Back in February, I wrote an article on Olivia Rodrigo becoming Billboard’s 2022 Woman of the Year following the success of her first album. Now that she has just released her second album, I am here to re-establish myself as the authority on all things Olivia. Long story short…I am going to review “GUTS” and rank all 12 songs. GUTSy, right? Okay, let’s get into it:
Coming in at number one is “making the bed”: The best way for me to describe this song is to call it cinematic. It sounds like something straight out of a movie. I simply can’t listen to “making the bed” without envisioning a protagonist of a coming-of-age film driving through a storm. “making the bed” is gentle, dreamy and reflective. One of my favorite lyrics is “Countin’ all the beautiful things I regret/But it’s me who’s been making the bed.” 10/10 lyric, 10/10 song.
In spot number two, I have “vampire”: Full transparency, this may simply be because this song was released as a single back in June, so I had all summer to get it stuck in my head. If you were to go into my brain right now, you’d probably say, “Hey Skylar, what’s that thing stuck over there?” And I’d say, “Where?” Once I figured out where you were pointing I would say, “Oh that? That’s just “vampire”; it’s been there for the past few months.” This track does a great job of embracing Olivia’s stream-of-consciousness style while simultaneously showcasing her euphonious voice.
Ranked at three is “lacy”: I am prepared to defend this one. This song depicts a complicated journey of jealousy. Not only are Olivia’s vocals angelic here, but her lyrics like “I despise my jealous eyes and how hard they fell for you/Yeah, I despise my rotten mind and how much it worships you” are extremely thoughtful and poetic.
Next is “ballad of a homeschooled girl”: The chorus of this song is by far one of the catchiest on this album. I was hooked from the first listen, drawn in by the sheer number of original, relatable phrases — my favorite being “I’m on the outside of the greatest inside joke.” I’m also a big fan of “can’t think of a third line,” which in itself makes the song 10x more relatable. The extremely fast pace is also extremely intriguing. Any attempt at singing along will certainly leave you breathless. That is, until the end when Olivia’s angst and exasperation come to a head and everything slows down for a bit, making the song multidimensional.
In fifth place…“pretty isn’t pretty”: This song specifically focuses on Olivia’s experiences grappling with feelings of insecurity. It serves as a poignant reminder that everyone feels “less-than” at times. This track is a perfect mix of wholesome and mature, and it is overall uniquely distinguishable from the rest of Olivia’s discography.
Next is “all american b—h”: The content of this song is very different from the others on this album; it is largely about her perception of herself independent of the opinions and interactions of others. One of my favorite parts of this song is when Olivia sings “I’m grateful all the time/I’m sexy and I’m kind. I’m pretty when I cry.” These light and airy lines evoke the feeling of floating on a cumulus cloud — you know, one of those fluffy cauliflower-shaped ones.
Number seven is… “teenage dream”: I will forever and always associate the phrase “teenage dream” with Katy Perry. So it took me a moment to recalibrate when I began listening to this song. Rather than reveling in being a teenager, Olivia reflects on her past and the notion of growing up. If you are looking for nostalgia, this is definitely the track for you.
In eighth place is “logical”: I have no logical explanation as to why I ranked it eighth. It just feels right emotionally. A highlight for me would have to be the lyric “if rain don’t pour and sun don’t shine/then changin’ you is possible.”
Ranked ninth, I have “the grudge”: The tune of “the grudge” does not particularly stand out to me, but if you couldn’t tell by now, I tend to choose my favorite songs based on identifying new favorite lyrics. I absolutely love the phrase “we both drew blood, but man those cuts were never equal.” Olivia really channeled her inner Shakespeare with that one.
Next, I have “bad idea right?”: This song certainly gets mixed reactions, and for good reason — it comes across as more of a scream-your-heart-out session than a melodious tune. Speaking to herself, Olivia questions whether or not she should spend time with her ex-boyfriend. The song’s concept is pretty straightforward, but the execution is quite fascinating. After listening to this track on repeat in an attempt to sort out my feelings toward it, I have come to enjoy the high energy, emotional overflow, and powerful backing instrumentals. I’m also a fan of the electric guitar break.
“get him back!” takes spot number eleven. This song is indisputably catchy, but it reminds me a bit too much of “bad idea right?” in terms of content and style. I am, however, a fan of the lyric “I wanna break his heart, stitch it right back up.”
And finally, we have “love is embarrassing”: Olivia does have a point. Love is embarrassing. And before now, I don’t think I’ve ever heard a song that articulates this. I am ranking it last simply because there were no particular lyrics or stylistic choices that jumped out at me. But would I be mad if you played this song for me? No. No, I would not. Is this the last time I will play this song out of my own volition? Probably not.
Alas, I have accomplished what I set out to do. If you haven’t already, go give “GUTS” a listen. You won’t regret it!
Junior Skylar Zachian is the Campus Life Copy-Editor. Her email is szachian@fandm.edu.