No one can really prepare for adolescence. The transition from teenager to adult is one that comes with many trials and tribulations. It’s a topic that Olivia Rodrigo explored in her debut album “SOUR.”
From the first track “brutal” all the way to the last in “hope ur ok,” adolescent struggles, such as heartbreak, are present throughout the album. Rodrigo talks about the different emotions that surround being heartbroken.
In “traitor,” for example, she reflects on a failed relationship and the feeling of being betrayed. Even though she clarifies that this ex-lover didn’t cheat, she still feels misled and betrayed by them, going on to say, “It took you two weeks to go on and date her. Guess you didn’t cheat but you’re still a traitor.”
Similar themes in songs like “good 4 u” and “happier” can be found within the album. With “good 4 u,” for instance, the chorus delivers the main point of the song. Rodrigo laments how she’s been struggling without their love, while they seem the same, if not better, without her.
In “happier,” Rodrigo wishes the best for her ex-love but hopes that their new love isn’t better than her. Rodrigo said, “I hope you’re happy. But not like how you were with me,” as she deals with attempting to live without someone she cared deeply for.
Other songs in the album take a different perspective on heartbreak, with “deja vu” and “jealousy, jealousy” focusing on the bitterness of seeing someone or seeing an ex better off with someone else.
Other songs like “driver’s license” have more of a longing tamber rather than the bitterness or sourness of a torn relationship. “Brutal” is more a reflection of the stressors of being an adolescent.“Hope ur ok” is a genuine song in which Rodrigo wishes the best for those she once knew.
Although those are just a fraction of the songs on the album, it’s evident why many people, myself included, absolutely love this album. Rodrigo sets the tone with “brutal” and navigates through the disappointment and confusion of heartbreak before ending in a somber yet hopeful tone with “hope ur ok.”
Great albums are able to make people feel things. The themes of heartbreak the album navigates aren’t special or groundbreaking, but they are relatable to many people.
This is a sign of great music — it relates to its audience. Music makes people reflect on themselves and their lives. Music gets people thinking and inquiring about everything they interact with. And Rodrigo’s “SOUR” does that in spades.
No one wants to be the one heartbroken, struggling without someone they once loved. No one wants to be the person Rodrigo described herself as in “1 step forward, 3 steps back,”where she was in love with someone toxic and manipulative, being unable to regulate their emotions consistently.
Olivia Rodrigo’s “SOUR” stands out for a myriad of factors, including its lyrics and instrumentals. But most of all, it stands out because of its themes of being 17 and struggling through growing up while trying not to be bitter or sour about being heartbroken.
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