My top 5 songs from Guts: An album review
Sept. 8, 2023 marks the release of Olivia Rodrigo’s sophomore album, Guts, to overwhelmingly positive reception. As a fan of the famed pop singer since the release of “Driver’s License” in 2021, I was eager to see if Rodrigo could keep the momentum going.
For a long time, the reason for my admiration for Olivia Rodrigo was rooted far beneath the soil. I enjoyed pop rock, indie pop, and even alternative rock, but I still didn’t understand why she was salient compared to the rest. Why does her music implant itself onto me? (seriously, I can’t stop singing).
Her music has a charming, juvenile tone that rings throughout her albums. Rodrigo is a young woman navigating her life, making mistakes, and taking note of the things she’s learned. She sounds naive, but also honest. It’s a breath of fresh air from the young people attempting to act wiser than they appear.
I’m 20, born a day before Rodrigo (my subtle flex), and I have told myself that my teenage years’ termination is analogous to my growth. The facade of my maturity and composure is a weight that buckles, but when I turn on Olivia Rodrigo, I’m reminded that I’m still a young girl navigating through hardships; I’m reminded that it’s okay to slow down and mull over that argument from five years ago.
With that spiel out of the way, I’m pleased to share that I think Guts is a staggering improvement from her previous album, both vocally and lyrically. Here are the top five (of many) songs that elevated Guts to an album that I want tattooed on my tongue.
One: Teenage Dream
This song is crafted for any young adult who cries on their birthday. The lyrics shine a light on the terror of growing up. Rodrigo suggests that the higher your age, the higher the world's expectation of you is. It’s less “cute” to make a mistake at 25 than 15. The question of if we peak in our teenage years should have an obvious answer: “No,” but for a popstar like Olivia Rodrigo, who released her first album at 18, it’s an understandable worry. Furthermore, I think the average young adult fears that they’ve reached a plateau after their late adolescence.
The song is lethargic but beautiful, a different sound from most of her rock tracks. Rodrigo repeats her fear of never maturing in the bridge, a line with crescendo, and instills paranoia in the listener. It’s my favorite part of the song.
Two: All American Bitch
One word: earworm. This song is laced with rage in lieu of women held to impossible, contradictory standards. The way Rodrigo switches from an angelic verse to an explosion of a chorus represents her suppression of anger.
You can play this song anywhere: in your bed, in your car, and on the speaker as you dance with your friends. I’ve never been so hooked on a chorus- I catch myself humming it everywhere I go. This may be the “Good for you” of Guts.
Three: Vampire
Being misled and manipulated by someone who was supposed to care for you is horrible, but it certainly makes good writing material! This is one of Rodrigo’s most vocally impressive songs. She sounds gorgeous after building to the chorus and bridge, hitting notes high enough that no one can sing along. Being the first song released since Sour, “Vampire” was my first bite of the new Olivia. It imbued an ecstasy that will put this song at number three.
Four: Making the Bed
This song plays on the phrase, “You made your bed, now lie in it.” It’s about realizing your mistakes and taking accountability. With her newfound fame, it’s apparent that Olivia Rodrigo has encountered situations she regrets. While it’s one thing to misstep, especially when encountering the unfamiliar, it’s another to recognize our liability. The chorus is alluring—a sad yet cathartic feeling of discovering the root of our grievances. As the title suggests, this is a song you may want to listen to as you lie in bed.
Five: The Grudge
I imagine Olivia Rodrigo envisioned her listeners with hoarse vocal cords after passionately screaming these lyrics. This song is about the obsession that haunts us after the betrayal of someone close; it’s for those left confused and hurt about a situation from long ago, one they’re frustrated about being hung up on.
Rodrigo captures the shame felt when crying in the shower, replaying the intricate moments, and brainstorming petty rebuttals over a fight with someone who probably hasn’t mulled over it since the day it happened. It’s clear that Oliva Rodrigo’s grudge, one meant to protect her from another heartache, is the object of her pain. It’s a paradox many of us encounter and must learn to live with.
I could write about every song on Guts for hours, but if you’re looking for an album to scream, cry, and dance to you should just give it a listen!
Thumbnail via Wikimedia Commons