Who better to listen to when I’m doing work than Olivia Rodrigo? Olivia is an American singer and songwriter who rose to fame through Disney related projects such as Bizaardvark and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Following her fame, she has managed to sell out venues across the world during her Sour World Tour and has recently been the headliner at Glastonbury. She hasn’t released a new song for a little while, so I think we are overdue for more music from her. In the meantime, I thought it would be fun to rank my top 10 favorite songs by Olivia Rodrigo, in my opinion.
10: Vampire
The first song from the Guts era, Olivia sings about how her boyfriend is like a vampire. She refers to him draining her life away and making her miserable. The song starts off slow, like her first song from Sour, but eventually builds up to a more upbeat, fast tempo. The music video involves her with cars. I do enjoy Vampire, but as you’ll see later in the list, there are definitely other songs from Guts that Olivia should have released first compared to this one.
9: Bad Idea Right?
The second song from Guts shows Olivia contemplating whether going to her ex-boyfriend’s house is a bad idea or not. This song follows directly after the previous one on the album, All-American B****, which is interesting. The music video is okay but nothing particularly special or unique, as Olivia just looks at the camera asking if it’s a bad idea. The song is much faster than Vampire and has become iconic due to the pause Olivia does during her tour performances. Do not sing when she says “stop”!
8: Pretty Isn’t Pretty
A beautiful song from Olivia’s debut album. She discusses what “pretty” means and the meaning behind the word. Olivia talks about how, in the music industry, one often has to look “pretty,” which usually involves makeup and hiding your true self. The song is a joyful tune, regardless of the topic, making you want to sing along to the catchy chorus. This is one of the only songs on this list that never got a music video, which is a shame because it is a fan favorite among Rodrigo’s fans.
7: Traitor
Another song from Sour, Olivia discusses how her boyfriend has been a traitor to her. She mentions that he cheated on her with another girl, and that she “always knew,” making the matter worse. The song is slower in tempo, allowing Olivia to showcase her incredible vocals. The music video features Olivia breaking into a swimming pool, for some reason. If you had the chance to see her perform Traitor live, it’s truly a treat as she belts out the last few lines of the song!
6: Obsessed
The main song Olivia released from her Guts: Spilled Edition, Obsessed follows her being “obsessed” with her boyfriend’s ex to an unhealthy degree. The song fits right in with the rest of the Guts soundtrack, with a punk rock feel. In the music video, Olivia is in a beauty pageant and also rocking out. I think this is probably Olivia’s favorite from the extended version of Guts, but it’s not my favorite, as you’ll see later.
5: Can’t Catch Me Now
Olivia showcases her talents for the new Hunger Games movie with this song. It centers around the movie’s plot, particularly how Lucy Gray runs away toward the end. The song is a beautiful slow ballad that suits the film perfectly, highlighting Olivia’s fantastic vocals and her ability to explore her voice. It’s definitely one of her most underrated songs, probably due to its association with the movie. Still, I recommend giving it a listen if you like her other music.
4: Drivers License
Olivia’s debut single from Sour, which truly launched her into the public eye. She sings about her boyfriend leaving her for another girl and her getting her driver’s license. The song is slower than her usual releases but allows her to showcase incredible vocals, which may be why the record label chose to release it first. The music video features Olivia driving now that she has her license. Over time, this song has become somewhat overplayed on playlists, which is reflected in its placement here, but it might still climb higher on the list.
3: Good 4 U
One of her biggest and most beloved hits! Olivia sings about how her ex-boyfriend is searching for happiness and a better life without her. She does this to a high tempo, punk rock song that shows a different side of her compared to Drivers License. The music video features Olivia burning down a shop, signaling a shift in her musical direction. I feel I may have overplayed this one too, but I love it every time it comes on!
2: Get Him Back!
We are so robbed of this song! Olivia sings about wanting to get back with her ex, or maybe not, as she’s a bit undecided. The song is upbeat, fun to listen to, and features amazing vocals and instrumentals. Unfortunately, Olivia used this song to promote a phone rather than releasing a full music video. Nonetheless, the music video is fun, featuring Olivia breaking cars. I believe this song deserves much more love than it’s given, and I hope it gets it someday!
1: So American
An unconventional choice for my number one! This song is fantastic and reveals a different side of Olivia, singing a more loving, rather than a breakup, song. Throughout, Olivia sings about her boyfriend thinking she’s “too American.” I really hope her next album will include more songs like this now that she’s in a happy relationship. Since it’s part of Guts: Spilled, it hasn’t received the attention it truly deserves, but I hope one day it will find the audience it deserves!
Max
References:
Olivia Rodrigo, 2025. Available at: https://store.oliviarodrigo.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorg1NfwCoBRwdYSdVn2Z8koTHTH-4IiEIJ4rwZjgPyGSuasTMdj
Leave a Reply