Pop star Olivia Rodrigo finally released her sophomore album “GUTS” this past Friday, and its 12 tracks have been an instant hit!
Royals have been eagerly waiting for the album’s release since June. Bella Corona ‘27 listened to “GUTS” the second it dropped and excitedly stated, “‘GUTS’ is amazing, in my opinion! I love the mix of songs…My favorite song would be ‘making the bed’…the lyrics are relatable because sometimes we feel like we don’t have control over anything in our lives, but we do; we just overthink things sometimes.”
We completely agree; “making the bed” is our favorite, too. With that, here are our top five “GUTS” tracks:
- “making the bed”
Olivia packed so much emotion into the beautifully written melody and really showcased her maturity and depth in the lyrics. Her voice moved us in the most heartbreaking way, and she really invested herself in the song.
- “all-american [censored]”
The frustrated lyrics perfectly encapsulate what it feels like to be a teen girl, and the repeated switch between fast and slow tempos makes the song appealing to both fans who prefer Olivia’s rage-filled side and who defer to her calmer songs.
- “logical”
The gorgeous piano tune coupled with the educational value (“logical” reminded its listeners to beware of gaslighting in relationships) cement the track in our top three. The lyric, “You’ve got me thinking two plus two equals five, and I’m the love of your life,” is exceptionally creative with its math pun and is a top-notch chorus.
- “love is embarrassing”
The ninth track on “GUTS” explains the relatable regrets, imperfections, and hypocrisy that come with many teenage relationships. The upbeat 2000s vibe and incredibly catchy lyrics make this track amazing to jam out to with friends or in the car.
- “pretty isn’t pretty”
The second-to-last song on “GUTS” explains society’s impossible beauty standards and reflects Olivia’s insecurities, which makes the track much more personal. Most teenage girls have felt they are not conventionally beautiful; “pretty isn’t pretty” captures that experience perfectly.
Even with the success of “GUTS,” we found ourselves comparing almost every song to the ones on Olivia Rodrigo’s first album, “Sour,” since the two albums share similar styles and themes. When asked if she favored “GUTS” or “Sour,” sophomore Michaela Watson shared, “In my opinion, I think ‘Sour’ is better than ‘GUTS’ because I believe the songs are more cohesive. I think Olivia’s voice is awesome and more mature in ‘GUTS,’ and I still love most of the songs, but I prefer ‘Sour’ because overall, I think all the tracks are amazing.”
In the end, we have to side with Michaela. While we thoroughly enjoyed “GUTS,” many of its songs have heavy percussion in the background, which distract from Olivia’s vocals a little bit, particularly in “ballad of a homeschooled girl” and “bad idea right?” We also gravitate toward “Sour” because it has more soft, emotional songs than rock ones; Olivia’s voice is very soulful, so it’s better suited for slower songs.
Still, “GUTS” was fantastic, and we are so excited for the upcoming world tour! Give “GUTS” a listen, watch the “get him back!” music video, and share your favorite song in the comments!
