let's take a deep dive into Olivia Rodrigo's GUTS

[@sadlystuckinreality]

Have I listened to Guts? No. Am I going to watch this anyway? Absolutely.

[@repita21]

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?? Listen to it!!!

[@heathershangovercure]

Same!!

[@repita21]

@@heathershangovercureListen to it!!

[@Hannah___]

The anti-sophomore slump concept you're talking about is SO real. I'll forever be a little bitter that Harry's House won album of the year when Fine Line absolutely deserved that level of achievement instead. The overall themes of Fine Line (finding yourself amidst losing someone else + sexuality/gender acceptance) hit so deep for me whereas Harry's House feels very conceptually vacant. It definitely has some bangers but I'm an album girly through and through, so anything with an overarching story gets me every time. :)

[@Kath_Steele]

Right??? Harry’s house is tons of fun and has some really great hits, but I’m so shocked that it’s become such a critical darling Totally agree on Fine Line as well!!! 🥲

[@rickym242]

PLEASE DO A VIDEO ON “RISE AND FALL OF A MIDWEST PRINCESS”!!!!! ITS SO GOOD

[@theaudiobookaficionado]

Chappell Roan does backing vocals on Guts! So I'm not surprised at all that she's the opener. I love them both

[@repita21]

Omggg, on which song?

[@theaudiobookaficionado]

@@repita21 Lacy!!

[@Lucas1217_]

@@theaudiobookaficionadoalso on can’t catch me now!!! you can especially hear chappell near the end when she repeats the “you can’t catch me now, i’m coming like a storm into your town” part for the final time.

[@Lucas1217_]

to be honest i’ve never really understood the comparisons between taylor and olivia. if i had to pick artists who i think olivia is reminiscent of or inspired by, i’d say lorde, fiona apple, or alanis morisette way before i’d say taylor. the main similarity is that they are “teenage girl artists” (🙄) and occupy a similar space in the music industry and have similar fan bases. but the music itself other than having themes of heartbreak is not very similar in terms of production, the type of lyrics they write, or even their vocal delivery.

[@heathershangovercure]

hard agree!

[@thatguy044]

I like and appreciate the point of view on everything you said. Except, happier than ever. That is STILL on repeat for me!!!

[@beyondthestacks]

Hey Kat! Hope you had a great Christmas and New Year! Love this deep dive! :)

[@Kath_Steele]

Thank you, you too!!! 🥰 And wishing you a wonderful 2024!!! 🎉

[@LaurenLover81]

I also wanna see you do a deep dive on the current state of the music industry, addressing not only the one that’s TAYLOR SWIFT, but also the OG one outside of it. Talk about where these now 2 separate industries stand, where the OG is headed, labels shrinking their expectations for success, and how some labels too are depressed they haven’t seen a breakout star since SZA & Olivia Rodrigo. I’ll say the OG is in trouble at this point, where TS13 has tremendously challenged them to their core. I also loved how you did a deep dive on Broadway back in July 2019 where then we started to see lots of Broadway shows closing, and the fervor from teens of that time start to wain (possibly GEN Z transition), and you did this just 8 months before the pandemic. Maybe something like that with a possible music industry deep dive.

[@hamish_theatre]

As a Olivia Rodrigo fan since HSMTMTS, here is my opinion on GUTS: not as good as SOUR but it has grown on me. the overall structure and the themes kinda alomost didn't fit with each other sometimes, like having bad idea right before vampire made no sense to me but whatever they are great songs. SOUR had so much meaning behind it and I feel like with GUTS that she kinda whipped out a few songs from the vault and chucked them on an album. SOUR expalined everything on why it was like the album is was with the sour period of her life, but now she kinda just grew up a little. most of the songs are similar but teenage dream, the grudge and logical absolutely made me cry. i do hope that for her next album she resovels around one time in her life instead of jumping around to create a cool song or two. SOUR will always have a special place in my heart and i hope that the tour finally comes to Australia so I can see her live. GUTS was great but didn't fit as good with me as SOUR did

[@Kath_Steele]

This is so spot on!!! Totally agree

[@repita21]

I totally get that! Personally I think GUTS is a stronger album as it explores more concepts instead of just sticking to one thing which can get boring which is what I think SOUR suffered from. Her pen game is also greatly improved. I personally don’t think the songs don’t really sound the same, just because they have a pop rock sound. I also believe it’s unfair and a bit dumb to discredit GUTS because it’s not on one consistent storyline throughout. Being 19 is messy and all over the place and the album perfectly matches that. It’s not advertising itself as a concept album so why should it stick to one thing?

[@hamish_theatre]

I get what you are saying, but since I am under 19 I don't really get the whole age thing. SOUR also came at a great time where I was losing friends during the pandemic and so it helped me a lot. GUTS came and didn't really connect with me that much I guess

[@JonasAlmostFamous]

Hi fellow emetophobics watching this! 10:12 has a very quick trigger that totally startled me. Just a heads up! Edited to add 10:33 too!

[@elliannaandreen7120]

I’m curious to hear your thoughts on Taylor swift’s discography/timeline

[@AllySheehan]

hmmmmm but speak now honestly deserved grammy of the year IMO!

[@taytay-dq3ht]

Omg ally!!

[@LaurenTheLiterary]

I really liked how in her Tiny Desk talking about the origins of Lacy, being a poem first and a song later. I’m definitely anti sophomore slump, half•alive’s Conditions Of A Punk shows their growth as a band.

[@Kath_Steele]

Ooh that’s so interesting! I’m gonna watch that Tiny Desk performance asap!!!

[@feitocomfruta]

Not the sophomore slump, but… the junior jinx? Other examples I’d include are two of my favorite artists: Kelly Clarkson - Thankful (first out of American Idol), Breakaway (Princess Diaries), My December (Never Again is the only track I remember) P!nk - Can’t Take Me Home (breaking out onto the R&B scene), Missundaztood (full on pop crossover), Try This (even P!nk admits it’s not her best)

[@travis9749]

Just wanted to say that olivia never got sued, she decided to give royalties to avoid being sued!

[@jolienvandamme2909]

Also didn’t Olivia say that there isn’t any beef between them

[@Kath_Steele]

You’re so right, good catch! Their teams settled the matter privately

[@eringracecazad]

Watching twenty minutes before my 20th birthday!

[@Kath_Steele]

Happy birthday!!! 🤍

[@ahj_153]

Hey Kat! Can you please do a thoughts video about the EPIC musical. 3 Saga had been released and I would love to hear what you think about the musical so far!

[@hazy_lacy]

It’s a current hyperfixation for sure! Absolutely adored it and Lacy inspired me to adopt my new name. She wonderfully walks the line of pop star and rock star

[@joceyyy_]

kath is back hurray! i adore olivia’s music and guts is so, so good. it made me feel incredibly seen as a young woman who is dealing with a whole lot of emotions, some of which dont make me feel great about myself. i love olivia because i feel like i can really connect with so many of the concepts that she pushes and talk about. anyways what’s new with you? ive got an audition for 13 the musical in six days and i am a lil nervous but very excited. im currently doing alice by heart and it is SO FUN and im learning so much about myself. im excited for 2024 and everything i wanna do this year! i hope ur doing good kat >:D

[@repita21]

👏 Put respect on vampire’s names 👏 A song doesn’t have to be the most unique thing ever or innovative to be considered a great song! Also I genuinely believe that The Grudge is not about Taylor Swift at all lmao

[@frannybaronian]

One of my favorite albums! Yay Kat!

[@notsosaucystuff]

Of course I'm at work when you post! I'll watch it when I get home

[@lm2cb322]

I love GUTS! a growth from SOUR plus Can’t Catch Me Now is hauntingly beautiful song as a soundtrack. Olivia’s music is relatable even for GenX like me.

[@anonymous.pookie]

The queen is back 🥳🥳

[@LaurenLover81]

What’s this about VAMPIRE being the only official single on GUTS, and all other singles so far being just promo singles? If that’s the case, then most of the “promo singles” were written to be used for TV 📺 show trailers and movie trailers for films like MEAN GIRLS: THE MUSICAL: THE MOVIE, especially BALLAD OF A HOMESCHOOL GIRL, and don’t forget the iPhone ads too along with SONY earbuds made by Olivia. Yes, we could say we’ve seen this protagonist girl stressing about girl problems before, and maybe LIV is trying so hard to be taken seriously against apparent naysayers that LIV and company are pulling stunts that have been done in the past to claim relevancy, and yes, the crane shot in VAMPIRE reminded me of the final scene in SINGING IN THE RAIN with Fred Astaire craned over a massive blue screen in studio.

[@ChrisS-rr6nw]

proud to say this was the first video i watched in the new year! about your interpretation of the grudge, the narrative that it’s about taylor doesn’t make much sense to me only because st vincent, an artist who you said has writing credits on cruel summer, has gone on to publicly praise olivia long after the deja vu credits fiasco. she even personally presented olivia with an award in songwriting achievement last month. without having extensive knowledge of the workings of the music industry, i can’t imagine that st vincent had much involvement in negotiating the credits for the song, let alone taylor. nevertheless, i much enjoyed your perspective on the album. hoping you eventually get tickets for guts tour (i see her in philly on my BIRTHDAY!! already counting down the days!)!!

[@MrNorcal81]

Hey Kat. First, Happy New Year to you and your guy. Hope you are both well. We hope to hear more from you in the coming year. You're one the few theater "experts" on KZbin who actually has been in the business and knows what she's talking about (my daughter is an Equity member Stage Manager and knows more than most of these folks as well). Too many others here focus on the "drama" rather than the substance (example: Harping on Lea Michele's "issues" rather than the fact that she was born to play Fanny Brice and literally saved a Broadway show). A little off topic but what do you think about the splitting of the upcoming Wicked movie into two parts? This may end up being the longest movie (or even live) musical in history.

[@m1yauh]

The grudge is not about Taylor swift anyone who thinks that need to listen to the song again.

[@kaliforniaklasswho]

Pleaaaaseee where is your outfit from? ❤

[@parkertruluck]

Hi Kat, I love guts, I really feel like with it she really distanced herself from Disney, obviously she was doing that with sour but it feels more mature. Love your content, hope you had/are having good winter holidays. Love you, a teenage theatre kid

[@parkertruluck]

Also the grudge is my ‘ how dare the director cast someone that is blatantly better than me’ song so

[@MagillanicaLouM]

Oh my

[@PhanaticalEponine]

I saw Chappell in October. 10000000/10 incredible.

[@rickym242]

me too!!! best night of this year

[@Kath_Steele]

how does it feel to be living the dream

[@joly6598]

LOL! Sorry, but-I really thought that you were talking about a world tour of NICKELODEON'S GUTS, just because I didn't recognise Olivia Rodrigo's name, and so thought she looked vaguely like MO from "GUTS" in the thumbnail... xD

[@fruitykoala5769]

I'm seeing the tour in April! So excited to see you're posting new content.

[@amanday3103]

PLEASE REVIEW RISE AND FALL OF A MIDWEST PRINCESS!!!

[@winterburden]

Thanks Kat!