Olivia Rodrigo dropped her sophomore album, GUTS, on Sept. 8, and everyone (including myself) is losing it. Between the hard-hitting lyrics and rock sounds, some eagle-eyed fans found a small reference on Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS that points to none other than Lana Del Rey.
For what it’s worth, Rodrigo’s fans suspected Taylor Swift references and words of resilience towards ex lovers, on her new album, which they did get. But the cherry on top of the album was the Lana Del Rey reference in the first track, “all-american b*tch.” Rodrigo sings, “I’m pretty when I cry,” which references Lana’s song “Pretty When You Cry” from her 2014 Ultraviolence album.
This reference on Olivia’s album really was no surprise to her fans — they know she loves Lana, and some were even expecting a collab from them on GUTS. Back in June, she posted a selfie with bright red lipstick on with the caption “bang bang kiss kiss,” quoted from Lana’s song “Venice B*tch.” Maybe that was a hint toward the upcoming reference all along?
Speculations of a possible Olivia Rodrigo and Lana Del Rey collaboration on GUTS began when the two were seen together chatting and being photographed together multiple times at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music event. Rodrigo also gave a speech about Rey at the event, where Rey won the Visionary Award. She said in part, “Lana has raised an entire generation of music lovers and songwriters like me, and taught them that there’s beauty in their vulnerability and power in their melancholy.”
Unfortunately, the collaboration of the century with these two didn’t happen (as far as we know), but at least fans got a reference to Queen Lana. Was this a coincidence or was this fate? We need a collaboration between these two immediately.
Fans were so excited about the reference, and took to social media to make it clear. Maybe the more all of Rodrigo’s fans hype it up, the more likely we’ll get a collab in the future?
From piano lines to alternative rock ballads, Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS is the ultimate punk-but-pop music album. Bringing it all the way back to 2000s movies, this album makes you feel like you’re on the set of films like 10 Things I Hate About You, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, and Freaky Friday. Plus, GUTS is full of emotional, expressive and intimate lyrics with surprising references that fans are living for.