Olivia Rodrigo’s second studio album, described as being “about figuring stuff out, about failures and successes and making mistakes,” dropped on Friday.
I expected GUTS to be similar to Sour, being that the two follow the same formula of combining upbeat rock songs with emotional ballads. I knew Rodrigo would sing about love and failed relationships, but she also touches on personal struggles that come with being young. I related to this subject a lot, since Rodrigo and I are both young women of color navigating life unsure of where we fit in.
Before the album’s release, Rodrigo dropped two singles: “vampire” and “bad idea, right?”
Though I loved the lead single “vampire,” “bad idea right?” is what made me look forward to the album the most. The song is extremely catchy, regardless of whether one relates to it or not.
However, “vampire” peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and currently has more than 353 million streams on Spotify. `
According to Rodrigo, “bad idea, right?” is meant to “show another side of GUTS that’s a little more fun & playful.”
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The song is about the struggle between going to see an ex or not — and ultimately deciding to go. Rodrigo writes “Now I’m gettin’ in the car, wreckin’ all my plans / I know I should stop, but I can’t.”
The first track, “all-american bitch,” was inspired by a quote in Joan Didion’s book, The White Album. I like how the song’s overarching theme is the double standards women in America have to live up to, and Rodrigo’s struggle to adhere to these.
“I’m a perfect all-American bitch / With perfect all-American lips / And perfect all-American hips,” she sings.
Other album highlights also touch on themes of anxiety, jealousy and growing up — all common themes in Rodrigo’s songwriting so far in her career. In “lacy,” Rodrigo views her subject as someone who is smart, sweet, and sexy. It is evident that she hates her but wants to be her. In “ballad of a homeschooled girl,” Rodrigo, who was homeschooled, talks about social anxiety and the mistakes she’s made during social interactions.
My personal favorite, “making the bed,” is about how Rodrigo’s life changed with her success. She sometimes wishes she could hide from it, but her bed has been made.
The first time I heard “making the bed,” I cried. I didn’t know why at the time, but after listening to it more, I realized how much the lyrics resonated with me. Lyrics like “Every good thing has turned into somethin’ I dread / And I’m playin’ the victim so well in my head,” perfectly captured what goes through my mind on a bad day.
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My other favorite song, “love is embarrassing,” is about how being young and navigating love is confusing, stressful, and embarrassing, especially when it fails. Listening to that track felt bittersweet. It brought up memories for me that at one point were negative, but are now amusing looking back.
I think one of the main reasons I enjoy listening to Rodrigo’s music, especially this album, is that there is a song for every situation young women might find themselves in. Those who fear growing up should listen to “teenage dream.” The songs “lacy” and “pretty isn’t pretty” are for girls who feel insecure. If someone feels embarrassed from social anxiety, they should listen to “ballad of homeschooled girl.”
My favorite songs from the album are “making the bed,” “love is embarrassing,” and “bad idea, right?”
