Why Olivia Rodrigo’s “Good 4 U” Is Rock’s First Hot 100 No. 1 in Years
When Olivia Rodrigo made her much-anticipated appearance on Saturday Night Live two weekends ago, the focus was, overwhelmingly, on the first song she performed After that showstopper, Rodrigo’s second song of the night couldn’t help but feel like an afterthought—and given its tempo shift, kind of a head-scratcher. But that afterthought is now narrative surrounding Rodrigo as she continues to take 2021 by storm“Good 4 U”—an uptempo kiss-off to a former lover who moved on too quickly, and Rodrigo’s second hit to debut atop America’s flagship chart—not only establishes that she is more than a one-trick pony. It also affirms that Rodrigo’s budding stardom is bigger than any one sound: that as long as she delivers the hooks and the heartbreak, her fans will follow her anywhere.When Olivia Rodrigo made her much-anticipated appearance on Saturday Night Live two weekends ago, the focus was, overwhelmingly, on the first song she performed, “Drivers License.” Over the winter, that out-of-nowhere chart-topping debut had instantly made her a national (and global) pop sensation—even the subject of a mash note by SNL itself. To say the least, she stuck the landing: Rodrigo’s live “License” was essentially flawless, amplifying the song’s vulnerability with fierce, wounded vocals that were somehow also controlled, belying her 18 years. The media agreed: A superstar was born.
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After that showstopper, Rodrigo’s second song of the night couldn’t help but feel like an afterthought—and given its tempo shift, kind of a head-scratcher. But that afterthought is now sitting atop Billboard’s Hot 100. And this song might ultimately prove more important to the narrative surrounding Rodrigo as she continues to take 2021 by storm.
“Good 4 U”—an uptempo kiss-off to a former lover who moved on too quickly, and Rodrigo’s second hit to debut atop America’s flagship chart—not only establishes that she is more than a one-trick pony. It also affirms that Rodrigo’s budding stardom is bigger than any one sound: that as long as she delivers the hooks and the heartbreak, her fans will follow her anywhere.
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The punk-tempo “Good” is a snarling rock number, notably out of step with the sound of chart-pop in the early ’20s. It’s not really rock-slash-anything. It isn’t alt-rock crossed with SoundCloud rap like the recent chart-topper “Mood” by 24kGoldn and Iann Dior, isn’t guitar-based trap-pop à la Post Malone, isn’t indie-rock with bedroom-pop hooks a la Taylor Swift’s recent creations. In fact, “Good 4 U” is the most up-the-middle rock song to top the Hot 100 in a decade or more, depending on how liberally you define “rock”—maybe since anthem-rockers Fun in 2012, or Kelly Clarkson in guitar-pop mode circa 2009, or acoustic strummers Plain White T’s in 2007, or even, Kurt Cobain help us, Ni
When Olivia Rodrigo made her much-anticipated appearance on Saturday Night Live two weekends ago, the focus was, overwhelmingly, on the first song she performed After that showstopper, Rodrigo’s second song of the night couldn’t help but feel like an afterthought—and given its tempo shift, kind of a head-scratcher. But that afterthought is now narrative surrounding Rodrigo as she continues to take 2021 by storm“Good 4 U”—an uptempo kiss-off to a former lover who moved on too quickly, and Rodrigo’s second hit to debut atop America’s flagship chart—not only establishes that she is more than a one-trick pony. It also affirms that Rodrigo’s budding stardom is bigger than any one sound: that as long as she delivers the hooks and the heartbreak, her fans will follow her anywhere.When Olivia Rodrigo made her much-anticipated appearance on Saturday Night Live two weekends ago, the focus was, overwhelmingly, on the first song she performed, “Drivers License.” Over the winter, that out-of-nowhere chart-topping debut had instantly made her a national (and global) pop sensation—even the subject of a mash note by SNL itself. To say the least, she stuck the landing: Rodrigo’s live “License” was essentially flawless, amplifying the song’s vulnerability with fierce, wounded vocals that were somehow also controlled, belying her 18 years. The media agreed: A superstar was born.
ADVERTISEMENT
After that showstopper, Rodrigo’s second song of the night couldn’t help but feel like an afterthought—and given its tempo shift, kind of a head-scratcher. But that afterthought is now sitting atop Billboard’s Hot 100. And this song might ultimately prove more important to the narrative surrounding Rodrigo as she continues to take 2021 by storm.
“Good 4 U”—an uptempo kiss-off to a former lover who moved on too quickly, and Rodrigo’s second hit to debut atop America’s flagship chart—not only establishes that she is more than a one-trick pony. It also affirms that Rodrigo’s budding stardom is bigger than any one sound: that as long as she delivers the hooks and the heartbreak, her fans will follow her anywhere.
ADVERTISEMENT
The punk-tempo “Good” is a snarling rock number, notably out of step with the sound of chart-pop in the early ’20s. It’s not really rock-slash-anything. It isn’t alt-rock crossed with SoundCloud rap like the recent chart-topper “Mood” by 24kGoldn and Iann Dior, isn’t guitar-based trap-pop à la Post Malone, isn’t indie-rock with bedroom-pop hooks a la Taylor Swift’s recent creations. In fact, “Good 4 U” is the most up-the-middle rock song to top the Hot 100 in a decade or more, depending on how liberally you define “rock”—maybe since anthem-rockers Fun in 2012, or Kelly Clarkson in guitar-pop mode circa 2009, or acoustic strummers Plain White T’s in 2007, or even, Kurt Cobain help us, Ni
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