Or2 - Blog Posts

Will be over analyzing GUTS through the lens of my own poor decisions and self-deprecating regret, thank you very much.

The signs were always there

Bad Idea Right : Hotline 📞

+1(323)622-7687

The three transcripts of the hotline.

1st (Aug 4/5?):

*static, sound of a crowded place*

"Hi, 'Liv, it's Maddie. Uhm, we're trying to leave the party and get tacos but we can't find you. So, just call me back."

- caller potentially Madison Hu

2nd (Aug 7th):

*static, sound of a crowded place*

"Hey, 'Liv, it's Tate. Where'd you end up going? That guy we met was so much fun but has such weird friends. Text me when you get this, bye."

- caller potentially Tate Mcrae

3rd (current):

*static, sounds of a crowded place*

"Olivia Isabel Rodrigo, where are you? I'm stuck in line for the bathroom and it's taking forever so just text me."

- caller potentially Iris Apatow

So, the Olivia Rodrigo track list video quite literally showed each track title in order. I want to go over them cause I just love that she did that.

The Track Titles:

Here's how the teaser video relates to each one:

All American Bitch (0:00)

In this case, there isn't much that Olivia does but walk into the room. I feel this song might refer to Olivia calling herself the "All American Bitch," perhaps referring to how others have perceived her after Sour. Thus, her presence is the reference.

But I would like to add she does drink a coke, and in the video revealing the title tracks she uses them to curl her hair. Coke might be used here as imagery considering it's such a well known brand in America (and world wide but I digress). So much so there's a term called Cocacolonization, "refers to the globalization of American culture (also referred to as Americanization) pushed through popular American products such as soft drink brand Coca-Cola," [1]

I also found by googling All American Bitch a Girls episode titled "American Bitch." This might be reaching, but the episode deals with a controversial author with sexual assault allegations and the main character who is a writer. I haven't watched the show so I'm taking Vox's word here when they say the episode is about an older man taking advantage of a younger woman who somewhat wanted approval of said man, to only be disappointed that he's exactly what people called him out for being [2].

Bad Idea Right? (0:05)

As opposed to the previous track, this one is pretty straight forward. It's really the only track that was correctly guessed by everone.

After drinking her coke and walking to her vanity, she writes on the mirror "bad idea right." Simple as that.

Vampire (0:11?)

Considering this the albums lead single, I don't think she hints at it in the video. The closest thing being that she closes the blinds, however, that happens after what I think is how she hints at the fourth track.

Lacy (0:08)

This one is hard to tell since it's blurry. But she takes out some object, or what I'm going to say is cloth and or bra, from one of her boxes. She sets it on the side bed table beside the lamp. I'm going to say it's some form of lace considering the title of the track is called Lacy.

Balled of a Homeschool Girl (0:13)

I think this one is fun. In the video, after putting the curtain up, she takes out the yearbook. We get a better image of it near the end when the camera pans into her typewriter. We see the "Class of" and "Book Club" pages. I know before I thought titles of the track might be called such, but evidently that is not the case. It was alluding to the fact that she probably never even got a yearbook. I feel all the pictures in these pages are just her. It's clear in the "Book Club" page, but in the "Class Of" it's kinda hard to tell. But it is clear that some pictures are duplicates, so I wouldn't be surprised if it's just different pictures of Olivia herself.

This is also neat considering it builds upon the Sour Prom. I believe Olivia has said this album is kinda a continuation of her previous album, or at least growing up a bit since it.

In any case, I'm really interested to see what this one's about. I feel like it could be a genuine ballad, but the title makes me think she's being a little sardonic (perhaps both). Frankly, I feel this entire album is more cynical. But that's a different deep dive for another time.

Making the Bed (0:16)

Continuing on to the sixth track, after reading the yearbook, Olivia makes her bed.

(Honestly, I feel like I should have guessed this for how obvious it is.)

Logical (0:19)

This one is another hard to tell one. But after making her bed, Olivia goes to unpack, taking out something that kinda looks like a board game box. It's hard to tell what it's called, but I know some people thought the name at least started with an 'L.' It would seem the name on the box is 'Logical.'

Additionally, if it is supposed to be a board game box, the theme of the song could be using games as symbolism and using/not using logic to win them. Perhaps in (toxic) relationships.

Get Him Back (0:20)

Oh, I kinda really love this one.

Olivia puts letters on her bed, then in her bed side table. You can't tell what's written on them then, but in the video where she releases the title tracks, there's a cut to the letters. Each one has "Olivia R., 258 Get Him Back Drive, Los Angeles, CA" written on them. I just really like how the video builds upon the previous.

I also wonder if it builds upon Drivers License considering the use of an address and perhaps driving to it. But I also don't want to bank on that since these themes don't immediately need to relate to one another.

Love is Embarrassing (0:23)

(True.)

In the video, she starts reading a book with hearts on it. You can't tell what the title of the book is, but the use of hearts kinda signifies the relation. Could also refer to romance books.

Also, in the title track release video, at (0:10) there's a flash to a few books. "Love is Embarrassing" is one of them, which Olivia proceeds to take. Furthering the theory that is the book she is reading.

I'd like to mention here as well the other book titles. I feel these are on theme to what will be touched upon in some of her songs (and perhaps even the vibe and sound of the album: cheeky, a little angry, sarcastic, and reflective).

The Grudge (0:25)

I'd say the second closest title people got to guessing is "The Grudge." Olivia writes on a piece of paper, "Now I have a grudge," which was many of our guesses. I feel this will probably be a lyric within the song, if not the chorus.

Pretty isn't Pretty (0:27)

Another hard one to tell. She unpacks what seems to be a makeup bag and unloads what's inside. This song might reflect beauty standards.

Teenage Dream (0:33)

Now, this one might be off. But Olivia brings out a cake and starts eating some of it. I can't really tell, but some people think there's candles shaped as '19' on them. I feel this song might be about leaving her teenage years, maybe reflecting back on them, the highs and lows of it all. Perhaps getting ready for a new chapter.

And after that, the camera starts to pan on Olivia and her typewriter. There are other things people pointed out, such as the 'Obsessed' shirt, the paper with 'Stranger' written on it, the skateboard and whatever is painted on that, plus the sticker on the guitar case. These probably relate to lyrics to the songs.

But just to put it out there, there's a poster in the wall near her vanity. There's a theory it might hint at bonus tracks [3]. I'm more inclined to think not, but it certainly would be cool if so and potentially these things are actually other track titles.

Bibliography

[1] Cocacolonization

[2] American Bitch

[3] Bonus Track Theory

So, Olivia posted a video. I'm now going to obsess about it.

Edit: will be adding things as people mention other theories!

What potentially might be tracks/lyrics:

1: Obsessed!

2: Bad Idea Right

3: Now I Hold A Grudge

4: Stranger

5: Ga(?)T(??)S(??)

6: Trapped(?) (But could also be Vampire. I can't tell)

7: Book club

8: Class of (?) (Could be one song)

9: Cake(?) (Or whatever is written on the cake)

10: something about this book?

11: something about these letters?

What we know:

12: Vampire

Additionally Theories:

- The poster might have some clue attached to it. But pretty hard to tell (by @bloodmoonlich)

- The guitar case could be: Scraped (by @atraitor)

- the skateboard could also possibly be "am I lost" or some form of that (by @karma-is-my-cat)