Nearly two years have passed since our generation’s queen of writing love and breakup songs has released a new song or album, but the wait is officially over! Coming from the successes of her first two albums, “Sour” and “Guts”, Olivia Rodrigo is finally releasing her third album. The 23-year-old American singer, songwriter and actress first became known for her leading roles in the Disney Channel series “Bizaardvark” and, soon after, “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series”. Rodrigo shifted her career from acting to music with the release of her debut album in 2021. Hit songs like “Drivers License” and “Good 4 U” garnered a lot of attention and sales, both landing on the Billboard Hot 100 number-one spots. Hits like these were part of what kept many sane during the COVID-19 pandemic when all we had was social media. Just two years after the success of “Sour”, Rodrigo released “Guts”. That album’s single, “Vampire”, landed her another number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as multiple Grammy nominations.
“I’m really excited about Olivia’s new album and upcoming single. Her music always feels so honest and emotionally raw, and I think that authenticity is a big part of why so many people connect with her work. She has a really unique ability to take very personal experiences and transform them into songs that feel universal and relatable,” Zurisadai Velasco Celis (11) said. “I’m especially interested to see how her sound, storytelling and lyrical style have evolved since her earlier releases, and what new themes she chooses to explore in the next era.”
Rodrigo’s persona has influenced many Gen-Zers and even some Millennials since her style has a “nostalgic” feel to it. With many comparing her music to numerous millennials’ favorite artists such as Taylor Swift or Paramore that give off a similar artistic vibe mixing pop, rock and punk. Rodrigo’s aesthetic has also attracted teens to feel nostalgic themselves by going back to past fashion. The “Y2K” style, also known as 1990’s and 2000’s edgy but pop alternative style, has been popular amongst Gen-Z and resonates with Rodrigo’s aesthetic.
Rodrigo is heavily known for her heart-wrenching love or heartbreak songs, singing about how hard it takes a toll on an ordinary girl. Although her rock-inspired songs are iconic, instead of taking the sad lovesick-girl approach all the time, Rodrigo also knows how to release all that anger that love brings you into a song. “Sour” lightly dabbled in alternative sounds in deep cuts “Brutal” or “Jealousy, Jealousy”, but this tendency undoubtedly flourished in “Guts”, where many of the songs have a punk rock feel with gritty instrumentation and more angsty song lyric choices compared to many of her early songs.
Her concerts also pay homage to the heyday of alt-rock with her on electric guitar singing her heart out, her black knee-high boots and screaming along with her fans when she asks them to “Think of something that makes you so angry and scream!!!” She encourages her audience to let loose and get that adrenaline like an intense rock concert would. She even brought 90s alternative legends The Breeders on tour with her in 2024 to capture the spirit of the decade.
“I do enjoy her music!” Aleksey Alvarado (12) said. “I’ve heard [of] her a couple times and think she’s pretty good. I like her sense of style, like pop but rock as well. She seems to know what she’s doing! I will give her new album a listen once it’s out!”
Excitingly, on April 2, Olivia Rodrigo announced her new studio album “You seem pretty sad for a girl so in love”, releasing on June 12. Leading up to this announcement was her recent iconic rendition performance of The Cure’s “Friday I’m in Love” at Glastonbury Festival with the iconic 80s band’s lead singer, Robert Smith. Rodrigo teases a new look for the album too. Unlike her previous albums, this one will focus more on love songs, meaning fewer angsty, angry and heartbreak songs. Fans all over TikTok are expressing their excitement for this new era, posting endorsements such as, “Olivia Rodrigo Summer!!” and “Honestly, it’s great she broke the four-letter title thing cause it’d be expected of her every single time.”
It’s safe to say many of us are excited for this new era of love-filled songs, but we will also not forget Rodrigo’s angry, angsty, teenage-girl rage-filled era of songs. The iconic purple aesthetic is also changing to a soft pink, suggesting a more lovesick and warm approach. The album’s lead single “Drop Dead” is out now, and it already has fans and skeptics alike looking forward to her next worldwide tour! Minneapolis isn’t on the schedule yet, but here’s hoping she will add more dates soon. Keep up at oliviarodrigo.com.
