As I waited for my therapy to start up again, Olivia Rodrigo came through for me when I needed her most. Rodrigo’s sophomore album, “GUTS,” is just what the girlies needed in a time of crisis.
Whether you’re going through a tough breakup, a horrible breakup or the worst breakup of your life, Rodrigo’s new album is for you.
“GUTS,” a rock-pop-centered album with hints of ballads, is breaking the stereotype of the “sophomore slump.”
Rodrigo launched herself into stardom with her debut single “Driver’s License,” which is famously about her ex and “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” co-star Joshua Bassett.
She matched that energy and power with “GUTS” lead single “Vampire.”
Cover art for Olivia Rodrigo's "GUTS". Photo courtesy of Geffen Records
What starts off as a slow piano ballad that turns into a raging pop song that makes me want to punch holes into my wall, “Vampire” was the perfect song to start this era off.
“You said it was true love, but wouldn’t that be hard?/ You can’t love anyone, ’cause that would mean you had a heart,” Rodrigo sings.
Those lyrics slapped me in the face, sent shivers down my spine and gave me a kiss on the forehead. I can not tell you how much I needed someone to say those words publicly so I could use them in an Instagram caption and take a dig at my ex.
Rodrigo is cementing herself as the rock-pop girl of the decade and “bad idea right?” proves that. “Bad Idea Right?” is her second single for the “GUTS” era which set the tone for her signature sound.
“Now I’m gettin’ in the car, wreckin’ all my plans / I know I should stop-, but I can’t / And I told my friends I was asleep / But I never said where or in whose sheets,” Rodrigo sings.
The song perfectly encapsulates what it’s like to go back to your ex, but not to date them, but instead be in a complicated situationship that can not be healthy for either party involved.
Olivia Rodrigo spills her guts in songs like "bad idea right?" and "love is embarrassing". Photo courtesy of Larissa Hoffman
This album is truly relatable which is difficult for most artists to do masterfully. That is how you can tell this comes from the heart and is not just a cash grab of an album. Rodrigo uses real-life experiences that catapult her into being an idol for Generation Z kids and young adults.
This is why she is compared to Taylor Swift so much. Both artists are known for singing from the heart and turning their heartbreak into relatable songs for everyone to enjoy. Even though they are so personal, they are also identifiable for many people our age.
Another hit from this album is “Get Him Back!” which is one of her more angsty songs. The lyrics are so relatable to anyone who went through a tough breakup and still has feelings for someone who treated them so badly.
“I wanna break his heart (But then I, I want to get him back) / Then be the one to stitch it up (But then I, I want to get him back) / Wanna kiss his face (But then I, I want to get him back) / With an uppercut (But then I, I want to get him back) / I wanna meet his mom (But then I, I want to get him back) / Just to tell her her son sucks (But then I, I want to get him back),” Rodrigo sings.
This bridge is one of the best angsty breakup bridges of the year.
The song title is quite the double entendre. She wants to get him back and reconnect but also get her “sweet revenge.”
One of her piano ballads, “The Grudge,” is reminiscent of her debut album “SOUR.” This album is the perfect blend of similar and different than “SOUR” which is the best combination, experimenting with new sounds but staying in touch with your roots.
“Yeah, I’m so tough when I’m alone and I make you feel so guilty / And I fantasize about a time you’re a little f—in’ sorry… / And we both drew blood, but, man, those cuts were never equal,” Rodrigo sings.
Isn’t that just a punch right to the gut?
One of my personal favorites is “Love is Embarrassing.”
“You found a new version of me / And I damn near startеd World War III / Jesus, what was I even doin’,” Rodrigo sings.
Not to mention the chorus where she sings, “Just watch as I crucify myself / For some weird second string / Loser who’s not worth mentioning.”
You will definitely hear me driving down Clove Road screaming those lyrics at the top of my lungs.
Rodrigo perfectly encapsulates the torture of romance and the grief of losing a relationship. It is clear Rodrigo has mastered representing the agony of being in love in her lyricism.
Though, the whole album is not about breakups.
“Making the Bed” is a song about Rodrigo blaming herself for the way she is and her life. Genius notes, “Olivia is interpolating “You’ve made your bed, now lie in it,” an expression affirming the notion that one who makes bad decisions ought to be ready to suffer the consequences.”
I really like how much she spilled her guts in this album. It’s admirable how personal she gets so her fans could really relate to her music.
This album is full of Y2K-esque rock-pop hits and painful piano ballads that will leave you sobbing and singing along while burning your ex’s clothes. “GUTS” proves that Rodrigo truly is one of the biggest stars of our generation and she is no one-hit wonder.
