Wikipedia

So American

This article is about the Olivia Rodrigo song. For the Portugal. The Man song, see In the Mountain in the Cloud.

"So American" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo from Guts (Spilled), the 2024 deluxe edition of her second studio album, Guts (2023). Rodrigo wrote the song with its producer, Dan Nigro. It became available as the deluxe edition's 17th track on March 22, 2024, when it was released by Geffen Records. Musically new wave, pop, and rock and roll, "So American" was considered by publications as the first love song in Rodrigo's discography. It features her dating a non-American man and praising him.

"So American"
Song by Olivia Rodrigo
from the album Guts (Spilled)
ReleasedMarch 22, 2024 (2024-03-22)
Genre
Length2:49
LabelGeffen
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Dan Nigro
Lyric video
"So American" on YouTube

Music critics thought "So American" was successful as a love song and found its optimistic take on love a refreshing change for Rodrigo. In the United States, the song debuted at number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached the charts in Australia, Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. Rodrigo included "So American" on the set list for her 2024 concert tour, the Guts World Tour.

Background and release

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Olivia Rodrigo performing on the Guts World Tour in May 2024

Olivia Rodrigo conceived her second studio album, Guts (2023), at the age of 19, while experiencing "lots of confusion, mistakes, awkwardness & good old fashioned teen angst".[1] Dan Nigro produced every single track on it.[2][3] They wrote over 100 songs, of which Rodrigo included the more rock-oriented tracks on the album because they drew a bigger reaction from her audiences during live shows.[2] 12 of the 25 songs recorded made it onto the standard edition of Guts. Rodrigo excluded some of them to not overpower the tracklist with too many similar songs and believed they would be released at some point in the future.[4][5]

Guts was released to critical acclaim in September 2023.[6][7] Later in the year, Rodrigo began dating English actor Louis Partridge.[8][9] During the first Chicago show of her Guts World Tour in March 2024, Rodrigo announced that the album's deluxe edition, Guts (Spilled), would be released on March 22, confirming that a new song called "So American" would be included on it.[10][11] Written by Rodrigo and Nigro,[3] "So American" was the only bonus track recorded after the original album's release.[12][13]

In an Instagram story, Rodrigo identified "So American" as her favorite one among the new tracks and added three winking emojis.[14][15] She posted a clip of her performing the song on an acoustic guitar on TikTok.[16] After the release of "So American", the song was added to the set list of the Guts World Tour between "Lacy" (2023) and "Jealousy, Jealousy" (2021). Rodrigo changed the last lyric on the song's bridge: "Think I'm in love" to "'Cause I'm in love" during a show where Partridge was in attendance.[17][18]

Composition

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"So American" is two minutes and 49 seconds long.[19] Nigro produced the song, and Randy Merrill mastered it.[3] It is a new wave, pop, and rock and roll song.[20] An uptempo track[21] that was described as "energetic" by NME's Tom Skinner,[22] "So American" employs a bassline, punchy and fuzzy guitar, and neon-tinged keyboards reminiscent of classic new wave tracks in its instrumentation.[20]

Publications considered "So American" the first love song in Rodrigo's discography.[15][20][23] In the lyrics, she describes dating a non-American man[22][24] and praises him.[21] Rodrigo begins the first line by recalling meeting him in a country where he had to drive on the right side of the road[15][24] and calling him "a poem I wish I wrote".[20][23] She continues describing their relationship in the chorus, stating that her jokes make him laugh,[25][26] and he teases her for being "so American".[15][17] He stimulates many feelings in her,[22][16] and she decides that she would be willing to move anywhere for him and consider getting married: "Oh God, I'm gonna marry him / If he keeps this shit up."[27][26] In the second verse, she self-deprecates and praises his dressing sense and reading habits, reflecting on her difficulty falling asleep when she is in his company.[24] During the song's bridge, she assumes that she may be falling in love with the subject: "I don't wanna assume this stuff / But ain't it love? / Think I'm in love."[17][21] Many critics interpreted "So American" to be about Rodrigo's relationship with Partridge.[a]

Critical reception

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Music critics found the song's optimistic take on love refreshing. Uproxx's Flisadam Pointer believed that while much of Rodrigo's previous music had chronicled her unpleasant romantic experiences, "So American" marked the conclusion of that trend and was her first soft song in a while.[25] Writing for Elle, Alyssa Bailey thought the song provided a pleasantly hopeful take on newfound romance.[24] Chris Willman of Variety described its composition as a "straight-up love song" as a rare occurrence in Rodrigo's output.[21] Rolling Stone ranked it as the 12th best song of 2024 as of June.[20]

In the context of "So American" being Rodrigo's first love song, many critics believed it succeeded. Pointer called it the heartfelt love song she was destined to create.[25] Describing it as a euphoric pop anthem and a true rock & roll hit, Rolling Stone believed the song's greatness was potentially enhanced by the fact that she took so long to make a love song.[20] Aadya Dusad of the South China Morning Post thought Rodrigo nailed her first attempt at one of them, as "So American" was full of joy and deeply romantic, and Harper's Bazaar's Ella Sangster believed the song's lyrics made it clear that the relationship described in it was thriving.[23][26]

Commercial performance

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"So American" debuted at number 58 on the US Billboard Hot 100 issued for April 6, 2024.[28] In Canada, the song entered at number 52 on the Canadian Hot 100 issued for the same date.[29] It debuted at number 24 on the UK Singles Chart.[30] In Australia, "So American" entered at number 76.[31] The song charted at number 10 on the New Zealand Hot Singles chart.[32] It debuted at number 66 on the Billboard Global 200.[33] "So American" also reached number 18 in Ireland and number 96 in Greece.[34][35]

Credits and personnel

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Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Guts (Spilled).[3]

Charts

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Chart positions for "So American"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[31] 76
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[29] 52
Global 200 (Billboard)[33] 66
Greece International (IFPI)[35] 96
Ireland (IRMA)[34] 18
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[32] 10
UK Singles (OCC)[30] 24
US Billboard Hot 100[28] 58

Notes

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  1. ^ As discussed by People's Rachel DeSantis,[17] Nylon's Steffanee Wang,[15] Elle's Alyssa Bailey,[24] Uproxx's Flisadam Pointer,[25] and Billboard's Hannah Dailey.[27]

References

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  1. ^ Dailey, Hannah (June 26, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Announces Sophomore Album Guts: Here's When It Arrives". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Savage, Mark (September 13, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Interview: 'I've Got a Few Heartbreaks Left in Me'". BBC News. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Geffen Records (2023). Guts (Spilled) (Media notes). Olivia Rodrigo.
  4. ^ Wilkes, Emma (September 9, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Says Songs from Guts Sessions May Eventually See the Light of Day". NME. Archived from the original on December 7, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  5. ^ Zemler, Emily (September 8, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Says Guts Has 'Given Me a Lot of Confidence as a Songwriter'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  6. ^ Denis, Kyle (September 8, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Spills Her Guts on New Album". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 5, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  7. ^ Savage, Mark (December 27, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo's Guts Is Critics' Favourite Album of 2023". BBC News. Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  8. ^ Gibson, Kelsie (May 9, 2024). "Olivia Rodrigo and Louis Partridge's Relationship Timeline". People. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  9. ^ Mendez, Malia (December 15, 2023). "Good 4 Them! Olivia Rodrigo and Louis Partridge Seemingly Confirm Relationship with PDA". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  10. ^ Kaufman, Gil (March 20, 2024). "Olivia Rodrigo Reveals Tracklist for Guts Deluxe Edition During Chicago Show". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  11. ^ Zhan, Jennifer (March 19, 2024). "Olivia Rodrigo Is Getting Gutsier". Vulture. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  12. ^ Chelosky, Danielle (March 22, 2024). "Olivia Rodrigo – 'So American'". Stereogum. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  13. ^ Aniftos, Rania (March 22, 2024). "Olivia Rodrigo's Guts Are Fully Spilled with Deluxe Album". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 22, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  14. ^ Dailey, Hannah (March 22, 2024). "Olivia Rodrigo Says She's 'So Proud' of Guts Deluxe Tracks & Reveals Her Favorite". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 5, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  15. ^ a b c d e Wang, Steffanee (March 22, 2024). "Olivia Rodrigo's 'So American' Lyrics Meaning, Explained". Nylon. Archived from the original on April 2, 2024. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Dailey, Hannah (March 27, 2024). "Watch Olivia Rodrigo Hilariously Re-Create Nicole Kidman's Viral AMC Theaters Speech for Guts Tour". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 5, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  17. ^ a b c d DeSantis, Rachel (May 1, 2024). "Olivia Rodrigo Performs 'So American' for the First Time with Sweet Lyric Change amid Louis Partridge Romance". People. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  18. ^ Eggertsen, Chris (August 14, 2024). "5 Highlights from Night One of Olivia Rodrigo's Guts World Tour at Kia Forum". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  19. ^ "'So American' — Song by Olivia Rodrigo". Apple Music (US). Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  20. ^ a b c d e f "The Best Songs of 2024 So Far". Rolling Stone. June 12, 2024. Archived from the original on June 12, 2024. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  21. ^ a b c d Willman, Chris (March 21, 2024). "Olivia Rodrigo Debuts 'Obsessed' Video, Plus Lovestruck New 'So American' Track, as Deluxe Guts Reaches Fans". Variety. Archived from the original on March 22, 2024. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  22. ^ a b c Skinner, Tom (March 22, 2024). "Olivia Rodrigo Shares 'Obsessed' Video and New Song 'So American'". NME. Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  23. ^ a b c Dusad, Aadya (April 1, 2024). "Guts (Spilled) Review: Olivia Rodrigo's Bonus Tracks Elevate the Grammy Winner's Original Album". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on July 12, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  24. ^ a b c d e Bailey, Alyssa (March 22, 2024). "Olivia Rodrigo's 'So American' Lyrics Seem to Be a Love Letter to Her British Boyfriend, Louis Partridge". Elle. Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  25. ^ a b c d Pointer, Flisadam (March 22, 2024). "Olivia Rodrigo's 'So American' From Guts (Spilled) Is the Dewy-Eyed Love Song She Was Always Meant to Make". Uproxx. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  26. ^ a b c Sangster, Ella. "Who is Louis Partridge, Olivia Rodrigo's Rumoured Boyfriend?". Harper's Bazaar. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  27. ^ a b Dailey, Hannah (March 22, 2024). "Olivia Rodrigo Says She's 'So Proud' of Guts Deluxe Tracks & Reveals Her Favorite". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 5, 2024. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  28. ^ a b "Olivia Rodrigo Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  29. ^ a b "Olivia Rodrigo Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  30. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  31. ^ a b "Olivia Rodrigo – So American". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  32. ^ a b "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 29, 2022. Archived from the original on March 29, 2024. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  33. ^ a b "Olivia Rodrigo Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  34. ^ a b "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  35. ^ a b "Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) (Week: 13/2024)". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on April 6, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
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