Rodrigo's debut studio album, SOUR, topped the charts globally and was met with widespread critical acclaim. She is nominated in seven categories at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist, Album of the Year for SOUR, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year for "drivers license". Time named her the 2021 Entertainer of the Year and Billboard named her the 2022 Woman of the Year.
Rodrigo signed with Interscope Records and Geffen Records in 2020. She negotiated the record deal to secure for herself ownership of the masters of her music. On January 8, 2021, she released her debut single, "drivers license", which she co-wrote with producer Dan Nigro. Within the week of its release, "drivers license" was critically acclaimed, and broke Spotify's record twice for most daily streams ever for a non-holiday song with over 15.7 million global streams on January 11 and over 17 million global streams the next day. It went on to break another Spotify record for the first song in history to hit 80 million streams in 7 days. The song debuted at number one on Billboard Hot 100 and reached number one in numerous other countries. Rodrigo stated in an interview that "It's been the absolute craziest week of my life … My entire life just, like, shifted in an instant."
On April 1, 2021, Rodrigo released her follow-up single, "deja vu", which debuted at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, making her the first artist to debut their first two releases in the top 10 of the Hot 100. The third single preceding her debut album, "good 4 u", followed on May 14, 2021, and became her second single to debut at number one on the Hot 100. SOUR, her debut studio album, was released on May 21, 2021, to critical acclaim. Charlie Gunn of The Forty-Five called it "the greatest coming-of-age album since early Taylor Swift or Lorde". Slate's Chris Molanphy said its first three singles alone established Rodrigo's "early status as Gen-Z's most versatile new artist". According to Clash critic Robin Murray, Rodrigo is regarded as one of Generation Z's finest artists, while Variety dubbed her "the Voice of her Generation" in its cover story of Rodrigo. SOUR debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and spent a total of five weeks at the spot, becoming the longest-reigning number-one album by a female artist in 2021.
In June 2021, Rodrigo premiered SOUR Prom, a prom-themed concert film on YouTube. On December 6, 2021, Rodrigo announced a world tour, including tour stops in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Three days later, she was named Entertainer of the Year by Time. In an Instagram post on December 24, 2021, Rodrigo uploaded a snippet of a Christmas song called "The Bels" that she wrote and recorded at age five. According to Billboard, Rodrigo closed 2021 as the best-selling singles artist worldwide, placing eight songs on the year-end Global 200 chart, including "drivers license" at number four, "good 4 u" at number nine, and "deja vu" at number 27. In the US and UK, SOUR was respectively the third and fourth best-selling album of 2021. SOUR and "drivers license" were also respectively Spotify's most streamed album and song globally. The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) ranked Rodrigo as the tenth best-selling artist of 2021 and SOUR as the second best-selling album of 2021.
On February 17, 2022, Rodrigo announced and released the trailer of her Disney+ documentary film 'Olivia Rodrigo: driving home 2 u', which was released on March 25, 2022.
On June 30, 2023, Rodrigo released the lead single to her sophomore album, "Vampire." The single would debut at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and several other countries' music charts, and her record "GUTS" released on September 8, 2023. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 among other countries' charts, and its singles "Bad Idea, Right?" and "Get Him Back" debuted in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 — making Rodrigo the first female artist to chart all of her singles in the region. "GUTS" was nominated for six GRAMMYs — Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, with "Vampire" being nominated for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, and "Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl" being nominated for Best Rock Song. The record was promoted through a Tiny Desk contest, RSD exclusive vinyls, among other mediums.
Rodrigo would also release the single "Can't Catch Me Now" as the soundtrack song for "The Hunger Games: Ballads of Songbirds and Snakes," which was met with critical acclaim for its lyricism, imagery, and connection to the novel and film. The song was performed at select "GUTS World Tour" dates as well as the shows she headlined for iHeartRadio's annual Jingle Ball, which included venues she would later tour on the "GUTS World Tour," such as Los Angeles' Kia Forum and New York City's Madison Square Garden.
The "GUTS World Tour" would kick off on February 23, 2024 in Palm Springs, California, with Chappell Roan as its special guest. The tour was met with virality and critical acclaim for Rodrigo's vocals, stage presence, and visuals — dubbed as one of the most impressive arena tours to date. The tour featured songs from "GUTS," "Sour," and the "GUTS" deluxe track "Obsessed," which was only available on vinyl at the time. On tour, Rodrigo announced "GUTS (spilled)," a deluxe edition of "GUTS" which released March 22, 2024 and included five additional tracks. The five tracks debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 — to date, each song in Rodrigo's discography has appeared on the chart.
In April 2024, Rodrigo was a special guest to No Doubt's Coachella performance. The pop star continued her GUTS World Tour throughout 2024, where she performed six nights in Los Angeles, being the first woman to headline Intuit Dome, and is set to close off the tour internationally in Asia.
the grudge
Olivia Rodrigo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One phone call from you and my entire world was changed
Trust that you betrayed, confusion that still lingers
Took everything I loved and crushed it in between your fingers
And I doubt you ever think about the damage that you did
But I hold onto every detail like my life depends on it
My undying love, now I hold it like a grudge
And I hear your voice every time that I think I'm not enough
And I try to be tough, but I wanna scream
How could anybody do the things you did so easily?
And I say I don't care, I say that I'm fine
But you know I can't let it go
I've tried, I've tried, I've tried for so long
It takes strength to forgive, but I don't feel strong
The arguments that I have won against you in my head
In the shower, in the car and in the mirror before bed
Yeah, I'm so tough when I'm alone and I make you feel so guilty
And I fantasize about a time you're a little fuckin' sorry
And I try to understand why you would do this all to me
You must be insecure, you must be so unhappy
And I know in my heart hurt people hurt people
And we both drew blood, but, man, those cuts were never equal
And I try to be tough, but I wanna scream
How could anybody do the things you did so easily?
And I say I don't care, I say that I'm fine
But you know I can't let it go
I've tried, I've tried, I've tried for so long
It takes strength to forgive, but I don't feel strong
Ooh, do you think I deserved it all?
Ooh, your flowers filled with vitriol
You built me up to watch me fall
You have everything and you still want more
I try to be tough, I try to be mean
But even after all this, you're still everything to me
And I know you don't care, I guess that that's fine
But you know I can't let it go
I've tried, I've tried, I've tried for so long
It takes strength to forgive, but I'm not quite sure I'm there yet
It takes strength to forgive, but
I interpret Olivia Rodrigo's song "The Grudge" as a reflection on the pain and betrayal caused by a past relationship. The lyrics convey the singer's deep hurt and resentment towards their former partner. The song begins with the singer recounting the trauma they experienced, referring to it as a nightmare that haunts them every week. They describe how their world was shattered by a single phone call, emphasizing the sense of betrayal and confusion they still feel. The line "Took everything I loved and crushed it in between your fingers" suggests that the singer's trust and love were destroyed by their partner's actions.
Despite the pain, the singer admits to holding onto the memories and details of the relationship, as if their life depends on it. This highlights the ongoing struggle to let go and move on. The lyrics also express a desire for the former partner to understand the gravity of the harm they caused. The singer imagines moments of confrontation and victory in their own mind, winning arguments and making their partner feel guilty.
The chorus showcases the internal conflict within the singer. They try to appear tough and unaffected by their past, but they cannot hide the deep emotional scars. There is a sense of longing for closure and a sincere apology from their former partner. The bridge delves into a self-reflection, suggesting that hurt people often hurt others as a defense mechanism. However, the singer acknowledges the unequal pain caused by both parties.
In the final verse, the singer questions whether they deserved the pain inflicted upon them and expresses frustration at their former partner's insatiable desire for more. Despite their efforts to be strong and move on, forgiveness proves to be a challenging process that requires strength they're unsure they possess.
Overall, "The Grudge" explores the complex emotions of betrayal, resentment, and the struggle to forgive in the aftermath of a devastating relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I have nightmares each week about that Friday in May
I am haunted by the painful memories of that specific Friday in May, which continue to plague me in my nightmares.
One phone call from you and my entire world was changed
Your single phone call was enough to completely shatter and transform my world.
Trust that you betrayed, confusion that still lingers
The trust I had in you was betrayed, leaving behind a lingering confusion and uncertainty.
Took everything I loved and crushed it in between your fingers
You maliciously destroyed everything I held dear, effortlessly crushing it with your hands.
And I doubt you ever think about the damage that you did
I question whether you ever reflect on the profound damage you inflicted upon me.
But I hold onto every detail like my life depends on it
I grasp tightly onto every intricate detail, as if my very existence relies on remembering them.
My undying love, now I hold it like a grudge
The love I once had for you, which refuses to fade, has now morphed into a deep-seated grudge.
And I hear your voice every time that I think I'm not enough
Your voice resurfaces in my mind whenever I feel inadequate or unworthy.
And I try to be tough, but I wanna scream
Although I attempt to appear strong, deep down, I yearn to release my pent-up frustration and scream.
How could anybody do the things you did so easily?
I struggle to comprehend how someone could effortlessly commit the actions that you did.
And I say I don't care, I say that I'm fine
I put on a facade, claiming that I am unaffected and perfectly okay.
But you know I can't let it go
Deep inside, you are aware that I am unable to release my grip on the pain you caused.
I've tried, I've tried, I've tried for so long
I have exerted immense effort and made numerous attempts over an extended period of time to move on from this.
It takes strength to forgive, but I don't feel strong
Forgiving requires a great deal of strength, but at this moment, I do not possess that strength.
The arguments that I have won against you in my head
In my mind, I frequently engage in victorious arguments against you, where I emerge as the triumphant one.
In the shower, in the car and in the mirror before bed
These imaginary arguments take place in various settings, such as the shower, the car, and in front of the mirror before I sleep.
Yeah, I'm so tough when I'm alone and I make you feel so guilty
When I am by myself, I adopt a tough facade that aims to make you feel immense guilt for your actions.
And I fantasize about a time you're a little fuckin' sorry
I daydream about a moment when you will display even the slightest hint of remorse.
And I try to understand why you would do this all to me
I make constant efforts to comprehend why you chose to inflict all this pain upon me.
You must be insecure, you must be so unhappy
I conclude that you must possess deep-seated insecurities and overwhelming unhappiness to have acted in such a manner.
And I know in my heart hurt people hurt people
I am aware, deep within my heart, that individuals who are hurt and broken themselves often end up hurting others.
And we both drew blood, but, man, those cuts were never equal
We both inflicted emotional pain upon each other, but the wounds I endured far outweighed any harm I caused.
Ooh, do you think I deserved it all?
I wonder if you believe that I truly deserved all the pain and suffering you inflicted upon me.
Ooh, your flowers filled with vitriol
The seemingly pleasant gestures or gifts you presented to me were actually filled with bitterness and spite.
You built me up to watch me fall
You intentionally raised me to great heights, only to revel in the enjoyment of witnessing my subsequent downfall.
You have everything and you still want more
Despite already having an abundance of possessions and advantages, you possess an insatiable desire for even greater things.
I try to be tough, I try to be mean
I make an attempt to project an image of toughness and cruelty.
But even after all this, you're still everything to me
Despite everything that has transpired, you still hold an incredibly significant place in my heart.
And I know you don't care, I guess that that's fine
I am fully aware that you do not care about me, and although it may be difficult, I accept that fact.
But you know I can't let it go
You understand that I am unable to release the grip I have on the pain and resentment I hold towards you.
I've tried, I've tried, I've tried for so long
I have exerted immense effort and made numerous attempts over an extended period of time to move on from this.
It takes strength to forgive, but I'm not quite sure I'm there yet
Forgiving requires a great deal of strength, but currently, I am uncertain if I have reached that point.
It takes strength to forgive, but
Forgiving requires a great deal of strength, but...
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Daniel Nigro, Olivia Rodrigo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chibakusenpai3645
[Verse 1]
I have nightmares each week 'bout that Friday in May
One phone call from you and my entire world was changed
Trust that you betrayed, confusion that still lingers
Took everything I loved and crushed it in between your fingers
And I doubt you ever think about the damage that you did
But I hold onto every detail like my life depends on it
My undying love, now, I hold it like a grudge
And I hear your voice every time that I think I'm not enough
[Chorus]
And I try to be tough, but I wanna scream
How could anybody do the things you did so easily?
And I say I don't care, I say that I'm fine
But you know I can't let it go, I've tried, I've tried, I've tried for so long
It takes strength to forgive, but I don't feel strong
[Verse 2]
The arguments that I've won against you in my head
In the shower, in the car, and in the mirror before bed
Yeah, I'm so tough when I'm alone, and I make you feel so guilty
And I fantasize about a time you're a little fuckin' sorry
And I try to understand why you would do this all to me
You must be insecure, you must be so unhappy
And I know, in my heart, hurt people hurt people
And we both drew blood, but, man, those cuts were never equal
[Chorus]
And I try to be tough, but I wanna scream
How could anybody do the things you did so easily?
And I say I don't care, I say that I'm fine
But you know I can't let it go, I've tried, I've tried, I've tried for so long
It takes strength to forgive, but I don't feel strong
[Bridge]
Ooh, do you think I deserved it all?
Ooh, your flowers filled with vitriol
You built me up to watch me fall
You have everything, and you still want more
[Chorus]
I try to be tough, I try to be mean
But even after all this, you're still everything to me
And I know you don't care, I guess that that's fine
But you know I can't let it go, I've tried, I've tried, I've tried for so long
It takes strength to forgive, but I'm not quite sure I'm there yet
It takes strength to forgive, but
@dazzlingdollgirl8921
GUYS IM TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW THIS SONG IS ABOUT TAYLOR SWIFT LISTEN TO THE LYRICS!!! She talks about a grUdge and how she can’t forgive her just like how she is talking to or about Taylor swift and why she isn’t going to the eras tour. She also said you have everything but you still want more Taylor littery owns the music industry (although I think
Olivia should and with this album she definitely will) and has so fan crazy fans. She also said she tried to act different around her but felt so weak and when alone could act really touchy well that was livvy’s idol
So when she first met her she probably tried to act really cool. This is just an idea by the way!!
This song is a 1000/10 sp much emotion is such a beautiful way livvy knows her way with words can’t describe anymore it’s tooo good we are blessed with this album thank you livvy we are so proud!!!💜💜
@tatumb08
As a fellow grudge holder, the line "It takes strength to forgive but I'm not sure I'm there yet." hits very hard. This is 100% my favorite song on the album!!!
@paityn.urbestie
Absolutely
@melissacarreno6475
Agree ❤️❤️
@kyrabrown4483
Fr
@namantherockstar
Olivia inspires me.. My parents said if i get 50K followers They'd buy me a professional camera for recording..begging u guys , literally
Begging..
@massimosamdal1209
Yeah me too I think
@Arxhxz-ro1pc
“and i fantasize about a time you’re a little fucking sorry.” First full listen of the album and the lyrics of this track are just stuck in my head. EVERY single line HITS hard. Its up there with favorite crime and traitor. 😭💜
@matilde5704
betrayed 😭 favourite crime, the grudge and traitor
@maks.archer
hi guys! i made a short, it’s about leaving people that make you feel insecure, bad and miserable. i’ll be really grateful for all the advice❤️🩹i’m a beginner at filmmaking
@namantherockstar
Olivia inspires me.. My parents said if i get 50K followers They'd buy me a professional camera for recording..begging u guys , literally
Begging...