By Ainsley Green, Contributing Writer
Before her singing career took off just over two years ago, many knew Olivia Rodrigo as a Disney Channel actress who could carry a tune. However, Rodrigo’s debut solo album “SOUR” took the world by storm when it was released on May 21, 2021. This album displayed her masterful songwriting skills and vocals. Rodrigo’s success with her album, particularly the release of her single “driver’s license” on Jan. 8, 2021, led to many accolades. These include three Grammy Awards, three Apple Music Awards, live performances at the BRIT Awards in London and many other globally televised programs.
Now, two years after the premiere of “SOUR,” Rodrigo released a new, highly anticipated project on Sep. 8 via Geffen Records. The entire “GUTS” track list is written by Rodrigo with the help of her producer, Dan Nigro. Rodrigo has grown a lot as a musician and has introduced some new and exciting styles and moods in her songs. Each song connects together seamlessly and contributes to the overall aesthetic and theme of the album.
The album is said by many to perfectly encapsulate the struggles of the teenage years, describing a range of problems such as messy situations with exes (“get him back!”), feeling like an outsider (“ballad of a homeschooled girl”) and facing the effects of jealousy (“lacy”). As a member of this target audience, the songs relate to me in many ways, which may differ from how someone else interprets the album. Rodrigo does have considerable skill at creating slight ambiguity in her lyrics, and this allows songs to be interpreted differently for audiences.
A personal favorite track from the album is the fourth song, “lacy.” The beautiful melody immediately grabbed my attention. The lyrics are poignant and convey jealousy in a unique way. You never find out who Lacy is, but she reminds every listener of something different, and I love when songs have this quality. This track is an example of something more vulnerable on the album, but there are certainly others filled with angst and vengeance, creating a nice variety across the 14 songs.
Lyrics can be used to exhibit the range of topics and styles presented in the album. Here are some of my favorite lyrics from “GUTS”:
“But you know I can’t let it go, I’ve tried, I’ve tried, I’ve tried for so long / It takes strength to forgive, but I don’t feel strong” from the song “the grudge.”
“You built a giant castle, with walls so high I couldn’t see” from the song “logical.”
“Ooh, I care, I care, I care / Like perfume that you wear, I linger all the time / Watching, hidden in plain sight / And ooh, I try, I try, I try / But it takes over my life, I see you everywhere / The sweetest torture one could bear” from the song “lacy.”
“He said he’s six-foot-two, and I’m like ‘Dude, nice try’” from the song “get him back!”
“GUTS” is Rodrigo’s second number one album and has already surpassed 100 million streams in its opening week. Rodrigo announced the “GUTS” World Tour on Sep. 13, and she also revealed that four bonus tracks would be released for the album. The tour will run from Feb. 23 to Aug. 17, 2024 in 16 countries. It will be exciting to see Rodrigo’s career continue to blossom while anticipating her future releases!
