Background

“Vampire” is the lead single from Olivia Rodrigo’s second studio album, Guts, released on June 2023. The song was written by Rodrigo and Dan Nigro, and produced solely by Nigro.

This song review of “Vampire” explores the track’s cinematic melody, its lyricism tailored for young adult audiences, and its preservation and continuation of Olivia’s legacy.

I Should’ve Known It was Strange

The song starts with a very simple and quiet piano. As the track progresses, the melody begins to climb and grow more intense. You can hear the beat getting faster, and more instruments, like loud drums and electric guitars, begin to pile on top of each other. I’m no music expert. But the increasing adrenaline is the same feeling I have when I’m hooked to murder mysteries or serial killer documentary series on Netflix.

Most pop songs have a flat structure, where the energy stays the same throughout the song. Or at least, the change isn’t significant enough to have a noticeable impact on my heart rate. But this track constantly ramps upwards, getting faster and bigger, never truly slowing down. This non-stop growth is why the song feels so breathless and exciting by the time it reaches the finish line.

You Can’t Love Anyone ’cause That Would Mean You Had a heart

Given how popular Twilight ended up being, I’m quite surprised it wasn’t until 2023 that I’ve heard effective vampire metaphors. Describing a real-life toxic relationship as having an ex who’s a bloodsucker is clever. She also uses the idea that vampires only come out at night to explain how the other hid their true self, and only appeared when they wanted something from her. She makes a common heartbreak feel like a big, dramatic movie, where she is the hero escaping a monster.

In the bridge, Olivia’s writing becomes incredibly scathing. She sings that the other can’t love anyone because they don’t have a heart. She was once regarded as Taylor’s daughter. And with takedowns like this, I can understand why. As I grow older, I realise more each day that everyone is imperfect. That group includes the people who hurt me and me. I’m not Olivia. She’s entitled to her feelings. Most of all, she’s the songwriter, and I’m only an observer.

Cause Girls Your Age Know Better

Sour was a massive success. The pressure on Olivia was unbelievably high. Many people wondered if she would suffer from a sophomore slump. “Vampire” immediately proved the doubters wrong by becoming a huge commercial success. Critics also loved it, praising her for making a song that felt even more grown-up and powerful than her old hits. I was relieved when I heard the song. But then, my worries shifted, and they were reallocated for the other tracks of Guts.

While “Vampire” still had the lyricism that I loved from her first album, it still felt different. She sounds like a powerful woman who is rightfully angry, not the sad girl with a broken heart. She moved from pop, and started creating a theatrical rock anthem, one much louder and faster than I had expected. While I felt she didn’t reinvent the wheel, she did take a step forward. And that was enough to demonstrate growth and hopefully make a case for her longevity.

Conclusion

“Vampire” wasn’t messing around. The song had a lot to live up to, and had a lot on its shoulders. But it didn’t disappoint. It served Classic Olivia Rodrigo and more.