Olivia Rodrigo is really ready to deliver the album of the year for every water based star sign, and as a fellow Pisces I am really grateful for it. With ‘Sour’ dropping on Friday May 21, the Californian singer-songwriter has offered one final single from the album and it’s a pop-rock moment that highlights a stark contrast from her previous two Lorde inspired lead singles; ‘Drivers License’ and ‘Deja Vu’.
‘good 4 u’ can be found somewhere between Demi Lovato’s early albums mixed with classic Paramore and Avril Lavigne. It’s full of confident angsty energy mixed with reflective emotion that she’s ready to process and heal through. It’s a sound that I truly didn’t expect to hear from her, and that’s why it worked so well. It’s so opposite to what you’ve become already acquainted with, and there’s an energy that was bubbling on the surface of ‘Deja Vu’ that really deserved to be explored further. Taking the angst and rolling with it she begins with a dirty baseline before rolling into a high kick worthy hook that has this real coming of age essence to it.
Really grabbing onto the symbolism of sarcasm, she explores watching her ex move on from her seemingly unaffected while she’s struggling. Highlighting her struggle with withdrawal, she congratulates him for not feeling that way in a sassy sarcastic tone. “You’re doing great out there without me, baby. God, I wish that I could do that. I’ve lost my mind, I’ve spent the night crying on the floor of my bathroom. But you’re so unaffected, I really don’t get it. But I guess good for you” she sings during the electric hook. If you’re a hypersensitive soul (like myself) then you will immediately cling onto the essence of this track as it allows you to have a little fun at the expense of your emotions. And you’ll also specifically love this reflective lyric; “Maybe I’m too emotional, or maybe you never cared at all”, ooft.
‘good 4 u’ is a song that feels youthful and rebellious through its production while also feeling lyrically mature. It’s a track that I wish I had to blast during my teen years alongside my Paramore, Avril Lavigne and Ashlee Simpson albums.