Olivia Rodrigo’s “Guts” Tour Made Me Feel Like a Teen Again

I realized I was likely to shed a tear or two at Olivia Rodrigo’s “Guts” Tour. I am just a girl, right after all. On April 6, the three-time Grammy winner carried out her second of four bought-out displays at Madison Sq. Garden in New York City. And for an hour and a half on Saturday evening, Rodrigo reminded us of the very good, bad, and unpleasant of girlhood.

A bag adorned with ribbon bows slung over my shoulder, I screamed in anticipation with a group total of sequin miniskirts, glittery purple eyeshadow, and fishnet tights as Rodrigo ascended onto the stage for her opening variety, “Negative Plan Ideal.” To my shock, the viewers wasn’t just younger teenagers, kids, and their mothers and fathers. An unexpected handful of 20- and 30-a thing grownups like me ended up just as all set to soar and sing along to a combine of tunes from her sophomore album, “Guts,” and her critically acclaimed debut album, “Sour.” I picture we loved the concert the very same cause I get pleasure from her new music so significantly — she made us truly feel like teens all over again.

The web is stuffed with consider parts and TikTok breakdowns that explain Rodrigo’s popularity amid gals who are older than her: it is really fueled by our nostalgia for girlhood and wish to revert back to our teenage yrs. Scream-singing alongside to her lyrics at the “Guts” Tour, I definitely felt that, and I observed it on the faces of fellow millennials in the crowd on Saturday night. She took us, her devoted followers, through angst, nostalgia, unhappiness, and of course, head-banging entertaining.

A couple of months prior, I might found Rodrigo perform even bigger hits like “Get Him Again!” and “Vampire” at Z100’s Jingle Ball, so I was now knowledgeable of her carrying out prowess. At the “Guts” Tour, her vocals ended up uncooked, loaded with a authentic passion and emotion, and her pop-punk electricity was unmatched. But her extra susceptible ballads were being specifically relocating to hear dwell.

When Rodrigo sang about not experience very plenty of with society’s impossible natural beauty standards in “Pretty Is just not Very” and placing oneself out there for a person you like — who’s so not value it — in “Love Is Uncomfortable,” she brought me back to those people specific emotions I would expert in significant university and college, and even at moments in my late twenties. In one specially distinctive moment introducing “Teenage Desire,” she spoke about creating the song as an 18-year-outdated, staying so afraid of rising up. But following lately turning 21 in late February, she recognized having older just isn’t so frightening immediately after all. I admittedly chuckled because, very well, she is only 21, but it can be also a sentiment I felt back then and still do now.

She cycled among emotional ballads like these and fiery bangers that experienced every person on their toes. All through her general performance of “All American Bitch,” she encouraged the group to “assume about anyone or some thing that pisses you off” and scream at the top rated of your lungs. It was therapeutic.

So, thank you to Rodrigo for getting me back to those messy, enjoyment times, but also reminding me why I am relieved to be past that period in my daily life. My other takeaway just after that final encore? Maybe it’s Okay to textual content your ex. Get him again!

Immediately after two far more evenings at MSG, the “Guts” Tour is heading to the British isles and Europe in May and June, and concludes in August in Los Angeles.

Yerin Kim is the options editor at POPSUGAR, where she will help condition the eyesight for specific attributes and offers throughout the network. A graduate of Syracuse University’s Newhouse University, she has over 5 several years of expertise in the pop culture and women’s way of life spaces. She’s passionate about spreading cultural sensitivity by way of the lenses of lifestyle, amusement, and design.