Background

“all-american bitch” is the opening track from Olivia Rodrigo’s second studio album, GUTS, which was released in September 2023. The song was written by Rodrigo alongside her long-time collaborator Dan Nigro, who also handled the track’s production.

In my review of Olivia Rodrigo’s “all-american bitch”, I explore how the songwriting and production perfectly capture the confusing contradictions of modern expectations. I also discuss the track’s strong rock influence and why it serves as the ideal introduction to her second album, GUTS.

The Songwriting and Production Contrast That Make Sense

The contrasts that exist in both the songwriting and the production are what makes Dan Nigro and Olivia Rodrigo’s partnership perfect.

“all-american bitch” beautifully shows the impossible double standards that society places on young women. Society often expects women to be many contradicting things at once: they must be strong but light as a feather, sexy but kind, and even “pretty when they cry.” By using these specific words, Olivia highlights how exhausting it is to maintain a perfect image that doesn’t allow for real human emotions like anger or sadness.

The song explores this subject perfectly by using sarcasm and sudden changes in the music. In the quiet parts, Olivia sounds sweet and perfect, mimicking how society wants her to act. But when the music suddenly becomes loud and she starts screaming, she is showing the repressed rage that comes from trying to fit into a tiny box.

The world is just full of these unrealistic expecations that I wish we could easily discard. But hence, life is full of contradictions. I know they must be let go. But somehow I hold on to them.

The Rock Princess

I had my doubts about Olivia’s rock persona because she hasn’t had a misstep. She’s a rebel but plays by the rules. But I cannot deny that the song is fundamentally rock.

In my opinion, what makes this song a true rock track is the sudden explosion of sound after a quiet start. It begins with just a soft acoustic guitar, but then the loud electric guitars and heavy drums crash in all at once. This change creates a lot of energy and power. The drums are fast and hit hard, making me want to move or headbang, shifting the song from a gentle folk tune into a high-energy pop-punk anthem.

Olivia also uses her voice as an instrument. Instead of always singing pretty and smooth, she uses a gritty and raw style in the loud parts. My favourite moment, and probably the most famous one, is the bridge, where she lets out a loud, long scream. This repressed rage, a recurring theme in rock music, is where artists use loud sounds to show deep, intense feelings. She creates a song that feels rebellious and strong.

The Perfect Track Opener?

“all-american bitch” is the perfect start to the album because it shows the two different sides of Olivia’s music right away. It starts very quiet and sweet with an acoustic guitar, making you think it’s a soft song, but then it suddenly explodes into loud, angry rock music. This surprise told me that the album isn’t just about sad breakup songs. It’s bolder, louder, and more energetic. It set a fun but intense mood that kept me excited for what is coming next.

The whole album represents a struggle – the pressure to act perfect while feeling messy and angry inside. I know a lot of artists curate track listing. But there are times I end up thinking if that was really done properly, if at all. But somehow, it makes sense in GUTS. “all-american bitch” introduces the world of the succeeding tracks – the confusing feelings of growing up, making mistakes, and finding true identity in a judgmental world.

Conclusion

Olivia Rodrigo’s “all-american bitch” is a rock masterpiece, though it is often misunderstood due to stereotypes about pop artists. At its core, the track’s clever writing and production serve as a bold rebellion against the impossible standards society places on young women.