1.vampire
This was a great song to be released first. While this meant it would be overplayed, it’s the kind of song you can listen to over and over again without getting tired of it. The cadence of Rodrigo’s soft voice, rich with emotion, combined with the pop of electric guitar allowed the song to catch our attention from the start.
2. get him back!
This song went viral for a reason–it’s a combination of catchy, emotional and energetic, reminding us that Rodrigo is still emerging from her teenage years. This is the kind of song you sing along to when you and your friends get a burst of one a.m. energy.
3. bad idea right?
While this song can be overplayed, it starts on a good beat and creates an electric current that drags the listener along with it. We brought this to the front of our rankings because it was artfully curated–her little monologues that appear throughout the song make one feel like they are on call with a friend. The random addition of soft-spoken words combined with the louder chorus makes this song captivating.
4. obsessed
Strong intro with the combination of catchy beat, voice and guitar. The lyrics rhyme and the raw emotion in Rodrigo’s voice brings life to the song. The tempo of the song takes you on a rollercoaster, sometimes slowing before growing stronger.
5. all-american b—-
Rodrigo’s voice starts off “light as a feather,” reflecting the slow beginning to an emotional journey through her album. This was the first track of the album, and while it was a good intro, it didn’t feel like the best start to “GUTS”.
6. the grudge
The chorus is reminiscent of Rodrigo’s debut album “SOUR”. Her voice emanates pain in a soft melody that rises and falls with the tide of her lyrics. We ranked this high because the message behind “the grudge” is so poignant and her voice echoes with elegance.
7. pretty isn’t pretty
This is an ode to every teenage girl struggling with insecurities. Catchy from the start, this song takes us on a rollercoaster ride that allows us to reflect on our own years in middle and high school. We ranked this high because the emotional meaning behind this song intertwined with Rodrigo’s singing produces an amazing track worthy of recognition.
8. making the bed
Her voice is quiet yet strong, building up emotions and letting them burst out as the song progresses. We liked the idea behind this song, but it still felt a little underwhelming, earning a place at the middle of the ranking.
9. so american
The energetic beat is fun, and it feels catchy from the beginning. However, the vibes feel just like her other songs, and don’t bring on a new twist to her album. As it is the last song in GUTS, we think it should have been more unique to end the album on a better note.
10. ballad of a homeschool girl
Any teenage girl can also relate to the message in this song about the social insecurities we face in the world. We ranked it a little lower because throughout the song, her singing borders on the side of yelling to the point where the message is drowned out by the noise of music instead of being weaved into it.
11. stranger
The song has a country vibe to it, and it is one of her slower songs in this album. Unlike the other songs starting with a strong beat, this one starts off with her soft voice and guitar. The song is anticlimactic; however, the chorus uplifts the song, ending it on a good impression.
12. lacy
In this song, Rodrigo’s voice feels ethereal, floating in a song that channels a little Lucy Gray Baird. While the ideas of this song reflected more growing pains of a teenage girl, we thought the song felt a little too monotonous and boring to be ranked higher.
13. teenage dream
This song is relatable to many teenage girls like us and the bridge truly lifted the anguish behind the song, but we felt as though the pace was too slow to start, remaining the same for almost two quiet minutes.
14. logical
The lyrics behind this song are embedded with emotion and may resonate with those going through a similar situation. And while Rodrigo’s voice is beautiful mixed with the sound of the piano, this song still felt a little boring to us.
15. love is embarrassing
Similar to “Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl,” this song bordered on yelling. We realize that aspect of the song may be what appeals to others, but to us the noise muted the valuable ideas Rodrigo integrates into the song.
16. scared of my guitar
Olivia Rodrigo continues to channel the essence of Lucy Gray Baird in this song and takes on the country genre as well, but we are afraid she doesn’t pull it off as well. Her voice and lyrics always shine through, but not enough to lift this one’s rankings.
17. girl i’ve always been
The more acoustic approach to this song took us by surprise– and we don’t think she pulled this one off as well. Her singing felt too “cursive” and we felt like the instrumentals were missing something. While it wasn’t terrible, we felt like this song could have been created with a little more variety and packed a little more punch.
