It’s Olivia Rodrigo’s world and we’re just living in it. After a long two years, Rodrigo finally released her sophomore album “Guts” on Sept. 8.

“Guts” is the epitome of being a teenage girl in your 20s. 

A Sister for ‘SOUR’

When “Sour” was released back in 2021, I remember wishing the album was released one year earlier to help me cope with the heartbreak of a previous relationship. Flash forward two years later, I’m currently dealing with the same roller coaster emotions of my recent breakup. Fortunately, Rodrigo released “Guts” at the perfect time. 

“Guts” is an emotionally charged album full of intimate confessions and the trials of dead-end relationships. Rodrigo released two singles earlier in the year, the first being “vampire.”

“vampire” is a melancholy piano ballad that deals with the insecurities and aftermath of a past lover. The single skyrocketed to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Her next single, “bad idea right?” charted at number 10.

“bad idea right?” is a playful pop song where Rodrigo comedically sings about linking up with her ex — we’ve all been there, right?

“Guts” is a perfect older sister to “Sour.” The album still sticks true to Rodrigo’s punk-pop persona but is much cooler and more mature. If anything, Rodrigo did not hold back on having fun when creating “Guts.”

“get him back!” is a pop-rock song that is fun and frisky. Rodrigo sings about wanting to get back with an ex, but solely for the purpose of revenge. The song is quite catchy and relatable with lyrics like, “He’s gonna love me and hate me at the same time” and “I am my father’s daughter, so maybe I could fix him.”

Some of my personal favorites are “love is embarrassing” and “pretty isn’t pretty.” Both emanate an ’80s synthetic beat. “love is embarrassing” describes cringeworthy moments when blindsided by love, with an addicting chorus of lyrics “Just watch as I crucify myself” and “Love’s embarrassing as hell.” 

“pretty isn’t pretty” expresses the concerns of female physical attraction and the unstable trends that women are expected to keep up with. Rodrigo opens up the song with relatable lyrics of “Bought a bunch of makeup, tryna cover up my face” and “Stopped eating cake on birthdays.”

“the grudge” is another favorite of mine where Rodrigo describes the resentment of a past relationship while still loving them. “making the bed” is a brutal confession of Rodrigo’s rise to fame and the displeasure of it all. 

A True Pop Star

Rodrigo has captured the world’s attention since the release of “drivers license.” Her shared love for Taylor Swift, sensational style and her top-tier songwriting sets her apart from any current pop stars. “Guts” simply captivates, capturing leaving behind your teenage years and entering womanhood perfectly with gut-wrenching songs that many of us can sympathize with. Rodrigo is a true pop star that shines quite bright through her songwriting and vulnerability. 

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