Olivia Rodrigo is still 18 but has already made a million steps forward, zero-step back since her music debut at the beginning of this year. Two #1 singles (“drivers license” and “good 4 u”), 1 more top 3 single (“deja vu”), and a bunch of non-singles within Billboard Hot 100. Most of her music’s flow is 10 mph in a slow suburban but her career speed is 200 mph in the hectic music business with just a regular driver’s license. Better be, Olivia’s music is fantastic.
Olivia Rodrigo’s first album, SOUR, released on May 17, shot to #1 at its debut on Billboard 200. Mercy still exists on the current music scene filled with so many similar music and faces. Olivia proved that she didn’t have to be the same as others for her success. For many teenager fans, Olivia was a Paige Olivia or Nini Salazar-Roberts on Disney before being a musician. For those older generations who didn’t know about Olivia before, have been called love traitors numerous times but still have pure soul about music, she might be a chart top savor who instantly changed the hit chart game.
Olivia Rodrigo isn’t a typical pop princess. Many people’s prejudicial views might probably be similar to Selena Gomez or Demi Lovato before listening to her music. Wrong. Her music isn’t really pop. You wouldn’t be able to dance with most of Olivia’s songs unless dance mix.
Like Olivia lists as her main influence, the principal of SOUR album is similar to Taylor Swift; acoustic pop, country pop, folk-pop, etc. The album kicks start with a grunge-like rock song (“brutal”) and have two other rock songs, “good 4 u” and “jealousy, jealousy”, but others are all wrapped in laid-back melodies.
The lyrics are teenage sour. Adolescent stress and frustration all over. Sometimes singing about the lack of confidence caused by the series of teenage cheats and betrayals. Even from the start, the album is filled with hopelessness saying “where’s my fucking teenage dream”. There is no single happy song. “happier” isn’t a happy song; too much imagination about the next girlfriend of her ex-boyfriend. “drivers license”, the song that made Olivia famous, is a sad song about using the new driver’s license she finally got for other than its original purpose of visiting her boyfriend; escaping from heartbreak. The conclusion (“hope ur ok”) is teenage sexual confusion and struggles to be LGBTQ with a lack of understanding from their parents because of their stubborn beliefs.
But sour can turn to sweetness, suppression and depression will eventually turn to happiness after all, and adolescence turns to maturity (though there are many immature adults as well…). This is what SOUR album is. Inside is so much teenage scars and pains but turns to healing by beautiful melodies and Olivia Rodrigo’s voice.
Despite rough lyrics, melodies are blossoming with hopes. Unlike the title, melodies aren’t sour. Particularly, the melodies of slow songs are like colorful candy powders which are softly and slowly absorbed into the layer of pure virgin white cotton. The authentic melodies, not trendy pop melodies, are charmingly visualizing. I see heaven during the intro of “traitor”. “drivers license” succeeds to express driving through a beautiful California suburb in the sunny evening. “1 step forward, 3 steps back” is retrospective with genuine melodies like flowing from a vintage music box. “enough for you” and “favorite crime” are acoustic folk songs that heal tired souls contrary to each previous rock song. The last “hope ur ok” ends with the symphonic climax that makes a finger press the restart button. Those kind melodies softly flow over weeping and wicked souls and change them to spring gardens, even adults.
Rock songs are blazing, too. “brutal” is a fun rock song that is infused with early 90s garage/grunge rock like the mixture of Nirvana and Green Day. “good 4 u” is, like Katy Perry’s “Hot N Cold” from her debut album, a rock anthem instantly fires up in the middle of the album. Rock songs are the minority in the album but take an important role to entertain the album at the beginning and middle without breaking the whole balance. The album structure is well considered.
Olivia’s voice is like aromatherapy. Olivia is a beautiful songstress who holds and comforts each sour heart. Olivia’s outreach encourages listeners it’s ok to get hurt but doesn’t give up. Olivia is also a rock star knocking out the hard situations with the speedy songs. Her expressional vocal made a beautiful chemical reaction with flawless melodies and succeeded to make her debut album unforgettable and addictive. Olivia Rodrigo is truly one of the brightest hopes in 2021 with full potentials.
OVERALL POINTS: 97/100
- Songs: ★★★★★
- Originality: ★★★★+1/2
- Thrills: ★★★★+3/4
- Song orders: ★★★★★
- Vocal: ★★★★+1/2
- Background: ★★★★★
- Sound: ★★★★★
- Production: ★★★★★
- Strong songs: “brutal”, “traitor”, “drivers license”, “1 step forward, 3 steps back”, “deja vu”, “good 4 u”, “hope ur ok”
EXTRA (NOT COUNTED TOWARD THE OVERALL POINTS)
- Title: A
- Album cover: A (Nothing similar with Hole’s Live Through This)
RELEASE DATE (US): 05/21/2021
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