Relationships are complicated, and I get that. But what I thought I understood about the complications of relationships, I did not know and needed Olivia Rodrigo to teach me.
On Friday, Olivia’s debut album, SOUR came out and it was greeted with not only Gen X acclaim, but everyone loved it. Hell, I wanted to travel back to high school, make up with some men in my life, and then dump them so I could send them the lyrics and/or songs that Olivia introduced into our lives.
Olivia Rodrigo is a new generations Taylor Swift. She’s profound, blunt, and weaves all of it into art that resonates with all everyone who listens to it. But like Taylor, Olivia doesn’t need to be the next anyone, because what she has created is unique, raw, messy and authentic to who she is.
And in turn has given many the words to things that the couldn’t articulate. It feels like she’s given us all of the answers to questions that we didn’t even know we had. SOUR feels like a conversation with a friend at times and at others feels like an anthem for authenticity in not only the joyful times in life, but also the ones that cause pain.
SOUR is an evolution of life in real time. It’s an album that reminds you that the only person that you need validation from is yourself, but you can definitely slap the truth in words in other peoples face.
Olivia Rodrigo is a star already, but she’s solidified that she’s not just a Disney star. Her journey has just begun.
We’re breaking down the album and in what feels like an impossible task we’re ranking the albums tracks.
11. “1 step forward, 3 steps back”
Lyrics That Hit Us: “Never doubted myself so much/ Like, am I pretty? Am I fun, boy?/ I hate that I give you power over that kinda stuff”
10. “jealousy, jealousy”
Lyrics That Hit Us: “I kinda wanna throw my phone across the room/ ‘Cause all I see are girls too good to be true”
9. “hope you’re ok”
Lyrics That Hit Us: “We don’t talk much, but I just gotta say / I miss you, and I hope that you’re okay.”
8. “favorite crime”
Lyrics That Hit Us: “And I defended you to all my friends/ And now every time a siren sounds/ I wondеr if you’re around/ ‘Cause you know that I’d do it all again”
7. “brutal”
Lyrics That Hit Us: “And I’m so sick of 17 / Where’s my fuckin’ teenage dream? / If someone tells me one more time / ‘Enjoy your youth,’ I’m gonna cry.”
6. “happier”
Lyrics That Hit Us: “Your friends are mine, you know I know/ You’ve moved on, found someone new/ One more girl who brings out the better in you”
5. “deja vu”
Lyrics That Hit Us: “I bet she’s braggin’ to all her friends, sayin’ you’re so unique.”
4. “good for you”
Lyrics That Hit Us: “And good for you, I guess that you’ve been workin’ on yourself / I guess that therapist I found for you, she really helped / Now you can be a better man for your brand new girl.”
3. “driver’s license”
Lyrics That Hit Us: “I know we weren’t perfect/But I’ve never felt this way for no one/And I just can’t imagine/How you could be so okay now that I’m gone”
2. “enough for you”
Lyrics That Hit Us: “Tried so hard to be everything that you like / Just for you to say you’re not the compliment type.”
- “traitor”
Lyrics That Hit Us: “It took you two weeks to go off and date her/Guess you didn’t cheat, but you’re still a traitor”
What do you think of Olivia’s album? What are your favorite lyrics? How would you rank the music? Sound off in the comments.