EPISODE 329

Everyone seems to be getting Olivia Rodrigo wrong. She's one of the few pop stars who has made it big in the current era of fragmented music streaming, but so much of the narrative has been about whose songs she's stealing from, whether it be Taylor Swift, Elvis Costello or Paramore. Rodrigo's new album Guts arrives next Friday: while we wait patiently, we take a close listen to her new singles "vampire" and "bad idea right?" to subvert the narrative. These songs show that she isn't stealing from pop music, but rather uses a deep repertoire of musical predecessors to write very crafty music.

Songs Discussed

Olivia Rodrigo – vampire

Olivia Rodrigo – bad idea right?

Olivia Rodrigo – driver's license

Olivia Rodrigo – brutal

Elvis Costello & The Attractions – Pump It Up

Olivia Rodrigo – good 4 u

Paramore – Misery Business

Olivia Rodrigo – deja vu

Taylor Swift – Cruel Summer

Radiohead – Creep

Scala & Kolacny Brothers – Creep

Lana del Rey – Get Free

David Bowie – Space Oddity

Elvis Presley – That's When Your Heartaches Begin

Roy Orbison – Oh, Pretty Woman

Talking Heads – And She Was

The Breeders – Cannonball

Liz Phair – Supernova

Wet Leg – Chaise Longue

The Beatles – Twist And Shout

Rage Against The Machine – Killing In The Name