In the world of pop music, few artists have made as much of a splash in recent years as Olivia Rodrigo. Fans and critics alike have been eagerly awaiting her sophomore effort. The wait is over, as Olivia Rodrigo's highly anticipated album "GUTS" has finally been released, and it's nothing short of a triumph. The album is a deeply personal and introspective journey, but is also extremely relatable, showcasing her growth as both an artist and a young woman. It's clear that Rodrigo has poured her heart and soul into this record, and it shines through on every track.

The album is so teen-girl, having fans left feeling like she unlocked their brain before writing the lyrics. There was some returned controversy with haters believing she copied other songs and beats, but similarities are everywhere in the music industry.¹ My top three songs (not in order) are: all-american b*tch, lacy, and pretty isn't pretty. The opening track is titled, “all-american b*tch”, it dives into a lot of what is expected of women in modern society, how perfection is forced on women, and what traditional roles would be. My favorite lines are,
“I don't get angry when I'm pissed
I’m the eternal optimist
I scream inside to deal with it",
which dives into the “ideals” for women, making them feel as if they can only put their best face forward.²

“‘lacy,” is a slower song, I have depicted it to be a mix of envy, admiration, and longing love. Rodrigo describes Lacy as being perfect, a “bardot reincarnate,” many people have speculated that this song could be about either of her friends, Gracie Abrams, or Sabrina Carpenter.³ The Sabrina theory, while extremely believable is tough because the media and public are constantly putting them against each other. In my opinion, the best lines are:
“Smart, Sexy Lacy, I’m losin’ it lately
I feel your compliments like bullets on skin
Dazzling starlet, Bardot reincarnate.”³
I find this to be extremely relatable due to the fact when I get a compliment from another girl who i admire, or find to be perfect, or envy, it affects me deeply, and it either makes or breaks my day.

Track 11, “pretty isnt pretty,” is probably the most teen girl song ever. It talks about how society and peers are constantly putting pressure on us to be the best. The prettiest, and whatever you do it will never be enough because there will always be better. My favorite lines happen to be the opening ones as I find them the most relatable:
“bought a bunch of makeup tryna cover up my face
I started to skip lunch and stopped eating cake on birthdays
bought a new prescription to try and stay calm
cuz there’s always something missing
there’s always something in the mirror that I think looks wrong."⁴
Changing your appearance to fit in with your desired clique, while being a painful, and concerning experience, is pretty common. The lyrics do mention not eating, which I don't struggle with anymore, but if you do don't feel afraid to reach out for help. However, this just feels like she spilled out every insecurity that is so common among teenagers.

All of the songs are so well done and relatable making it understandable why Olivia Rodrigo is so popular. I would rate the alum an honest 10 out of 10, and it should be listened to immediately by everyone. It covers a wide range of music styles and while they are somewhat similar because they are about Rodrigo's life, they aren't too similar. The “GUTS” tour has been announced and I’m very excited to see where her career goes.