Olivia Rodrigo has been a staple in pop music since the release of her first album “Sour” in 2021. After two years, she has released a second album “Guts,” debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The pop-rock album is a relatable, dramatic masterpiece that recounts the infamously hard experience of teenagers, among bad relationships, jealousy, social anxiety and overall bad moods. Rodrigo establishes her own style, while simultaneously exhibiting similarities to Taylor Swift, Paramore and other famous artists.
An instant fan favorite of the album is “ballad of a homeschool girl.” The relatable lyrics such as, “each time I step outside it’s social suicide” and “everything I do is tragic” resonate with the angsty teenage anxiety and a constant fear of judgment our society embraces. Rodrigo perfectly sums up how overthinking accentuates
insecurities. I personally find comfort in this song, reminding me that what I feel is a common experience for everyone.
Another popular song “get him back!” describes a toxic past relationship of Rodrigo’s and the instability that came with it. Rodrigo says she doesn’t know exactly how to feel about the relationship ending, but she does know she wants him back, in both an affectionate and vindictive way. The cognitive dissonance yet again represents the constant self-doubt that goes along with the teenage experience. The song is great no matter the mood, good to listen to for every emotion.
My favorite song is “pretty isn’t pretty,” a song that shows Rodrigo’s insecurities with her appearance. She sings, “there’s always something in the mirror that I think looks wrong” and expresses her intrusive, negative
thoughts she thinks about herself and others. The song’s instrumental background is more upbeat, but the lyrics are what really hit home. Of all the songs in the album, this one evoked the most emotion on my first listen.
The album also has the perfect blend of rage and sadness, including slower and more melancholy songs such as “lacy” and “the grudge” as well as upbeat songs like “bad idea, right?” This continuous emotional back and
forth is another perfect representation of teenage emotions and how mood swings and hormones get in the way of life. I enjoy the way the album has songs that match every emotion and perfectly pairs with life itself.
Although some songs don’t stand out as much as others, the album overall is amazing. The album has gained Rodrigo more popularity than she previously had, and I hope she continues to drop music like this. Her style is a great mix of her own and other popular artists, and each listen the songs get continuously better. If you somehow haven’t listened to this album yet, you’re missing out.
