OLIVIA RODRIGO - GUTS (SPILLED) 

If there’s one thing about me, it’s that I am a hater! I am a proud hater! You might fight me when I tell you that I originally did not resonate with Olivia Rodrigo's music. I can’t believe it either, but I didn’t think much after “drivers license.” To me, “drivers license” felt very “of the moment.” In simple terms, it felt like one of those songs that seemed like it blew up as a result of being a sad song on TikTok. 

But I am glad to say that I was wrong! It wasn’t until “deja vu” where I got it, where it clicked for me. 

Olivia Rodrigo is an anomaly. Sure, there have been plenty of teen artists with a same-age audience who loved their music. Years later, we come to find out that their personalities were mostly developed by managers and studio executives. But I think Olivia has a personal relatability that can’t be faked or manufactured. The only artist who’s given me the same feeling is Taylor Swift in the beginnings of her career. 

The difference between Olivia and those other artists is that she resonates with her audience. With SOUR (2021), she was a teenage girl writing songs in her room about typical teenage experiences like heartbreak and self-esteem issues over a mainstream pop-punk sound. Her sound was very deliberate and so was her audience. 

Today, I am proud to say that I am the president of the Rodrighoes! SOUR made Olivia a popular name, but GUTS (2023) launched her into another kind of popstardom. With GUTS, she became my popstar and millions of other people’s popstar. The album has received lots of critical acclaim and love from the public despite being snubbed at the Grammys, but Olivia isn’t letting that get her down. She’s currently on her second world tour! And at one of her Chicago shows, she announced the release of GUTS (spilled) – the deluxe version of GUTS– featuring five new songs. 

obsessed

I’m obsessed with "obsessed." Like everyone else, I’ve seen the tour videos. I have GUTS on vinyl and "obsessed" is the bonus secret track included- I couldn't wait to hear it on streaming.

I think it is a perfect song and it makes for a perfect single for the release of this deluxe edition. It does Olivia’s trademark pop-punk, grunge sound well, and it discusses a topic that I’m sure many have related to: being obsessed with your significant other’s ex and constantly comparing yourself with them.The present guitar riff during the song is especially excellent. Looking at her discography, you can tell Olivia’s obsessed with having some of the best guitar lines in her songs. Pair that with both soft and shouty vocals, and you’ve got Olivia Rodrigo gold. The song feels like the cooler, older sister of “good 4 u” and “ballad of a homeschooled girl,” but she’s still just as insecure in her interactions with others. 

For this review, I also watched the music video alongside listening to the audio. The pageant theme with the ex-girlfriends was a creative idea; I can definitely see this as a costume idea in the future. And I love that she even does the trademark floor move that she’s done throughout the Guts World Tour! Totally obsessed!

girl i’ve always been

When reading the title of "girl i’ve always been," I’ll admit that I expected a slower ballad. Olivia does ballads well, and some of my favorite ballads by her are “happier,” “favorite crime” and “making the bed.” 

It was not that. 

This song is something that I don’t think we’ve ever heard from Olivia before. In this country-tropical tinged track, her cadence reminds me a lot of Carly Simon, whom Olivia is a huge fan of. It also reminds me of earlier music from the 2000s like The Ting Tings’ “That’s Not My Name.” She’s got a little bit of twang!

Out of all the deluxe tracks, this is the shortest one, clocking in at 2:01! Besides her voice, my attention is instantly drawn to the lyrics where she discusses how she's gone through many life events, but she’s still that girl that she’s always been. There’s even a moment where she’s addressing a critical love interest in the listener, with lyrics like “you knew everything you’d be gettin’ / i told you right from the beginnin’ / now you’re on my case, how could i go?” 

It’s quite the opposite of lyrics in her earlier songs like “enough for you” where her biggest worry is conforming to the ideals of a love interest. I love the diversity of the emotions and growth explored within the album, especially with the extension of GUTS (spilled).

scared of my guitar

"scared of my guitar" is the actual ballad. 

At this point in her career, I felt like she needed a song like this. It’s a song whose lyrics are based in realism. It’s kind of like she sat back and took note of the most prominent themes in her career at this moment – her guitar (which is the most prevalent instrument on this song), her growing maturity, and her romantic relationships. I love the lyric “i can’t lie to it the same way that i lie to you.” It instantly stood out to me. 

I know I said "obsessed" is a perfect song, but "scared of my guitar" is a perfect song. No notes!

stranger 

If you’ve kept up with Olivia’s background, this song sounds like something from her “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” era. It just has that vibe, which sometimes is just an alright listen for me. Not here, though.

The point of the song is really the lyrics. I can really tell my girl has really grown up since SOUR after listening to this song and "girl i’ve always been." She no longer cares about pleasing people and fitting into their expectations! In that aspect, "stranger" is definitely hitting me hard. 

so american

I don’t think you guys know how long I have been waiting for a love song from miss Olivia Rodrigo. Don’t get me wrong: I love her breakup and heartbreak songs, but I always felt like she could do a love song justice if she really wanted to. When I learned about "so american," I was so excited to hear what it would sound like and what the lyrics would address, because we’ve really never seen our girl share this side of her. 

The production of this song is so funky, and the filter on her voice is the same as on “love is embarrassing.” It makes for a pretty cool detail because “love is embarrassing” is about the feelings you have when you first start to like someone, and this song is about those same feelings but in a deeper sense. She’s actually in the relationship now, and it’s the best thing ever.

Here are some of my favorite lyrics because there’s so many good ones: “he’s like a poem i wish i wrote,” “oh god, it’s just not fair of him to make me feel this much / i’ll go anywhere he goes,” “oh god, i’m gonna marry him if he keeps this shit up,” and “can’t have a conversation if it’s not all about you.” Basically, this is the Gen-Z love song. 

She made this song for me because I too wish I had a British boyfriend!

Deluxe Track Ranking?

1. So American

2. Scared of My Guitar

3. Obsessed

4. Girl I’ve Always Been

5. Stranger

This review has been written by Kenzie Gray.