GROWING UP WITH OLIVIA RODRIGO: GUTS REVIEW
BY KATHERINE CHUNG (she/HER)On September 8th, 2023, Olivia Rodrigo released her sophomore album, “GUTS”. The Disney star who turned into a pop star overnight has won our hearts again with her ballads, rock songs, creative lyricism; and famous bridges. Her sophomore album is more mature than SOUR. Like many other 20-something-year-olds, she is still learning about herself and the struggles she has experienced as a young adult. In several interviews, she explained that the album is about “the confusion that comes with being a young adult”.
For this new era, Olivia changed her sound. The album, GUTS falls under the edgy pop-punk genre. It is addicting, fast-paced, and reminiscent of early female punk rock musicians. The tracks include loud electric guitar riffs, power melodies, and power chord changes. It’s fresh, unique, and the perfect sound for her. Additionally, fans have reacted by saying that the 12 songs are made for 2000s chick-flick soundtracks like 10 Things I Hate About You and Legally Blonde.
Over the summer, Olivia’s team has been hinting at the theme of this album which is “spill your guts”. This phrase means that one can tell someone all their deepest secrets and confessions. The first track, ‘All American B*tch’, includes a unique bridge that is her way of conveying emotions without using lyrics. Earlier this week, in a TikTok video, Olivia explained that “the bridge of the song is her screaming bloody murder”. Recently, artists have been following this trend where they include a sound or monologue in the chorus or intro instead of lyrics. It is a unique way to use creative expression in songs.
Olivia also does this in the outro of her angsty rock song,” Ballad of A Homeschooled Girl.” In the last 10 seconds of the song, she screams, “Can’t Think of a Third Line/La La La La” at the top of her lungs. We can interpret this as her way of saying that homeschooled children like her are struggling to figure out what to say next to their peers because they are sheltered. It’s a nod to her acknowledging her humanity. People make mistakes. And that she is sorry that she wasn’t taught to socialize the way you were in public school.
“GUTS” is not only relatable but it also feels like Olivia is telling our stories. Halfway through the album, there is a melancholic ballad called 'Making the Bed' about the self-blame she experienced during the peak of her success. The lyrics, “I'm so tired of bein' the girl that I am/ Every good thing has turned into somethin' I dread/ And I'm playin' the victim so well in my head/ But it's me who's been makin' the bed” are heartbreaking to hear since she is making herself the victim. She wants her fans to know that they are not the only ones comparing themselves to other young adults. They are not alone in the adulthood era.
The album is a reflection of Olivia’s overarching fame, growing up as a teenager in the entertainment and music industry. The things that she pays attention to that no one else does in “GUTS” are empathetic and unapologetic. “GUTS” is the epitome of what it means to be a young adult figuring out your sh*t, experiencing a range of emotions, and realizing that it is okay to make mistakes.