‘SOUR’ Turns 5: Why Olivia Rodrigo’s Debut Album Still Hits Hard

What’s the first song you ever heard from your favorite artist? 

So many moments, from the happiest times with friends to the saddest, have been lived to the soundtrack of my favorite artists’ songs, making it hard to imagine who I would be today without their music.

At 22, Olivia Rodrigo is already being regarded by some online as one of the biggest pop stars of our generation. But beyond just taking on the world stage as a talented singer-songwriter, she’s a fierce advocate for protecting women’s reproductive and educational rights. Olivia has also appeared on Disney Channel’s Bizzardvark and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. 

Interestingly, I heard my first song, “All I Want,” by Olivia, from one of the High School Musical show’s soundtrack albums in 2020. At the time, I remember the song blowing up on TikTok, and hearing the bridge: “All I want is love that lasts, is all I want too much to ask? Is there something wrong with me?” I admit my feed was filled with some cheesy romantic posts, but what stuck out to me was the girls all over the world who were sharing their raw reactions. The song reminded them of heartbreak or what it feels like to be alone in a world that doesn’t seem to love back.

Olivia later released her debut album, SOUR, in 2021, a time in my life that was chaotic, confusing, and bittersweet. I was getting ready to graduate from high school and on the cusp of turning 18. I was happy to reach this milestone that I had worked towards for a long time, but just like that, it was already over. So much freedom laid ahead, with so many choices to make as a new adult, even though I felt unsure if I was ready to make them on my own yet. 

What I love about Olivia’s music is how unforgivably real and dramatic she is, talking about the hard truths of experiencing life at a young age and the difficulties of growing up. The first song on SOUR says, “They say these are the golden years, but I wish I could disappear. Ego crush is so severe, God, it’s brutal out here.” She expresses an angst that many of us wish we could scream out loud. We’re expected to be grateful for our youth, but the reality is that this time in life today is tiring. We’re dealing with constant judgment from those around us, while pretending to be “okay” despite struggling with unspoken insecurities. 

A lot of the songs on this album are also undeniably witty and sarcastic, exploring other themes like heartbreak or betrayal. Some people may say it’s not appropriate to act this way as an adult, but in a song like “good 4 u,” Olivia responds to critics with a “so what?” energy. One lyric reads, “Or maybe you never cared at all, well good for you, you look happy and healthy, not me if you ever cared to ask.” For those who have experienced getting dumped or a close friendship breakup because of stupid reasons, this song is an anthem for processing the hurt and realizing that the relationship was totally one-sided.

The last song on the album that really hits hard as a young adult is “jealousy, jealousy.” Olivia describes this intricate feeling in such a deep way, singing “Comparison is killing me slowly, I think I think too much ‘bout kids who don’t know me, I’m so sick of myself.” Social media is especially involved, seeing picture-perfect photos of things or physical traits you wish you had. Even seeing peers reach accomplishments in school or toward a stable career can be a punch to the gut. Olivia sings about the conflict of knowing you shouldn’t take these things personally, but still feeling like you’re not enough for society, regardless. 

It’s now 2026, and the SOUR album will turn five years old this coming May. I checked my Apple Music Wrapped history the other day, and Olivia has been one of my top artists played every year since SOUR came out (somehow I haven’t gotten a Spotify subscription or even a Costco membership at my ripe age).

Olivia’s music has been such an important part in shaping who I am today as an adult. It’s been an outlet where I can feel the roughest emotions unapologetically and, at the same time, reflect on the trials of adulthood with a little more wisdom. I am yet again facing another end of an era, graduating from college at Cal Poly this June. I can still say, five years later, adulthood sure has been confusing and bittersweet, but being in my 20s has been the most transformative experience so far. From challenging myself in ways I never had before to meeting such amazing peers and leaving with friends for life, this chapter of my life is one I’m grateful for. And I’m leaving it with a bit more courage and excitement to tackle the unknown ahead. 

• #college
• #GenZ
• #her20s
• #music
• #OlivaRodrigo
• #reflection
• #sour
• love
• mental health