Olivia Rodrigo has once again taken the music world by storm with the release of her sophomore album, GUTS. Released on Sept. 8, the album has already gained over 700 million streams on Spotify.
Rodrigo’s music mainly appeals to teenage girls because of the universal relatability of her songs, which describe the experience of a teenage girl’s coming of age in modern society.
The first song off the record, “all-american *****”, details the pressure put on young American women to be nothing less than perfect. The song states all the things that women should be according to societal norms, such as “grateful all the time” and “the eternal optimist.” The music (especially the unhinged bridge section), adds a layer of sarcasm and repressed anger to these standards which is the true appeal of the opening track .
The second track, “bad idea right?” normalizes the idea that young women should have just as much freedom to go out and have fun the same way that young men do: without guilt. In the song, Rodrigo’s lighthearted tone helps remind listeners that it’s good to enjoy your youth, and “it’s fine” to have fun in relationships, even if it’s complicated and unserious.
“vampire,” track three on the record, describes the experience of being used. This is a common experience for young women, whether it be sexually, emotionally, financially, or in another way. The song gives a sense of voice and recognition to victims of abuse and emphasizes the importance of strength and community for young women.
Track four, “lacy,” is a slower song that illustrates the way that young women tend to face constant comparison to other women. Rodrigo sings about a perfect girl who she can never compare to in her own mind, and every girl has someone in their life who they feel like is somehow above them.
“ballad of a homeschool girl,” track five, is especially important to me. Having been homeschooled for eight years, it perfectly describes the feeling of constantly being behind everyone else. Homeschooling was a great option for me, and it allowed Rodrigo to pursue the career that she has; but it also has its downfalls since it causes you to feel different from everyone around you.
The experience of being an autonomous young woman with potential is perfectly expressed in “making the bed,” track six on GUTS. The young star sings of her success and how she feels that it’s “beautiful” and what “[she] wanted, it’s just not what [she] imagined,” yet she is the one responsible for the life she built. This feeling is similar to the cliché saying “the grass is always greener on the other side.”
Track seven on the record, “logical,” describes a manipulative relationship as well as the effects it can have on a young heart and mind. Being a young girl in love is a feeling like no other, but it can also be blinding. Rodrigo describes this blindness and how, looking back, she “looks so stupid” and how being “half responsible…makes [her] feel horrible.”
“get him back!” is track eight on GUTS, and is easily one of my favorites. The song has the same silly, chaotic, fun tone that “bad idea right?” has, with an added sense of female rage. The artist moves between wanting to get her ex back romantically and wanting to get her ex back for what they did to her. The song is a true masterpiece where love and hate intersect.
Track nine, “love is embarrassing,” explains how it feels to be used in a romantic way. It is a typical experience, especially for young people who don’t have much experience setting boundaries romantically.
Having a relationship end, be it romantic or not, can be utterly crushing, which is depicted in “the grudge,” track ten on the album. This song gives companionship in the form of music to anyone who has experienced the painful loss of a relationship.
The eleventh song on the record, “pretty isn’t pretty,” is a perfect representation of how it feels to compare oneself to societal beauty standards. Rodrigo sings about how “there’s always something missing, there’s always something in the mirror that I think looks wrong.” This is incredibly relatable because no matter what, as humans we have flaws.
“teenage dream,” the final track on GUTS, is about the fear of getting older and becoming a true adult. Will people still like me? Will I still be smart for my age, or am I just average now? Being gifted, talented, and one step ahead at a young age creates a precipice once one reaches adulthood: what will you be now? Are you still great, or do you just become good once the constant validation ceases?
Overall, I believe GUTS is a 10/10 album because of the way it so accurately portrays the typical experience of coming of age as a young woman. From the lyricism which depicts teenage life, to the undertones expressed through the music itself; the record doesn’t have a single skip, and I can’t wait to see where Rodrigo’s career takes her.