Pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo has once again captivated audiences and demonstrated her immense talent with her latest release “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love.” Released on June 12, Rodrigo’s third studio album has been highly anticipated since its announcement and does not disappoint. 

The album has shattered streaming records across multiple major platforms. In fact, Spotify shared that the album has become the most-streamed album in a single day in 2026 so far by a female artist. Additionally, Rodrigo’s album also achieved Amazon Music’s biggest first 24-hour streaming debut globally of any album in 2026. 

The lead single “drop dead” was released on April 17 and currently boasts over 325 million streams. The album features 13 songs, and a collaboration with English singer Robert Smith in the song “what’s wrong with me.” Overall, I liked the album and I enjoyed that Rodrigo was really experimenting with other genres while combining her signature pop sound twist. I think she did a phenomenal job with storytelling and themes.

13. purple 

This song is like a chapter of Taylor Swift’s Evermore/Folklore albums. It is very chill and soft compared to the rest of the album. Rodrigo mainly sings with a head voice to give the track a warm and hazy feel. This song was a nice contrast to the loud rock and pop in the rest of the album. The drums are very sweet and the piano is elegant. The melody was a little repetitive, so it was not my favorite.  

12. cigarette smoke

This song made me feel it all. I wanted to cry, laugh, and throw something in anger. Rodrigo describes post-breakup regrets and feelings. The mellow voice and bold guitar reminded me of Taylor Swift “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology.” This is Rodrigo’s longest song ever, and nostalgia echoes throughout the whole piece. It is a perfectly wrapped ending to the themes and emotions presented in the album, from the excitement rush at the beginning of a relationship, to the tragic ending with darkness. The faded ending was such a smart move and really helped to emphasize the end of Rodrigo’s relationship. 

11. less

The somber piano chords and soft dynamic are similar to Taylor Swift’s “Champagne Problems.” Rodrgio mainly uses head voice which gives the song a lighter, airy affect and matches the song’s dynamics. The song is about failed relationships, and the lyrics reflect the emotions well. Rodrigo’s voice sounds tired and fragile, yet still pretty and powerful. The song is acoustic with only piano as the instrumental. The piano is so good and has an old timey feel as well, offering up a French cafe aesthetic. 

10. honeybee 

This ballad also started with a timid piano intro, and it’s slightly muffled to give it a retro feel. Rodrigo sings the whole song with a very soft head voice almost like a whisper. It feels very sweet and genuine, like an intimate love song. The background vocals and harmony mixed nicely with the melody, and the bridge also features a violin solo with the piano. Rodrigo details her immense love and her fear of losing her loved ones. I liked this song, just because it is so different from her typical pop sound, and is a bit more heartfelt. 

9. my way

The intro was very exquisite for this song. The distinctive punk rock is very clear in this song, giving a nod to Rodrigo’s “GUTS”-esque feel as well as the hit “brutal” on debut “SOUR.” However, the song’s constant use of the synthesizer/guitar is a little annoying. While the bridge’s “spoken lyrics” are very funny,  I did not like this song that much, because I am not a huge fan of rock. 

8. u + me = <3

This intro was so 2000s garage band, reminding me of music listened to by Lorelai and Rory Gilmore in early 2000s sitcom “Gilmore Girls.” I thought the song was fun, but there wasn’t anything that stood out to me. I did like the carefree vibe of the song, enabled by upbeat guitar and drums, making its summertime release date perfect with its aesthetic. I also did really enjoy the bridge: the melody was very nice and the backup vocals matched well with the chorus. 

7. what’s wrong with me ft. robert smith

This song was so incredibly catchy and fun to sing! It is not a super complicated melody and is easy to sing along to, which is refreshing considering most of Rodrigo’s songs are hard to sing during karaoke. The featured collaboration with Robert Smith was really cool, and the artists harmonize with each other so well. The harmony was good and really highlighted Smith’s unique voice. The bouncy bass and guitar is upbeat and boosts the song as well. Punk rock suits Rodrigo’s style very well and I really liked this song and collab! 

6. expectations 

This song was so alternative, indie and sassy. Rodrigo describes her old careless self when it comes to relationship expectations, contrasting it with her current high expectations for a romantic partner.. The bouncy synthesizers help curate the overall mood of the song, which’s very sarcastic. It was very signature Olivia Rodrigo style and you can’t help but enjoy the song. 

5. maggots for brains

In “maggots for brains,”  Rodrigo describes being very sluggish and unmotivated when her lover goes away. This song was very fun, with a punk and y2k feel. The intro sounded like a video game sound effect, and the bridge, featuring a guitar and a popping bass, was also highly enjoyable. Rodrigo flawlessly represents the anxious attachment and emotional drain that can manifest in a relationship, establishing the first real toxic undertone in an initially love story album. The bridge was so fun with the guitar and popping bass. Overall, this song was enjoyable to listen to. 

4. the cure 

I loved this song and it was definitely my favorite one on the album. The intense and gradually building guitar intro was so suspenseful and pulled me in immediately. I think the topic of the song was also very interesting; Rodrigo compares her lover to medicine, lamenting that she could not be “cured,” even with a loving relationship. Rodrigo’s voice shines in this song and her vocal training is very present. Rodrigo has expressed that this is one of her favorite songs on the album, and it makes complete sense. I also really like how as the song progresses, string instruments such as the violin, viola and cello are seamlessly incorporated. The piano mixes very nicely, but this song is mainly string and guitar heavy which gives it this powerful and wonderful sound. The bridge is so intriguing as she begs for her lover to “stitch” her up and fix her. Overall, this song was produced so well, and I loved it so much.

3. begged 

This track’s soft guitar intro reminds me of a meadow field and light rain. It is such a beautiful song;  While the vocals really speak for themselves, seamlessly transitioning between head to chest voice in the chorus, the instrumental also enhances it. The background vocals also help to boost the melody, though I overall just really liked the guitar. I think this song was like a cherry on top for the album because it was so sweet and heartfelt. 

2. drop dead 

This song impeccably set the tone for “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love” by establishing the beginning of a seemingly perfect love story. Rodrigo describes the overwhelming and intense feeling of falling in love and the excitement of the relationship. The bass and instrumental shined very well and did not overpower Rodrigo’s voice. I liked the bouncy intro with the synthesizers that gave the song a mysterious edge. The drums also fit nicely with the faster building up section leading up to the chorus and instrumental break. The lyrics were also well written with pop cultural references such as “stalked you on the internet” and “feminine intuition”. The song was very catchy, although it is hard to sing along due to the high pitches. But this was definitely a masterpiece nonetheless and Rodrigo did a great job. 

1. stupid song

The soft piano intro was so beautiful and instantly attracted me to this song. The opening lyrics reflect Rodrigo’s insecurities that have been present since SOUR. But as soon as Rodrigo mentions her blooming relationship, the bass kicks in and the drums begin to elevate the feeling. Rodrigo demonstrates a unique ability to represent contrasting emotional ranges in each song, a talent shown in “stupid song”’s wallowing undertones and euphoric joy. Rodrigo also demonstrates her insane voice as she seamlessly transitions from chest voice to head voice continuously.  I can also see some Taylor Swift influence in this song, perhaps a mix of Red/Lover. The lyrics were also so good, and very relatable if you are in love. The bridge features a heavy bass in the background. This is the perfect song to listen to in the summer while driving with the windows rolled down and the wind blowing in your hair. I loved this song so much. 

“You seem pretty sad for a girl so in love” was truly a massive success for Rodrigo, and showcased her incredible talent with vocals as well as songwriting. Rodrigo’s continuous experimentation with different styles of music is prevalent in her album as she explores punk, ballads, pop, alternative and rock. This is impressive for any artist and shows her open minded personality behind the microphone. I think Rodrigo did a very good job with her third studio album. Although I like SOUR the best, this album came pretty close. I can’t wait to see Rodrigo continue to develop more music and continue experimenting!