In August, Olivia Rodrigo announced that she would be releasing her highly anticipated sophomore album “GUTS” on September 8.
The success of “Sour”
Filipina American and 20-year-old Olivia Rodrigo released her first album “Sour” back in 2021. The album release came after her debut song “drivers license” debuted at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Following the success of “drivers license” many were expecting Rodrigo’s debut album to be just as successful. The predictions came true with the album debuting at No.1 on the Billboard 200 and staying there for five weeks. The album contained bedroom pop ballads with a few pop-punk songs mixed in.
Consequently, Rodrigo was nominated for seven different awards at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards. She took home three Grammy Awards, including best pop vocal album, best new artist and best pop solo performance.
Shortly after, Rodrigo set out on her sold out “Sour” tour to perform her songs in North America and Europe. The success of the album and tour brought an unprecedented amount of attention to Rodrigo and caused her to rise to a new level of fame.
The release of “GUTS”
The wait for Rodrigo’s sophomore album has finally ended for fans who waited more than two years since “Sour.” The few pop-punk songs featured on her debut album were a taste of what was to come in her newly released album.
Fans first heard the song “vampire” as it was the first to be released from the album. Rodrigo announced the song in early June and released it at the end of that month. Dan Nigro, who was a former member of the rock band “As Tall as Lions,” produced the track. He is Rodrigo’s most frequent collaborator who appears as a producer for both “Sour” and “GUTS.” Similarly to “drivers license,” which Nigro also produced, “vampire” debuted at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“bad idea right?” was the second track to be released from the “GUTS” approximately a month after “vampire.” Although the song only charted at No. 10 on the Billboard chart, it created anticipation for the album. The difference in sound between the two released tracks made fans wonder what the album would sound like.
Fans’ curiosity was answered on Sept. 8 with the release of “GUTS.” Fans were satiated after a two-year wait with a 39 minute long album with 12 tracks in total.
The opening track “all-american b***h” begins with only soft guitar notes and Rodrigo’s voice. Once listeners get to the chorus, things quickly change from soft guitar to heavy drums. The contrast in sound pairs well with the lyrics as she describes the contradictions of what the public expects from her.
Rodrigo spoke on the inspiration behind the song in an interview with The Guardian.
“I’ve experienced a lot of emotional turmoil over having all these feelings of rage and dissatisfaction that I felt like I couldn’t express, especially in my job. I’ve always felt like: you can never admit it, be so grateful all the time, so many people want this position. And that causes a lot of repressed feelings. I’ve always struggled with wanting to be this perfect American girl and the reality of not feeling like that all the time”, she said.
Compared to her previous album, “GUTS” feels more complete and well-rounded as Rodrigo learns more about herself and her sound.
A sense of maturity
Rodrigo’s first album “Sour” depicted the innocence that only a 17 year old going through her first heartbreak could have. Most of the tracks off of her first album were about dealing with a heartbreak and the struggles that came with that relationship. In contrast, “GUTS” mainly focuses on Rodrigo learning how to handle her newfound fame.
“For me, this album is about growing pains and trying to figure out who I am at this point in my life”, she said in a statement about “GUTS.”
While listening to the last track on the album, titled “teenage dream,” listeners can see exactly what she means. Rodrigo proposes a question as a sole piano plays.
“When does wide-eyed affection and all good intentions start to not be enough?” she questions.
The piano and structure of the song brings a sense of familiarity to fans as it something that they know Rodrigo for. However, this song covers one new topic that she never touched on “Sour”: the pain of growing up. As the song gets to the bridge, drums join the piano to accompany her as she shares her fears.
“They all say that it gets better, it gets better the more you grow … but what if I don’t,” she sings.
Another track that stood out from the album was “lacy.” Rodrigo explores her feelings of inadequacy and envy for other women. This theme has come up before in songs of hers such as “jealousy, jealousy.” Although the way she describes her envy in this song borders on obsession. She describes Lacy as having “skin like puff pastry” and ends the song by singing, “I despise my rotten mind and how much it worships you.”
Although some might think that Rodrigo has overused this theme of envy, the lyrics feel self-aware. It also accurately represents how many people her age may feel. Many fans have shared that they resonate with the song.
Overall, the album brings a new sense of maturity as listeners follow Rodrigo through her experiences with fame and the reality that comes with growing up.
