Olivia Rodrigo is the heir apparent to Taylor Swift, a preternaturally talented teen singer-songwriter whose confessional songs feel like they speak for a generation.
It’s been two years since Rodrigo’s debut album, Sour, became a smash hit, spawning #1 singles ‘Drivers License’ and ‘Good 4 U’ and dominating playlists for more than a year. Last year was quiet for Rodrigo, but now she’s back with a new album — Guts — due in September, and a new lead-off single, ‘vampire,’ poised to dominate the conversation, if not the charts.
If you keep the Taylor comparisons going, I suppose ‘vampire’ is Rodrigo’s ‘Dear John,’ a biting attack on an older man who took advantage of her. While that analogy makes sense lyrically, the song’s music reminds me a lot more of Lorde. It starts off slow and dreamy (not unlike ‘Drivers License’) before shifting gears midway through and going to some interesting places.
I was a big fan of Rodrigo’s first album, and this song has me excited for the follow-up.
Hate to give the satisfaction asking how you’re doing now
How’s the castle built off people you pretend to care about?
Just what you wanted
Look at you, cool guy, you got it
I see the parties and the diamonds sometimes when I close my eyes
Six months of torture you sold as some forbidden paradise
I loved you truly
You gotta laugh at the stupidity
[Chorus]
‘Cause I’ve made some real big mistakes
But you make the worst one look fine
I should’ve known it was strange
You only come out at night
I used to think I was smart
But you made me look so naive
The way you sold me for parts
As you sunk your teeth into me, oh
Bloodsucker, fame fucker
Bleedin’ me dry like a goddamn vampire
[Verse 2]
And every girl I ever talked to told me you were bad, bad news
You called them crazy, God, I hate the way I called ’em crazy too
You’re so convincing
How do you lie without flinching?
(How do you lie? How do you lie? How do you lie?)
Oh, what a mesmerizing, paralyzing, fucked up little thrill
Can’t figure out just how you do it and God knows I never will
Went for me and not her
‘Cause girls your age know better
[Chorus]
I’ve made some real big mistakes
But you make the worst one look fine
I should’ve known it was strange
You only come out at night
I used to think I was smart
But you made me look so naive
The way you sold me for parts
As you sunk your teeth into me, oh
Bloodsucker, fame fucker
Bleedin’ me dry like a goddamn vampire
[Bridge]
(Ah)
You said it was true love, but wouldn’t that be hard?
You can’t love anyone ’cause that would mean you had a heart
I tried to help you out, now I know that I can’t
‘Cause how you think’s the kind of thing I’ll never understand
[Chorus]
I’ve made some real big mistakes
But you make the worst one look fine
I should’ve known it was strange
You only come out at night
I used to think I was smart
But you made me look so naive
The way you sold me for parts
As you sunk your teeth into me, oh
Bloodsucker, fame fucker
Bleedin’ me dry like a goddamn vampire
Meet Me In Montauk 
Well, since Swift was influenced by Lorde at some point, it makes sense that Rodrigo would have elements of both artists in her music.
On first listen, I don’t find Vampire quite as good as the singles from the debut album, but I’m certainly curious to hear the rest of the new album.
Big fan of this song – it keeps growing on me! Very excited to hear what Olivia has in store.
Also eagerly awaiting whatever Lorde’s up to next lol