Olivia Rodrigo, best known for her aching heartbreak ballads, has dived into the world of pop-rock with her sophomore album, Guts. Released on 8th September, 2023, Guts was produced with Rodrigo’s longtime partner Dan Nigro for Geffen Records. Singles like Vampire, and Bad Idea, Right, released in the summer of 2023 topped the charts in the US and UK.
The first song on the album — All-American Bitch was inspired by a collection of essays by Joan Didion. The song starts off mellow, with Rodrigo crooning about being the “perfect” girl that men can idolize —“Coca-Cola bottles that I only use to curl my hair/I got class and integrity/Just like a goddamn Kennedy.” This transitions to an angsty chorus, reminiscent of the feminism-inclined “riot grrrl” punk rock movement of the nineties “Forgive, and I forget/I know my age, and I act like it,” Rodrigo sings — furious about the impossible expectations that modern girlhood presents. Sharp, spunky, and ironic — All-American Bitch is the perfect song to belt out if you find yourself in a passionate bout of rage.
Up next, Lacy is an earnest ode to a female muse. The woman is described as a “Dazzling starlet, Bardot reincarnate,” and Rodrigo romanticizes every little thing she does. The song is a representation of longing that has come a long way from the frustrated envy in,“Jealousy, Jealousy” on Sour. While the latter is an indignant take on the exhaustion that results from the chronic comparison girls condemn themselves to, Lacy delves into the all-too-familiar feeling of being fixated on the woman who replaces us in a relationship.
Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl is a relatable romp — with Rodrigo using self-deprecating humor to express self-loathing over her social anxiety. “I laughed at the wrong time/Sеarchin’ “how to start a conversation?” on a website/Every guy I like is gay.” This song explores how young adults often have to redefine their social lives as they step out into the world alone. Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl is similar to Brutal in many ways — the extensive self-effacing references, upbeat drums in the backgrounds, and groans of frustration.
Olivia Rodrigo passionately redefines herself on Guts, exploring womanhood, her overnight rise to fame, and struggles with her identity on the album. The charismatic pop-rock sound over powerful themes like these is enough to qualify Guts to be a soundtrack on any coming-of-age movie.
