After a long wait of two years, 20-year-old singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo released her sophomore album, GUTS.
Olivia debuted with the first single “vampire” on June 30, 2023. Rodrigo’s fans were all very excited when she announced that she was coming out with a new song. The single Debuts at No. 1 on the billboard charts.
Covering subjects like confidence, heartbreak, rage, jealousy, and hope, the album is unlike anything Rodrigo has every written before.
all-american b*tch
“all-american b*tch” is the opening track for GUTS. The album starts off with a very pop-rock song. The song talks about Olivia’s feelings of misplacement in American culture. The song explores the contradictions in American culture, which places pressure on women to fulfill unattainable ideals.
“bad idea right?”
The song was announced as the second single from the album on August 7, and later released on August 11th. “bad idea right?” is a punk pop song that recounts the events of Olivia lying to her friends about leaving a party to meet her ex-boyfriend to avoid their objections to Rodrigo’s awful plan. Their potential reaction of her feelings is discussed in her tragic lyrics, as she decides to test the relationship.
“vampire”
The lead single of the album is “vampire” and was released September 8th. Before the song’s complete release, a few lines for the music were gradually made available on her website, and on her social media. Rodrigo’s song describes a boy who lied to her and used her. The song’s title and lyrics all make reference to vampires as a metaphor for the individuals who drain her of her energy and render her helpless and depleted. The song discusses the value of emancipating oneself from unhealthy relationship patterns as well as themes of vulnerability and self- discovery.
“lacy”
On September 14, 2023, in an interview for Wired, Rodrigo revealed that the song “lacy” began as a poem she wrote for a college poetry class. Like “jealous, jealousy”, Olivia succumbs to her obsession with comparing herself to others to the point where it seems like a debilitating obsession. Rodrigo fights this inferiority complex by embodying the beauty of women that she is afraid of in this character “Lacy.”
“ballad of a homeschooled girl”
“ballad of a homeschooled girl” is the fifth track on “GUTS”. It’s a garage rock cut that explores the anguish of social anxiety. The song’s title refers to the idea that homeschooled kids are socially immature. Rodrigo struggles with socialization and fitting in with her peers. The song’s nostalgic lyrics recount her teenage trips, missteps, and simple mistakes. When interviewed by Rolling Stone, Rodrigo said that she named the track after Bob Dylan’s “Ballad Of a Thin Man”.
“logical”
“logical” is a love song that explores the concept of irrational love. The lyrics explore a relationship that is fraught with manipulation and deceit, as Rodrigo struggles with her own feelings of inadequacy and self-hatred. As the relationship progresses, the lyrics explore the complexities of love and the inability to make rational choices when faced with intense emotions. Ultimately, “logical” serves as a powerful reminder of the irrational manner of love and the sorrow that comes with such relationships.
“pretty isn’t pretty”
The eleventh track on Rodrigo’s sophomore album GUTS, “Pretty isn’t pretty”, is an emotional and heartfelt exploration of self-love and female physical standards. The song is a reflection of the ever-evolving fashion trends and social norms that all young women are expected to adhere to. Through the lyrics, singer-songwriter Olivia expresses her frustration at the prevalence of these standards and expectations in the media, and her inability to conform or fit in due to the feeling that no matter her actions, she will never be perfect.
“teenage dream”
“teenage dream” explores the complexities of growing up in the public eye, as well as the pressure to keep up with the success of her first album “SOUR”. The lyrics are about the fear of losing the best part of yourself as you grow up. This final track provides an intimate look into her current mood and feelings, providing a valuable insight into how she feels after two years in the spotlight.
This album is a mix of pop-punk, ballads, and a lot of 90s grunge vibes. It covers a lot of different topics, like misogyny, microaggressions, and the pain of young love. Her first album was softer and more vulnerable, with only a few songs that weren’t ballads. This album is the complete opposite, with most of the songs having a pop-punk vibe, and only a few slow songs. It’s clear that she’s willing to take bigger risks on this one, as she conforms into the next stage of her career.
