Olivia Rodrigo has quickly become one of the biggest pop stars in the world and rightfully so. Her debut album ‘Sour’ is an immaculately written and produced body of work that captures the intricate emotions of the coming of age moments in your life and the devastating feelings of heartbreak. Centred around a situation where her ex moved on quickly with someone new, she finds herself immersing herself in the melodramatic emotions that followed that discovery. 

It’s a relatable record with so many beautiful, heartbreaking and comforting moments that will quickly make this one of your favourite albums of the year. We’ve created a little countdown of the 5 songs you need to hear from ‘Sour’ and given you a little insight as to why they are immediate standouts. Check it out BELOW; 

5. hope ur ok

This song is like a giant warm hug. It closes the eleven track album with a very soft guitar and atmospheric pop mix that feels heavily influenced by Lorde and Taylor Swift. It’s the only song on the album that hears her stepping out of her own introspection and into the lives of her friends that she’s lost touch with over the years. It gives a voice to the LGBTQI+ community with her reflecting on a friend who’s family were homophobic and hoping that they were free from their control now and could be truly themselves. So yeah, you will need tissues for the entirety of this album. 

Favourite lyric: “Well, I hope you know how proud I am you were created. With the courage to unlearn all of their hatred” .

4. 1 step forward, 3 steps back 

This song has immediately sparked a lot of attention due to the writing credits of Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff that appear on it. This song interpolates ‘New Years Day’ from Swift’s album ‘Reputation’ with the piano keys and slight harmonies. But lyrically it hears her navigating the highs and lows with a partner where it’s become toxic and continuous cycle she’s stuck in. It’s a soft and beautiful song which acts as one of the albums most tender moments alongside the equally heartbreaking ‘enough for you’. 

Favourite lyric: “It’s one step forward and three steps back. And I’d leave you, but the rollercoaster’s all I’ve ever had”.

3. happier

Whenever we watch an ex move on we deep down do want them to be happy because at one moment in time we cared about them and it’s hard to completely let go of that. But what we don’t want is them to be happier than when they were with you, and that’s what this song perfectly embodies. It’s very honest and with its sweeping piano delivery you will find yourself immediately emotional listening to it, even if you don’t have an ex to wish well. 

Favourite lyric: “I’m selfish, I know, I can’t let you go. So find someone great, but don’t find no one better. I hope you’re happy, but don’t be happier”. 

2. brutal

The album opener is an angsty coming of age moment. The youthful track sets the introspective nature of the album with her looking at the betrayals and disappointments that we face in our youth. With its energetic punk-pop sonic, it follows in the footsteps of ‘good 4 u’ and highlights this grungy sound that I’d love to hear more from her as it genuinely suits her. But this particular production is also reminiscent of the Rogue Traders ‘Voodoo Child’ and you won’t be able to unheard it now I’ve said it. 

Favourite lyric: “And I don’t stick up for myself. I’m anxious and nothing can help. And I wish I’d done this before. And I wish people liked me more”.

1. traitor 

ugh, honestly, this song is emotional pop perfection. For anyone that has been through a break-up where their ex has moved on quite quickly and suddenly with someone else, you can be left in the shadows feeling confused, alone and deeply hurt. But in the reality of it you can’t be upset because you’re not together anymore, but you can feel betrayed as we’re all human and it’s natural to be hurt in this scenario. She captures all of that in this very conversational track with a dreamy guitar and piano led sonic. 

Favourite lyric: “Guess you didn’t cheat, but you’re still a traitor”.

‘Sour’ is out now!