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Take A Deep Dive Into This Year's Best Pop Vocal Album Nominations | 2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show
2022 GRAMMYs Nominations

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Take A Deep Dive Into This Year's Best Pop Vocal Album Nominations | 2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show

Justin Bieber, Doja Cat, Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, and Olivia Rodrigo are the nominees for the star-studded Best Pop Vocal Album category at the 2022 GRAMMYs Awards show

GRAMMYs/Nov 25, 2021 - 01:33 am

Editor's Note: The 2022 GRAMMYs Awards show, officially known as the 64th GRAMMY Awards, <a href="https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/2022-grammys-awards-64th-new-air-show-date-location-las-vegas-april-3-announcement "https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/2022-grammys-awards-64th-new-air-show-date-location-las-vegas-april-3-announcement"">has been rescheduled to Sunday, April 3, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The below article was updated on Tuesday, Jan. 18, to reflect the new show date and location.

The 2022 GRAMMYs Awards show, officially known as the 64th GRAMMY Awards, is just around the corner, and now the nominations are in for the coveted Best Pop Vocal Album award. This star-studded category features five of the leading names in pop, each of whom released standout albums in the qualifying eligibility period (Sept. 1, 2020 — Sept. 30, 2021).

While we'll have to wait until the 64th GRAMMY Awards, which air on CBS on Sunday, April 3, to find out who will be the winner, let's take a look at the superstars nominated in one of the most anticipated categories at Music's Biggest Night.

JUSTIN BIEBER — JUSTICE (TRIPLE CHUCKS DELUXE)

Justin Bieber isn't the kind of artist to give his fans the bare minimum. That's why just a week after releasing his warmly received sixth studio album, Justice, the two-time GRAMMY winner released the Triple Chucks Deluxe edition, which added six more songs, bringing the tracklist to 22 songs in total.

Coming one year after his R&B-led album, Changes, Justice saw Bieber teaming up with friends like Chance the Rapper on "Holy," the Kid LAROI on "Unstable," Khalid on "As I Am," and the R&B dream team of Daniel Caesar and Giveon on the laid-back jam "Peaches." For the Triple Chucks Deluxe tracks, the singer added the star power of Lil Uzi Vert on "There She Go," Jaden on "I Can't Be Myself," DaBaby on "Know No Better," Tori Kelly on "Name," and Migos member Quavo on "Wish You Would."

Now the singer — who, at the age of 27, is already an industry veteran — is preparing to take Justice on an extensive world tour in 2022, playing a total of 98 dates across 20 countries with guests including Jaden, ¿Téo? and protege Eddie Benjamin. It's that non-stop work ethic that's kept Justin Bieber at the top of his game.

Read More: Meet This Year's Best Pop Solo Performance Nominees | 2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show

DOJA CAT — PLANET HER (DELUXE)

From the moment she burst onto pop radars with her 2018 debut album, Amala, Doja Cat hasn't stopped hustling.

The Los Angeles-born rapper, singer, songwriter, and meme star's first taste of fame came via the viral hit "Mooo!" She returned in 2019 with the polished and pop-forward album Hot Pink, featuring the GRAMMY-nominated "Say So" and production from top beat-makers like Yeti Beats and Kool Kojak alongside guest appearances from Smino, Gucci Mane and Tyga.

In June 2021, Doja Cat joined the top-tier of pop talent with her third album, Planet Her. Led by the meteoric single "Kiss Me More," featuring fellow R&B/pop sensation SZA and also currently nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, the record lined up A-list guests like Young Thug, Ariana Grande, JID, and the Weeknd. For Doja Cat's fans, Planet Her was the best showcase yet of her oddball, button-pushing humor, lyrical smarts, and versatility across R&B, hip-hop and pure pop. This time around, Doja Cat worked primarily with super-producers Y2K, Yeti Beats and Dr. Luke to help sculpt the album's sound.

Planet Her (Deluxe) followed soon after with five additional tracks, including an extended version of "You Right" with the Weeknd, plus the previously unreleased "Tonight" featuring Eve and "Why Why" featuring Gunna.

Read More: ​​Meet This Year's Album Of The Year Nominees | 2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show

BILLIE EILISH — HAPPIER THAN EVER

When the COVID-19 pandemic grounded Billie Eilish's 2020 tour, the songwriting wunderkind found herself facing something very unfamiliar: an empty calendar.

With no pressure to meet an album deadline and far from the fatigue of touring life, Eilish and her collaborator and brother Finneas retreated to his home studio to make her second album, Happier Than Ever.

Preceded by singles including "My Future" and "Therefore I Am," Happier Than Ever debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and reinforced Eilish as a generational talent. The album interrogates life in the spotlight over the pared-back electronic production from Finneas that always showcases Eilish's brittle, shapeshifting vocals.

Since the release of Happier Than Ever, the seven-time GRAMMY winner has finally seen her haunting theme song shine in the new James Bond movie, No Time To Die, and is setting out on a world tour that includes sold-out stops at Madison Square Garden in New York and The Forum in Los Angeles.

Read More: Meet This Year's Song Of The Year Nominees | 2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show

ARIANA GRANDE — POSITIONS

In the fast-moving world of pop, Ariana Grande stays remarkably prolific. Over her celebrated career, the two-time GRAMMY winner has released six studio albums, more than 50 singles, and a beloved live album, k bye for now (swt live), recorded at the peak of a 102-show tour in 2019. Her secret weapon: a voice that can hit soaring diva highs and smoky bedroom tones from one song to the next.

Following her celebrated 2019 album Thank U, Next, Grande gave us her GRAMMY-winning collaboration with Lady Gaga, "Rain On Me," then doubled down with Positions in October 2020. The album sees Grande processing grief and finding release through 14 songs that straddle R&B and high-sheen pop. Singles "34+35," "pov" and "positions" — the latter is currently nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance — put Grande front and center, while "motive" with Doja Cat, "off the table" with the Weeknd and "safety net" with Ty Dolla $ign buzz with added star power.

Since Positions, Grande delivered another instant hit alongside the Weeknd, "Save Your Tears (Remix)," and is set to appear alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence in the star-studded Netflix movie, Don't Look Up. No days off here.

Read More: Meet This Year's Record Of The Year Nominees | 2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show

OLIVIA RODRIGO — SOUR

Few artists can claim a bigger breakout year than Olivia Rodrigo's 2021. The rising star's momentous run began, of course, with "Drivers License" back in January. The juggernaut single broke Spotify streaming records (where it currently counts 1.1 billion plays), debuted at the top of the Billboard charts, and inspired countless heartfelt TikToks.

Next came the bittersweet "Deja Vu" and the spiky pop-punk anthem "Good 4 U," both of which confirmed Rodrigo as a major talent. With that trifecta, she became the first artist in history to debut their first three singles in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.

Hot on the heels of "Good 4 U," the ascendant singer/songwriter released her debut album, Sour, in May. True to form, the LP rocketed to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and broke the global Spotify record for the biggest opening week for an album by a female artist. The 11 songs on Sour detail heartbreak, self-acceptance, and growing up through a pop sound that's indebted to Rodrigo's heroes, but entirely her own. All that, and she's still only 18 years old.

A first-time GRAMMY nominee, Olivia Rodrigo is currently nominated for seven GRAMMY Awards, including nods in the Big 4 General Field: Record Of The Year, Album Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and Best New Artist.

The Recording Academy will present the 2022 GRAMMY Awards show on Sunday, April 3, on the CBS Television Network and stream live and on demand on Paramount+ from 8–11:30 p.m. ET / 5–8:30 p.m. PT. Additional details about the dates and locations of other official GRAMMY Week events, including the GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony, <a href="https://www.musicares.org/person-year "https://www.musicares.org/person-year"">MusiCares' Person of the Year, and the Pre-GRAMMY Gala, will be announced soon

2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Nominations List

 

5 Takeaways From Doja Cat's New Album 'Scarlet'
Doja Cat

Photo: Jacob Webster

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5 Takeaways From Doja Cat's New Album 'Scarlet'

'Scarlet' is a creative reset for Doja Cat, who returns to her rap roots for the 17 track, self-written record. Read on for five takeaways from Doja's jarring journey of introspection.

GRAMMYs/Sep 22, 2023 - 06:43 pm

Doja Cat has come such a long way since her viral hit, "Mooo!" Since her 2019 breakout album, Hot Pink, which birthed the GRAMMY-nominated Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper "Say So," the 27-year-old's musical versatility, out-of-the-box concepts, and unique aesthetic helped her become one of the buzziest stars in music today.

Following her blockbuster album, Planet Her, Doja Cat is returning to her rap roots while still challenging herself. Released on Sept. 22, Doja's fourth studio project, Scarlet, was entirely self-penned. The 17-track LP contains zero features and is named after GRAMMY winner's alter ego.

Scarlet is a creative reset, released after Doja Cat denounced her previous two albums as "cash-grabs." On "Demons," Doja addresses critics who labeled her "too pop" and doubted her rap skills: "I'm a puppet, I'm a sheep, I'm a cash cow / I'm the fastest-growing bitches on all your apps now," she raps.

Elsewhere, Scarlet sees a self-assured Doja Cat trading in her radio-friendly sound for an emotional release, which is best exemplified on tracks like "97," "Skull and Bones," "Balut, " and her latest single, "Agora Hills."

"It's kind of an intro to what's to come," she told Harper’s Bazaar in August. "This new album is more introspective, but I'm not leaning so hard into that to where it becomes boring. So I want to give stories and bops. It's a nice mixture of both. 

"I think this project is a really fun canvas for me to play with my rap skills and talk about what's going on in my life," she continued. "But I'm not abandoning who I was and what I know about pop and singing and that aspect of music."

Throughout its jarring journey of introspection, here are five takeaways from Doja Cat’s new album, Scarlet.

She's Devilishly Creative In Her Scarlet Era

Doja Cat has been quirky and daring since day one, but Scarlet demonstrates her desire to reinvent herself and provoke anyone who'll listen — even if it means possibly alienating her fanbase. True to form, Scarlet had an impossible-to-miss rollout, which included her Scarlet character's nude, blood-covered wax figure popping up around the U.S. 

But that stunt pales in comparison to her music videos for "Demons" and "Paint the Town Red," the latter of which is the first hip-hop song to top the Hot 100 this year.

Both visuals feature occult themes, as well as references to death and the devil, but no matter how "frightening" they may come off to some, they're further proof that Doja Cat isn't just an internet meme — she's a creative genius who knows how to demand our attention.

She's Enjoying Her Success And Fame

Multiple tracks off Scarlet, including "Paint the Town Red," "Attention," and "F— the Girls (FTG)," are a direct response to how Doja Cat's seemingly meteoric success in recent years has made her the target of jealousy and criticism from fans and peers. But "Love Life" stands out due to its lighter approach, as Doja Cat expresses her gratitude for those who helped her make it this far: "I love it when my team feel strong and them deals flowin' in" and "I understand you want me to win / I understand how hard that you bend."

Like many artists, Doja Cat's rise to fame was not without some struggle. Most notably, her "writer's block" stopped her from being able to join forces with Billie Eilish on her popular 2017 song, "Bellyache." But life now is good for the star, born Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, and she isn't apologizing for it.

But She's Aware That Celebrity Culture Has Its Dangers

A year ago, Doja Cat shocked fans when she shaved her head and eyebrows on Instagram Live, which drew some comparisons to Britney Spears’ infamous head shaving incident in 2007. Of her physical transformation, she told Dazed, "I have never felt more beautiful in my entire life." 

But on lead single, "Attention," it's clear Doja isn't done setting the record straight.

"I read it, all the comments sayin', 'D, I'm really shooketh' / 'D, you need to see a therapist, is you lookin'?' / Yes, the one I got, they really are the best / Now I feel like I can see you bitches is depressed / I am not afraid to finally say s— with my chest," she raps in the first verse.

The song also addresses her decision to pull out of the Weeknd’s After Hours til Dawn Tour, as well as comparisons to one of her biggest influences, Nicki Minaj.

She's Not Ready To Completely Abandon Singing

The highly-anticipated release of Scarlet marks Doja Cat's official return to her rap roots, but the album isn't void of the catchy, pop-esque hooks and sugary sweet singing style she's known for on songs like "Say So," "Kiss Me More" with SZA, and "You Right" with the Weeknd.

On Scarlet's sensual "Often," she effortlessly emulates neo-soul icons like Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, and Maxwell as her breathy vocals take center stage. The track shows off Doja's softer side while doubling as perfect "baby-making music." 

"'Cause when you run your tongue up my thigh / I can't help but wonder, hmm, why / You got so much more up yo' sleeve / You wanna make sure I don't leave," she croons on the song's chorus.

Her IDGAF Attitude Is On Full Display 

In late July, Doja Cat lost half a million Instagram followers after slamming fans who call themselves "Kittenz" and use her real name as their screen names. 

In addition, her relationship with boyfriend J.Cyrus — who was accused of grooming and sexual misconduct — and use of darker imagery (e.g., her "Demons" video and bat skeleton back tattoo) have sparked backlash. Yet Scarlet's "97" proves how Doja Cat is unfazed by the noise and thrives off controversy: "They gon' buy it, they gon' pirate, they gon' play it, they consume it / If you're scootin', let me know 'cause that's a comment, that's a view / And that's a ratin', that's some hatin', that's engagement I could use."

Similarly, she gets the last laugh on "Skull and Bones" and "Balut," the latter of which fires back at haters who accused her of stealing other artists' style. They speak to Doja Cat's defiant nature, which seems to be paying off for the superstar as she prepares to embark on her first headlining tour kicking off on Oct. 31.

From Meme Queen To Popstar: Revisiting Doja Cat’s Inevitable Breakout

New Music Friday: Listen To New Songs From SZA With Drake & Justin Bieber, Offset, Tate McRae & More
SZA performs during her The SOS North American Tour

Photo: Andrew Chin/Getty Images

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New Music Friday: Listen To New Songs From SZA With Drake & Justin Bieber, Offset, Tate McRae & More

From highly anticipated collabs to long-awaited album teasers, take a listen to six new tracks that arrived on Sept. 15.

GRAMMYs/Sep 15, 2023 - 06:41 pm

It’s yet another big day for music enthusiasts, as listeners were gifted with unexpected collaborations and fresh new melodies from artists of every genre on Sept. 15. 

With an Instagram caption-worthy single from Drake and SZA , a playful, self-confident anthem from Tate McRae, and a chill, euphoric vibe from Noah Kahan & Lizzy McAlphine, there’s plenty of different sounds to dive into. 

As you’re putting together your autumn 2023 playlist, add these six new tracks to the mix.

Drake feat. SZA - "Slime You Out"

Just hours after GRAMMY winners Drake and SZA announced they’d be teaming up for a new track, the pair unleashed "Slime You Out" promptly at noon ET on Sept. 15. 

As the song’s title insinuates, the duo seem to express their thoughts on someone "sliming" them out — which, in this case, refers to someone playing with their feelings. "Tryna build trust, showin’ me your DMS, how they tryna bag you / Ironic how the news I got about you ended up bein’ bad news."

Drake’s clever wordplay paired with SZA’s mellow, hypnotic voice make the single a memorable one. But perhaps it’s even more memorable because it’s been a team-up long in the making: according to Drake’s eyebrow-raising line in his 21 Savage collab "Mr. Right Now," the two used to date "back in '08."

SZA feat. Justin Bieber - "Snooze (Acoustic Remix)"

As SZA fans awaited her song with Drake, she gave them another high-profile collab in the form of a "Snooze" remix with Justin Bieber. An alluring, stripped-down version of the original SOS track, the "Snooze" remix sees SZA and Bieber passionately harmonize; added guitar chords add a dreamy touch to the song.

The remix also marks a full-circle moment for the pair, as Bieber starred in the original "Snooze" music video, which was released on Aug. 25.  

Offset - "Fan"

Kicking off what seems to be his Michael Jackson era, Offset has released this newest single, "Fan." This song features an infectious, hype beat with lyrics presenting a nonchalant ‘IDGAF’ attitude: "You supposed to hold me down, but it didn't happen (You supposed to hold me down)/ Now I'm over it." 

"Fan" is a taste of Offset’s forthcoming second album, Set It Off, which he will release on October 13. The LP follows his debut solo album, 2019’s Father of 4, which landed him a Best Rap Performance GRAMMY nomination for the single "Clout" featuring his wife, Cardi B

In the "Fan" music video, Michael Jackson is heavily referenced, with moments including Offset transforming into werewolf and zombie, and dance moves like the reverse moonwalk. 

Tate McRae - "Greedy"

self-confidence single "greedy." This song is a testament to McRae’s inner thoughts, as the lyrics let listeners know she’s not tolerating insecurities — and definitely not enabling any "greedy" men. 

"I would want myself/ Baby, please believe me/ I'll put you through hell/ Just to know me, yeah, yeah," she sings on the chorus.

"Greedy" is McRae’s first release in 2023, and first solo single since her 2022 debut album, i used to think I could fly. She also teamed up with DJ/producer Tiësto for the late 2022 hit "10:35."  

Noah Kahan feat. Lizzy McAlpine - "Call Your Mom"

Folk-pop favorite Noah Kahan teamed up with rising pop singer Lizzy McAlpine to create a new version of "Call Your Mom," an emotional track from his hit 2022 album Stick Season.

Kahan recently brought McAlpine out as a surprise guest during his sold-out show at L.A.'s Greek Theatre on Aug.11, where the two singer/songwriters performed the song for the first time together. 

Written about giving unconditional support to a loved one struggling with mental health issues and depression, the moving song reaches new heights with two voices on it. Kahan’s and McAlpine’s voices perfectly blend together and capture the lyrics’ powerful  emotions.  

Maren Morris - The Bridge

Maren Morris dropped not one, but two new songs, "The Tree" and "Get The Hell Out of Here," which both seem to focus on a new chapter in Morris’s life. "The Tree" feels like a farewell, as she proudly sings,"I'm done fillin' a cup with a hole in the bottom/ I'm takin' an axe to the tree/ The rot at the roots is the root of the problem/ But you wanna blame it on me."

"Get The Hell Out of Here" has a more mellow country melody that also talks about growth and navigating different areas of her life. Both songs share a different story, yet share the same theme of a transitional period in her life — and tease what’s to come on her next album, which will follow 2022’s Humble Quest

As Morris said in a statement, "These two songs are incredibly key to my next step because they express a very righteously angry and liberating phase of my life these last couple of years, but also how my navigation is finally pointing toward the future." 

Listen: *NSYNC Announce "Better Place," First New Song In 20 Years — Hear A Snippet

5 Lessons Olivia Rodrigo Learned On 'GUTS'
Olivia Rodrigo performs at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in 2022.

Photo: Amy Sussman/WireImage

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5 Lessons Olivia Rodrigo Learned On 'GUTS'

With her second album, Olivia Rodrigo follows the teenage angst of 'SOUR' with a matured version of the razor-sharp storytelling that made her a star — and proof that she's spinning gutsy courage into gold.

GRAMMYs/Sep 12, 2023 - 09:13 pm

The pressures on Olivia Rodrigo going into her sophomore album were unlike anything she'd experienced before. After all, it's not every day that a 17-year-old high school senior stuck at home during the pandemic delivers a debut album that promptly takes over the entire world.

And yet, that's precisely what happened when the High School Musical: The Musical: The Series star unleashed SOUR in the spring of 2021, just months after her debut single, "drivers license," rocketed to No. 1 on the Billboard charts and broke countless records around the world. The album earned Rodrigo her first trio of GRAMMYs at the 2022 ceremony, including the coveted trophy for Best New Artist.

Two years later, she makes an equally punchy statement with the title of her sophomore album: GUTS. The 12-track collection delivers on all fronts by leveling up on the maturity, songcraft and vulnerability Rodrigo showcased so expertly on SOUR. GUTS sharpens the alt-inspired rock of its teenaged predecessor into a barbed and poignant exploration of what it means to be a young woman in the 21st century — albeit one who also happens to be one of the most famous singer/songwriters of her time. 

Below, GRAMMY.com assesses how Olivia Rodrigo challenged herself and pushed her music to new heights on GUTS — and the lessons she learned along the way.

The Importance Of Looking Pretty When She Cries

Rodrigo started off SOUR by delving into the paralyzing anxiety and insecurities of being a modern teenager on "brutal"; she further tapped into those feelings with a blistering condemnation of social media's toxicity on album cut "jealousy, jealousy." GUTS delivers the same kind of unabashed honesty, but with a more mature perspective, starting with the raging feminist opener "all american b—h."

On the erratic track, Rodrigo perfectly extrapolates the anger and absurdity that comes with being a woman with sarcasm, sentimentality and a poison-laced dose of doe-eyed sweetness. The song goes even further by laying bare the parasocial pressures of female pop stardom as she sings, "I am built like a mother and a total machine/ I feel for your every little issue, I know just what you mean/ And I make light of the darkness, I've got sun in my motherf—in' pocket, best believe/ Yeah, you know me."

With the elevated platform and giant megaphone afforded by her newfound superstardom, Rodrigo has no qualms about giving acerbic voice to the historically impossible expectations placed on women. The daring statement culminates in an army of Olivias breaking out in a cacophony of high-pitched screams, a cathartic release before she reverts back to sweetly promising, "All the time/ I'm grateful all the time/ I'm sexy and I'm kind/ I'm pretty when I cry." 

The song is a reminder that Rodrigo knows her place and how to declare it — whether she's pouring her heart out or ripping someone (or society at large) apart. 

What The Perfectly Unexpected Second Single Sounds Like

After the meteoric explosion of "drivers license" in 2021, Rodrigo followed the global smash with "deja vu," a biting fantasia pulling from psychedelia and pop-rock that remained rooted in the same sonic universe as its emotional, piano-driven predecessor.

Cut to earlier this summer and the now-20-year-old kicked off her GUTS era with "vampire," another scorching piano ballad aimed at a parasitic ex-love she relishes in labeling a "bloodsucker, famef—er" among other delicious digs. But when it came time to select a second single, Rodrigo made a surprising pivot with "bad idea, right?," a hilarious and willfully delusional justification for hooking up with an ex that sounds unlike anything she's written before.

With its coy, stream-of-consciousness verses ("And I told my friends I was asleep/ But I never said where or in whose sheets"), angsty, top-of-the-lungs chorus and the gleefully perpetual question at its core, the superstar delivers both a chaotic older sister to SOUR standout "good 4 u" and a flawless left turn of a single as she talks herself into making a very good bad decision. The '90s-inspired banger might just be one of the best ideas she's ever had…right?

How To Stop Handing Out Royalties

One of the most notable controversies surrounding SOUR was who did — or didn't — receive credit in the liner notes when the album was released. Rodrigo got permission to sample Taylor Swift's "New Year's Day" on album cut "1 step forward, 3 steps back" after writing the song over the Reputation closer's melody. However, that wasn't the only song the then-18-year-old wrote that owed a debt to some of her musical idols.

After it was released as the record's second single, "deja vu" got an ex post facto update by giving songwriting credit (and royalties) to Swift, Jack Antonoff and St. Vincent for its striking similarities to "Cruel Summer." Similarly, "good 4 u" took direct inspiration from Paramore's "Misery Business," and Hayley Williams and Josh Farro were eventually added to the list of writers on the pop-punk anthem. 

This time around, though, there's not a single sample, interpolation or royalty handout anywhere. In fact, every song on GUTS lists only Rodrigo and her trusted producer Dan Nigro as its writers — with the exception of Julia Michaels helping out on "logical" and Amy Allen co-writing "pretty isn't pretty."

"I was so green as to how the music industry worked, the litigious side," the superstar told The Guardian recently about writing SOUR, adding, "I feel like now I know so much more about the industry and I just feel…better equipped in that regard. It wasn't something I thought about too much [while writing GUTS]."

That Heartbreak Continues To Be Best Served With A Side of Alt-Rock

Much of GUTS' latter half delves into the trials and tribulations of Rodrigo's romantic life, whether she's being gaslit on "logical" or shaking her head at "some weird second-string loser who's not worth mentioning" over the irrepressible surf-rock riff of "love is embarrassing." It's a natural evolution of some of her most heartstring-tugging tracks on SOUR like "enough for you" and "happier."

One of the album's strongest statements, though, is "get him back!," a crunchy tale of revenge (or possibly renewed love?) with a chanting chorus that will inevitably be screamed back at Rodrigo on her next tour. If you happen to be conflicted about your feelings for an ex, just try shouting, "I want sweet revenge and/ I want him again/ I want/ To get him back!" at the top of your lungs as you listen along.

That Teenage Dreams Come With Grown-up Insecurities

In a release-week interview with Apple Music's Zane Lowe, Rodrigo spilled that the first song she and Dan Nigro wrote for GUTS was pensive closer "teenage dream." 

Though they share a title, the quiet piano ballad couldn't be more different from Katy Perry's famous 2010 single of the same name. Instead of the label applying to a crush like Perry did in hers, "teenage dream" finds Rodrigo's questioning her own status as a teen wunderkind — one which, in quite the Swiftian move, she sardonically questioned on SOUR's "brutal" ("I'm so sick of 17/ Where's my f—ing teenage dream?"). 

"Got your whole life ahead of you/ You're only 19/ But I fear that they already got all the best parts of me/ And I'm sorry that I couldn't always be your teenage dream," she intones quietly before the song builds to a haunting refrain of "They all say that it gets better/ It gets better/ What if I don't?" 

However, after listening to everything GUTS has to offer, it's safe to say that, as she comes into her twenties, Rodrigo has no reason to doubt herself. She'll undoubtedly remain one of music's most promising stars and a singular voice of her generation as long as she continues trusting — and spilling — her guts.

For The Record: How Taylor Swift's 'Speak Now' Changed Her Career — And Proved She'll Always Get The Last Word

Olivia Rodrigo Releases New Album 'Guts': Social Media Obsesses
Olivia Rodrigo

Photo: Debra L Rothenberg/WireImage via Getty Images

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Olivia Rodrigo Releases New Album 'Guts': Social Media Obsesses

Olivia Rodrigo just released her new album, 'GUTS' — and social media is reacting positively to this coming-of-age document.

GRAMMYs/Sep 8, 2023 - 04:23 pm

Olivia Rodrigo has officially returned with the release of her sophomore album, GUTS. With punky anthems like "bad idea right?" and complex emotional ballads like "lacy," this genre-spanning album seems to bring out all the feels for teenagers, who are in their twenties.

The new album, written and produced with longtime collaborator Daniel Nigro, focuses on entering adulthood and coming-of-age, while highlighting emotions of insecurity, envy and longing. 

It's been two years since her ground-breaking debut album SOUR, which landed her seven GRAMMY nominations and three wins — the latter for Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop Solo Performance ("drivers license") at the 2022 GRAMMYs.

To mark the arrival of GUTS, the three-time GRAMMY winner posted a heartfelt Instagram letter to her fans.

"Hey guys! Today is the day my sophomore album GUTS is out everywhere!" she wrote. I feel so many feelings, I feel excited, nervous, proud but mostly I feel so grateful. I feel grateful for everyone on my team who believes in me & supports me so unwaveringly.

"I feel grateful for my collaborator Dan who pushes me & inspires me and without whom this album wouldn't have been possible," she continued. "I feel so immensely grateful for everyone who has so generously supported me over the past few years."

Rodrigo also posted behind-the-scenes content of the making of GUTS, including songs recorded in her notes app, recording sessions and Nigro playing numerous tambourines.

"For me, this album is about growing pains and trying to figure out who I am at this point in my life," Rodrigo told Variety. "I feel like I grew 10 years between the ages of 18 and 20 — it was such an intense period of awkwardness and change. I think that's all just a natural part of growth, and hopefully the album reflects that."

Most listeners seem to agree that Rodrigo is inspired by the early 2000's main character trope, due to the nostalgic feel of the album. Fans worldwide are obsessing over GUTS' pop-rock elements and sharing their reactions over social media.

Fans also reacted to a possible tour announcement Rodrigo hinted at in her 'making the bed' As the lyrics appear on screen, a GUTS world tour ticket appears on the right side. Fans are thrilled for this potential tour teaser, while also speculating when she'll announce the tour dates.

To longtime Rodrigo fans, this new album era feels like "deja vu." Keep a lookout for upcoming news about Rodrigo — as well as those tour dates.

The Meteoric Rise Of Olivia Rodrigo: How The "Drivers License" Singer Became Gen Z's Queen of Pop