Hi all!

Today I am breaking down/ranking the tracks from Olivia Rodrigo’s new album: You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love. I’m calling it right now – album of the year! I liked Sour & Guts but as a woman in her late 30’s, I definitely relate to this one more. It’s very mature. Olivia has really honed her craft with this record. The songwriting is perfection and the melodies – simply addictive. I have a lot to say. Without further ado, let’s get into it! 

YOU SEEM PRETTY SAD FOR A GIRL SO IN LOVE

Before listening to this record, it’s very important one understands it. Comprehension gives context. It is divided into two parts and told chronologically. 

1.) Girl So In Love – Drop Dead, Stupid Song, Honeybee, Maggots For Brains, U + Me = <3, My Way & Purple. 

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2.) You Seem Pretty Sad  – The Cure, Begged, What’s Wrong With Me, Less, Expectations & Cigarette Smoke. 

Olivia was with Louis Partridge for almost two years before their relationship ended. When they were together, they truly did seem so in love. However, beneath the surface, lay anxiety and insecurity. Hence the title of the album. With each song, we travel through their story and how it slowly broke down over time. Before releasing it to the world, Olivia added more honesty to the lyrics. Her producer, Dan Nigro, also tweaked the production to highlight the underlying desperation. Speaking of, You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love is filled with string instruments, layered choral effects, electric guitars, bass guitars, pianos and live drums. It’s a feast for the ears. I am loving it more and more with each listen. 

TRACK RANKING/BREAKDOWN

1.) Drop Dead 

My favourite track off the album is lead single: Drop Dead. It was the perfect place to start; really setting the scene for the journey we were about to go on. It has the dreamiest production, the catchiest hook and the most stunning music video (see below). Having visited Versailles, I was thrilled to see Olivia frolicking through its illustrious hallways. As mentioned, the story is told in chronological order. Being the opening number, the song details her intoxicating first date with Louis. She captured those initial feelings, where you just want to scream, jump and prance around. Obsessed! 

Favourite lyric: “You’re lookin’ like an angel on the walls of Versailles.”

2.) U + Me = <3  

In second place, I have U + Me = <3. From the moment I heard the first chords, I knew it was my type of song. It’s very surf rock meets the opening scene of a 90’s rom-com movie. This is the part of the relationship where one starts imagining forever with their partner. There is a real innocence to the lyrics but also a delusional obsession (explored later on in the record). Olivia admits to following a pattern of getting ahead of herself when it comes to love; taking things too fast in the beginning. I just want to play it on repeat. It’s pop perfection.

Favourite lyric: “Carve our names into the car seat leather. You plus me equals a heart forever.”

3.) Stupid Song 

In third place, I have Stupid Song. It’s also the third lead single from the album. Excellent choice for radio! This track has the most epic cinematic build. It blows me away every single time. If you’ve seen the rom-com edits of television characters running toward their love interests, you know. In my opinion, this number showcases Olivia’s vocals at their best. She ranges between dreamy, desperate, soft, loud, fast and slow. Contextually, this song goes beyond lust. It displays a primal want and need for a person – almost unhealthily so. Her desire has completely overtaken her; body and soul. Who hasn’t felt that way, especially at a younger age? 

Favourite lyric: “And if there is a god, he’s the bond that’s between us two.”

4.) Honeybee 

Honeybee is such a beautiful song. The production alone put it in my top 5. Conan Gray provides wistful backing vocals, adding a choral effect. It sounds like a classic Disney movie – akin to something like Once Upon A Dream. Olivia said in an interview that the line “here’s to hoping” is the thesis statement for the entire album. She’s scared she will lose the love of her life someday. Knowing it didn’t last makes this number even more melancholic in hindsight. 

Favourite lyric: “But even when I’m quiet, I love you, baby, I promise.”

5.) The Cure 

In fifth place I have second single: The Cure. Olivia said this is the best song she has ever written. It is extremely honest and vulnerable. She bravely shares that no amount of love could fix her. Nothing will ever be enough when you’re at war with the demons within. I admire her depth and insight. It would’ve been difficult to put that out into the world. I have no doubt this relationship taught her a lot about herself. 

Favourite lyric: “And my head is full of poison, and my heart is full of doubt.”

6.) Maggots For Brains

Similar to U + Me = <3, Maggots For Brains is very surf rock/rom-com-esque. It just makes you want to dance. Despite the upbeat production, Olivia is blatantly confessing that she’s all-consumed by her relationship. Whenever her lover is not around, she feels untethered. There is a consistent theme of rotting, zombies, moldy fruit, maggots etc. Everything feels off. This is not a healthy mentality. It’s actually quite toxic. What I truly love about this record is how revealing the romantic songs are. They tell us more about why things fell apart, over the sad ones. 

Favourite lyric: “I’m a zombie in my body, I’m a train off of the track.”

7.) Expectations  

Expectations is the pick-me-up we needed after a string of devastating songs. It’s so upbeat and fun. As the title suggests, Olivia has standards for her potential new lovers. She is no longer settling for men with fake jobs and passive demeanours. Relationships teach us what we will and will not accept moving forward. She has grown so much from this experience. I hope anyone listening to this track heeds her words of wisdom. 

Favourite lyric: “Past mistakes are just new information.”

8.) Begged

I saw Olivia’s performance of Begged on SNL before the album was released. It broke me on first listen. In my opinion, it is the saddest song on the record. It’s also deeply relatable. Nobody wants to beg their partner to fulfil their needs. It should come naturally. You don’t want to push them away but you’re also dying inside because they aren’t doing their part. At that point, it’s a lost cause. 

Favourite lyric: “Cling to hope like snow on mountains.”

9.) My Way  

I dont like to compare Olivia to Taylor Swift but My Way is basically her version of Better Than Revenge. It’s feminism off. It’s supporting women’s rights and wrongs. I really enjoy the pop rock vibes. It sounds like something Hilary Duff or Avril Lavigne would’ve sung about in the early 2000’s. I’m not sure who Olivia is singing about but this unknown person was clearly crossing boundaries. Having said that, a secure partnership cannot be broken. She was already experiencing feelings of insecurity. This situation certainly didn’t help. 

Favourite lyric: “Maybe I’m a petty bi*@ch, but you made me resort to this.”

10.) Purple  

Purple is a grower for me. I guarantee the next time I rank the album, it will be higher on my list. It’s a dreamy number about how well Olivia and her lover complement one another. They feel like a real couple, long past the honeymoon stage. However, the song has a twist. It is the last track of the ‘girl so in love’ section; ending with lyrics: ‘melt with you ’til it all turns black, melt with you ’til it just feels sad.’ We then transition into the ‘you seem pretty sad’ part of the record. What seemed lovely just a moment ago suddenly turns dark. I love that type of cohesive storytelling. 

Favourite lyric: “And I melt with you, your red and my blue.”

11.) Less 

Coming in third-last, I have Less. When I hear it, I think of sitting home alone at Christmas; a glass of red wine in hand. It sounds like a melancholic holiday song. Similar to Begged, it is extremely sad. In this track, Olivia laments on her broken relationship. She realises Louis took the cowards way out. Instead of fighting for them, he left believing it the best course of action. From his perspective, it was an act of love. From hers, she wished he “loved” her less. The part that really breaks my heart is when she admits to re-creating their first date (see Drop Dead above). They wanted to salvage the magic that was no longer there. It’s lower on my list because in my opinion, it’s not as replayable. 

Favourite lyric: “But you’ve seen me truly happy, so you know right now I’m not.”

12.) Cigarette Smoke

Coming in second-last, I have Cigarette Smoke. This is the longest song on the album. I don’t dislike it, I’m just in the fathoming stages. As the closing track, it really sums up the aftermath of Olivia’s relationship with Louis. She regrets how long she stayed but also wishes she could forget all the good memories. They had so much potential. There was no better way to end such a phenonemal record. The next time I rank the album, it will be higher. 

Favourite lyric: “You said that I made loving look easy. ‘Til I made it hard.”

13.) What’s Wrong With Me (feat. Robert Smith)

In last place is What’s Wrong With Me, featuring Robert Smith from The Cure. Unfortunately I don’t see this song ever climbing the ranks. As offensive as this may be to some, I am not a fan of Robert’s vocals. I don’t think they blend overly well with Olivia’s. I would’ve loved a version without him on it. Having said that, the lyrics are very revealing about her relationship. At this stage of the breakdown, she has begun to realise that her partner is the one making her unhappy. It’s a bitter pill to swallow but for the sake of escaping misery, it’s the first step to reclaiming happiness. 

Favourite lyric: “I think you’re what’s wrong with me.”

I absolutely love this record. I truly hope it wins AOTY at the next Grammys. Thank you so much for reading! How would you rank these tracks? 

Peace & Love xoxo