Following the success of her sophomore album GUTS, Olivia Rodrigo shows that her career is still on the move. She continues to impress, with the exclusive release of live performances from the album. Exclusively for Vevo, her songs ‘get him back!’ and ‘all-american bitch’ were presented in ways that reflected her growth as an artist.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Rodrigo notes that the goal “was to make something a little more playful, a record that didn’t take itself so seriously”. This shines through in the Vevo live versions, proving she constantly surpasses herself. What makes her stand out from other mainstream pop acts is that it becomes difficult to draw a line between what the market expects versus their own artistic vision, as the latter tends to get influenced by the former. The task, although daunting, is one Rodrigo clears dazzlingly.
The writing of her debut album SOUR saw Rodrigo as a heartbroken teenage girl, with the aesthetics to mirror this such as colourful stickers and cute notebooks. The Vevo live performance has shown that the way she is seen in her music is a direct reflection of her footing in life, and she’s no longer sad about heartbreak. This time, she takes a closer look into self-doubt with lyrics such as “‘cause there’s always somethin’ missin’ / there’s always somethin’ in the mirror that I think looks wrong”. Motifs that become popular for young women are, no surprise, also a staple to Rodrigo in these videos; red lipstick, sparkly dresses, and poster-covered walls.
Promoting GUTS with these live stream performances allows for Rodrigo’s carefree moves that course perfectly with the loud blaring music. It then becomes reassuring that we are allowed to dance to good music and enjoy it; in her instance, we can even be the ones creating the sound.
Besides the freeing aspect of the album, she also seems to have embraced performing with a live band. Unlike her live performances from SOUR’s early days, she now utilises a full band with most performances such as this Vevo exclusive.
The 20-year-old songstress continues to give voice to the feelings of rage, confusion and angst that come with being a young adult. These live videos reflect the artistry that makes these negative feelings bearable. Rodrigo continues to create songs that prove vulnerability isn’t such a bad thing; sometimes it becomes a catchy chart-topper.
Words by Marinel Dizon
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