Olivia Rodrigo’s “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love” Has No Competition

Aidan Salas 

Music Journalist

Olivia Rodrigo’s third studio album “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love” is another factor on how she stands alone compared to her peers. If you don’t know who Olivia Rodrigo is, then you have been living under a rock. She released her blockbuster debut album “SOUR” on May 21, 2021, and has remained the voice for Gen Z girls. Songs like, “drivers license,” “deja vu,” and “good 4 u” are all hit songs from that album.  

As Rodrigo continues to grow her artistry, “you seem pretty sad…” is just the foundation of her rise to become the main pop girl. “SOUR” and “GUTS” are more sister albums to me, both in the purple juvenile aesthetics, but also heavily lean into pop-punk that Olivia is famous for. This album is a step up compared to her previous works; production, vocals, and most importantly songwriting.  

As an artist that writes about love and her experience with it, love isn’t a feeling anymore, it’s a condition. As she talks about her love in the relationship she was with, it’s a timeline on how love can seem like the thing you needed to be happy but slowly unravels to obsession and what loving a person can do to you. A topic that hasn’t been explored in her previous works which shows her growth as an artist. I loved “GUTS” when it was released and enjoyed songs on “SOUR,” but you can’t compare it to this body of work.  

Olivia Rodrigo’s main platform as an artist is being a songwriter. In her debut album, you can say that most of the songs are juvenile with angst. As her sophomore album was released, it was a clear jump to improvement with still a little bit of angst and punk songs. This new album has the same foundation of songwriting; love. But how she decides to explore this topic is in a profound timeline of this relationship.  

The first track and first single “drop dead” is the beginning of her love in the relationship. “Oh, one night I was bored in bed and stalked you on the internet” a relatable sentence that everyone can picture themselves doing before starting their relationship. With another line saying, “all pressed up in the bathroom line / you’re looking like an angel on the walls of Versailles / the most alive I’ve ever been / but kiss me and I might drop dead.” Starting off the chorus with an unglamorous picture to say even with a disgusting background behind you, you are the angel that brings the environment around us alive is great, amazing songwriting.  

Then the next two songs are the love songs that Olivia has been trying to write throughout her career. “stupid song” is the second track and is about not being able to explain your love for this person you are in a relationship with. The lyrics that end the chorus “and I want you more than any stupid song could ever say.” A bright fun build-up piano song. On the third track “honeybee” is where it takes a turn. The song itself is a love song, but with dark undertones in the production and strings. A word I can say that describes the song is haunting, the background vocals also escalate the feeling of obsession that Olivia is talking about, “and I hope I never see / what your face looks like going / a face I swear that I could spend my whole life knowing / here’s to hoping.” This song to me also foreshadows the “pretty sad” section of the album, getting this love you desired that slowly turns into love that is missing.  

As sickness begins to unravel little by little in the songs, “maggots for brains,” “u + me = <3,” and “my way” all show the love she has in the relationship. With notable lyrics that say “I’m a sad shell of a woman and I’ve got maggots for brains / but that’s just what happens when my baby goes away” in “maggots for brains” and “I know everybody changes, but I hope that we don’t” in “u + me = <3.” What’s even more interesting, the song “my way” is a clapback to another woman flirting with Rodrigo’s then-boyfriend. My favorite lyric of the song “well, here’s a map of the lines I drew / and some girl steps over and the girl is you” a funny/serious lyric that sums the song up in one line.  

Then we finally get into the “pretty sad” section of the album. “purple” is the transformation into the dark themes explored later in the album. The love turns to obsession, and she says “I had big dreams ‘till I tied myself to you,” a dark sad line that illustrates the relationship is turning and not for the better. Next is the thesis statement of the album, “the cure.” A beautiful song that explores the theme of wanting love, receiving and giving love, but the love you are is still not the cure. Being in a relationship will not fill the void that you are trying to fill but needs the love from yourself. Also, the song doesn’t blame the other person but searches deep within which I thought was beautiful.  

The next three tracks are the devastating portion. “begged,” “what’s wrong with me,” and “less” talk about finding what is really hurting you in the relationship you are in. In the song “what’s wrong with me,” she finds out that love is the reason why she’s in her bed not being able to move. Looking for distractions and hoping whatever she’s feeling passes but will never if she doesn’t leave and starts to find peace within herself. A turning point, up-beat song “expectations” comes at a random time, but important to the timeline in the story. The song about manifesting a future relationship that will be the one and all the issues and problems won’t be in this new relationship because of growth. The last final track is “cigarette smoke,” an indie folk song that is the final good-bye to this relationship. This song reminds me of Phoebe Bridgers and has the sad, moody production as well. 

With that being said, Olivia Rodrigo is just moving in ways her peers aren’t. A profound way of explaining being in a first adult relationship with its beautiful lyrics, catchy hooks, and amazing production style. Additionally, “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love” being her third studio album is insane and only proof of a living legend right in front of our eyes. Thank you, Olivia Rodrigo, for constantly raising the bar and doing it flawlessly.