With all honesty, I only heard of her recently. And me being the K-pop fan I was, I didn't bother to listen to her. However, a friend recommended me the album. So I thought I should get around to writing my thoughts on it, because it wouldn't be fair if I listened to it without giving my thoughts.
(Though with all honesty, nobody ever reviewed my recommendations. It's why I hate recommending - nobody even listens, and false hope isn't very fun.)
So, Olivia Rodrigo.
I checked out her Spotify and scrolled down her artist bio. She's actually... pretty interesting. She seems pretty nice and friendly, but at the same time she writes her own songs, so I'm glad she has a medium of expression somewhat. I was never a fan of stylized all-lowercase though, but otherwise, she seems like a nice person.
1. brutal
Probably my favourite song at first listen, since it stands out genre-wise. Maybe I'm a fan of the rock, but also of her talking way of singing. I don't care much for the violin in the beginning but that's fine. It fits for what it's supposed to do - be relatable. It gives me the impression of angsty teens, but in reality, it seems like it's about her stardom instead. But it does a good job at what it's supposed to convey. The rhyming seems kind of... juvenile? Which works with what it's supposed to do again. It gives me the picture of her with an angry expression writing away in the garage as she lets out her frustrations. Actually that's the impression I get. Garage. It seems very garage. (A plus since she has stated that she wrote her songs in a garage)
2. traitor
traitor reminds me of one Nijigasaki song which none of you probably know. Shizuku Osaka's third solo. The intro is similar though I doubt they're about the same thing. traitor sounds a lot more melancholy. I assume it is about a break-up - it's pretty easy to tell from the title itself.
The song reminds me of Taylor Swift - they have similar styles. It reminds me of Taylor's evermore/folklore works, especially with the acoustic guitar and her rhymes. They're both really mystical and sound like a diary somewhat. Which makes sense, I guess, because their MBTI types are the same - ESFJ. Fe dom being mostly connected to others, and Si with the recollection. Somewhat emotional. The lyrics seem like teenage Taylor.
3. driver's license
This song is famous, so I'm guessing it's either 1) really catchy, or 2) really relatable. It gets plus points for its title though, it's memorable, and uniquely hers.
I predict this driver's license is somewhat personal to her - a significant event in her life. And judging from Genius, it's right. I'm guessing it's another breakup song. It sounds really personal to her, and I've always been weak for personal songs. I like how the second half of the song turned up in its chorus. It's beautiful, yeah. This song seems very personal. I actually kind of like this, though I'm surprised it's famous because it doesn't sound like it has that famous factor?
I like the sound of the keys in the beginning. Adds to the mood. I like the line "Red lights, stop signs" too. It symbolises an end, and works as a semantic field for the theme of roads and cars. But it's cool.
4. 1 step forward, 3 steps back
Ooh I like the mood of this. It's dainty and innocent, like a first love or a first ballroom dance. Except with how lively it is, it seems light like ballet words. It seems really innocent, especially since it starts with her singing softly. Though it does get more intense as it progresses. And the time signature seems to change? I'm not sure, I'm not good at this skfjhk
The lyrics are sad though, so I'm guessing it's a sad memory but she reminisces the happy ones. I don't think it's too memorable, but it does its job well as a side track in the album.
5. deja vu
Okay it's been a while since I kept this in my drafts, but I personally like deja vu, as much of a TikTok song it is. I don't really care for the message, but it carries on with the theme of heartbreak and pain she has going on with the album. It's a decent addition.
The beginning sounds really sparkly, I think it's nice. Speaking in MBTI terms, it goes in touch with her Si - internal sensation, aka past memories. I think the rhyming is nice too. And there's a part in the prechorus which sounds... vaguely familiar? Which is a coincidence, because... deja vu. Lol. I got deja vu.
The instruments are rad. The electronic guitar is rad.
6. good 4 u
good 4 u is the more famous of her songs. The angry energy is nice. Matches what she wanted to get across. The drums sound great. It gets progressively more frustrated, like it's a venting song. Which is interesting. I can see why people relate to it and like it. It stands out in the album for having a different sound, yet keeps up with the theme of the album.
Her voice switches from yelling, to falsetto/whispering. I guess that adds to the "realness" of it all? Like she's actually experiencing it? So I have to commend her on that. Oh I like how it ends suddenly.
7. enough for you
I'm reminded of Good Riddance by Green Day. I like the instrumental, so I do have to commend her for her composing skills. This song is a lot more mellow and understanding compared to the previous track, good 4 u, but still focusing on the same emotions. I'm guessing the theme of the album is growing up, except this growing up is used for people who had relationships.
She's really loud. Maybe I'm listening via earphones, but I think her vocals are a lot louder than the instrumental. Maybe that's the point. All in all, it's a nice song. Personally like it, but I don't remember much about it after listening except for the guitar. I liked the guitar.
8. happier
The sort of "spacey" EDM in the beginning is cool, I like it. Then it moves to waltz, and it continues to follow the theme of heartbreak and cheating. She's progressed from the previous few tracks into no longer being angry at them, and is a lot more aware of her surroundings.
Okay I take it back, it's sort of more selfish, but I guess it's realistic, because you know, teenagers. Because she doesn't want the couple to be happier than what they felt with her, which means she hasn't moved on yet. I like this song, but I think the message is too selfish for me. I like the chorus of "ooh"s she has in her songs; makes her song trademark to Olivia Rodrigo sort of.
9. jealousy, jealousy
"I kinda wanna throw my phone across the room" Same.
Oh I like this. It sounds a lot more discordant compared to her previous songs but I like it. She's still frustrated her. The echo/choruses sort of confirms my speculation that it's a trademark to her songs.
It sounds like she's trying to make this anthemic.
Oh this is exciting actually. I love the dissonance. The piano keys at the back sound random, like they pressed random keys, but it still manages to fit together. The EDM-ish (forgot the name lol) really fits too. Oh it ended suddenly.
Anyways, it got me hyped, and I think the song does a good job at that - progressively becoming more intense, allowing you to be surprised.
10. favorite crime
Nice title - I think it's memorable. Another chorus of voices.
It reminds me of enough for you, though I personally like enough for you better. This sounds a little boring to me, but it fits her aesthetic. BUT I think it makes a good outro. It nicely fits in its position of the 10th song. I don't care for it much, but I like it as an outro.
11. hope ur ok
This fits more as the outro compared to favorite crime for the sole reason that it sounds more hopeful and progressive, which is a good note to end the album. A lot of the songs are centered around her feeling, but hope ur ok shows a bit of empathy and care for the other person, and I like that.
Song wise, I don't think I care much for it. But I do think it sounds a little humane in a way. It's cool enough, but I don't think it's something I'll sing along to, but it fits its position as closure very well. Especially with the choruses/choirs. I like it. She also seems to enjoy pausing all backing tracks save for a basic beat for a talking-singing kind of thing - another trademark?
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Anyways, if you're going to listen to the album, listening to it in order is a nice ride. I recommend. Overall it's a solid album. Well-thought out, and does a great job in the theme it wants to put out. Personally, the message doesn't resonate with me, and me being a but cynical, kind of sounds fake BUT I know perfectly well it isn't, and this may just be how people think when they break up with someone.
Side note, but I love the cover art/aesthetic. I like the purple, and I like the stickers. I don't know if I'd say it fits the theme of the album but it does to a good job in capturing the audience + giving her an aesthetic. I've seen the stickers-on-faces trend going around, which makes me curious is she was the one who started it or did she hop onto a trend?
Anyways, takeaways:
- Her songwriting involves a lot of nostalgia and memories. driver's license is a good example.
- She's a good poet
- Very Taylor Swift in her songwriting. I guess they have the same relatability there
- Lots of use of chorus effects, or choirs, or layers of voices, or whatever they're called
- Lots of use of talk-singing, probably intentional.
I don't think I have favourite songs, but I like the album. Not a favourite, but I'll give it a listen from time to time.
//Note to self: please learn musical terminology so that you don't just say "echoes"
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