if not exploited?”
“GUTS” opens with “all-American bitch,” a sardonic punk rock song reminiscent of Avril Lavigne, Alanis Morissette and Babes in Toyland. Rodrigo laments the standards women are held to in harsh and sarcastic lyrics: “I’ve got class and integrity like a damn Kennedy, I swear.” The singer is irritated by the impossible standards for women, who must be smart and kind, but at the same time submissive and almost robotic. After Rodrigo screams about the standards she must live up to, the song suddenly builds to a delicate, melodic and repetitive conclusion: “I’m grateful all the time / I’m sexy and kind / I’m beautiful when I cry.” Listeners can imagine Rodrigo standing in front of the mirror on the verge of a nervous breakdown, trying to hold herself together while imagining this carefully curated image.
In “Bad Idea, Right?”, “Ballad of a Homeschool Girl” and “Love is Confusing,” Rodrigo explores the trials and pitfalls of being a teenage girl, poking fun at herself with tongue-in-cheek lyrics and honest confessions: I’m planning a wedding with a guy I’ll never marry I won’t get married.” Rodrigo doesn’t hold back, laying it all out on the table with intimate and playful anecdotes that make the listener feel like she’s telling her stories directly to them. In “Bring Him Back!” Rodrigo is torn between hatred and love for his past affair, conflicted between his desire for revenge and longing for their relationship. In the transition, she jokes, “I want to kiss his face / with an uppercut / I want to meet his mom / just to tell her that her son sucks.” The pop hit, which is sure to be a highlight of her upcoming GUTS World Tour, ends with a series of improvisations that show Rodrigo trying to keep things light and not take herself too seriously.
While GUTS certainly had more upbeat songs than SOUR, Rodrigo didn’t forget the sad-girl ballads that made her famous. “Making the Bed,” “Logicality,” and “Resentment” are standout tracks from the album, and the plaintive and poignant lyrics remind listeners that Rodrigo is a powerful lyricist as well as a vocalist. She delves into themes of betrayal, jealousy and regret more deeply than “SOUR”, showing a poignant vulnerability in her lyrics.
Contrasting the brash, rebellious punk rock sound of his opening track, Rodrigo closes out his album with the soft piano ballad “Teenage Dream.” In the opening lines of his debut album, Rodrigo laments his youth and naivety: “I’m so sick of 17 / where’s my damn teenage dream?” She answers the question by apologizing to her younger self and wondering if she’s reached the pinnacle of her career with the success of “SOUR”: “I’m afraid they’ve already gotten the best out of me / And I wish I could have it all the time will be your teenage dream.” These lyrics also seem to be a reference to the unrealistic standards she sings about in “All American Bitch”, but this time Rodrigo feels guilty about his imperfections. She mourns the loss of her adolescence as she transitions into adulthood, asking, “Will I spend all my remaining years wishing I could go back?” and “Everyone says it’s getting better, but what if I don’t?”
With the debut of “GUTS” on No. 1 on Billboard 200 albums chartThe 20-year-old proved to naysayers that she has what it takes to become the music industry’s next big star. She recently announced the dates of her “GUTS” World Tour, opens February 23 and comes to Boston April 1 and 2, leaving fans eager to see what’s next. Rodrigo has once again reached the souls of teenagers around the world with “GUTS” and she certainly has a brilliant career ahead of her.