Olivia Rodrigo — Drop Dead

While the “you seem pretty sad” part is yet to be revealed, the “girl so in love” era has certainly officially begun.

Olivia Rodrigo has returned with “Drop Dead”, the lead single from her upcoming third album, You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love. The song immediately establishes the shift of this new album cycle from the previous two records — it’s much brighter and more positive, reminiscent more of “so american” from the Guts deluxe in terms of its mood and general content.

Olivia mentions “Just Like Heaven” by The Cure on the first verse of the track, and it’s certainly fitting – there’s some clear influence from the legendary band in the shimmering sound of the strings, particularly in the post-chorus instrumental section. The overall production from Dan Nigro is a step away from the more 2000s rock influence from Rodrigo’s previous output, sounding somewhat more retro on this track – and it fits the feeling perfectly, giving the track a light, slightly surreal, magical feel. This is also helped by Olivia Rodrigo’s vocal performance, which is typically sincere, but in a pretty much brand-new, more upbeat way; the backing vocals add some beautiful layering on the chorus, and the rapped second verse switches things up nicely as the song’s gradual buildup progresses.

Lyrically, as previously mentioned, this song is arguably the brightest and most optimistic in Olivia Rodrigo’s discography so far. It’s a straightforward, genuine love song, with some instantly memorable lines like “You’re just so pretty, boy // I’m paranoid I made you up”, “If you let me stay the night // I think I might just have to stay forever” or the titular “The most alive I’ve ever been // But kiss me, and I might drop dead”. The writing isn’t overly complex, but the images it crafts are clear and vivid, it has its poetic moments, and it is very endearing. 

Overall, “drop dead” is a strong way to kick off the You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love album cycle. It does exactly what it needs to in reintroducing Olivia Rodrigo with the newest iteration of her pop-rock sound, setting the tone for what’s likely to come on her third LP. It’s a light, breezy track with some very catchy moments and very compelling personality from Olivia, and one that is sure to leave listeners intrigued for what comes next. 

8.2/10