Which Song on Olivia Rodrigo’s “Sour” Is the Most Angsty? We Ranked Every Track

Here’s your daily dose of teen angst. 

After seemingly achieving total world domination with her record-breaking ballad "drivers license" in January, Olivia Rodrigo has officially dropped her debut album Sour.

Still not sure who Rodrigo is? Well, here’s your chance to catch up (‘cos she’s certainly not stopping for anyone). The 18-year-old starred as Nini in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, which you can stream on Disney+. If TikTok is your favourite app, you’ve probably heard the Gold-certified tune she co-wrote for the show called “All I Want”.

Now, Sour cements Rodrigo’s place as one of the world’s most exciting new artists, with the record tackling heartbreak, insecurity, and the messiness of growing up.

Of course, the album’s popularity isn’t entirely surprising given the success of “drivers license”. However, something we did somewhat underestimate was just how goddam angsty the album would be.

So, to celebrate how gloriously Tumblr-esque Sour is, we’ve ranked the tracks from least to most angsty.

Let’s get straight to it, shall we?

1. “hope ur ok”

Like many of the bops on Sour, “hope ur ok” is filled with nostalgia. Rodrigo reminisces about past friendships and focuses more on acceptance and hope, with lyrics like, “Well, I hope you know how proud I am you were created.”

While it’s undoubtedly a lovely note to end the album on, it’s not drenched in teen angst.

Angst rating: 4/10

2. “favorite crime”

If you’re in the mood for a good ol’ power cry, “favorite crime” is the tune you’ll want to play on repeat. “You used me as an alibi/ I crossed my heart as you crossed the line,” Rodrigo sings as she recounts a toxic relationship.

Angst rating: 5/10

3. “happier”

Let’s be real: watching an ex move on is tough, and Rodrigo’s vulnerability and insecurities are highlighted on “happier”. “Oh, I hope you’re happy, but not like how you were with me/ I’m selfish, I know, I can’t let you go,” she sings.

Dw girl, we’ve been there.

Angst rating: 5.5/10

4. “enough for you”

Tell me you’re heartbroken without telling me you’re heartbroken, Rodrigo. On “enough for you”, the singer reflects on feeling pressured to change herself to suit a past lover.

“Tried so hard to be everything that you liked/ Just for you to say you’re not the compliment type,” she croons.

While “enough for you” certainly delves into angst territory, it doesn’t quite hold up compared to some of the other bops.

Angst rating: 6/10

5. “1 step forward, 3 steps back”

Swifties, this one’s for you.

If “1 step forward, 3 steps back” seems familiar to you, it’s because Taylor Swift allowed Rodrigo to interpolate “New Year's Day” for the track. So, Swift and producer Jack Antonoff both have writing credits for the song.

Here, Rodrigo explores the challenges of navigating an inconsistent partner and feeling gaslighted in a romantic relationship. (Honestly, I’m kind of starting to wonder if Rodrigo and I dated the same person.)

Angst rating: 6.5/10

6. “deja vu”

Like all the tracks on Sour, “deja vu”—the second single from the album—is relatable and evocative. The tune finds Olivia scrutinising her ex’s new relationship, singing, “Strawberry ice cream in Malibu/ Don’t act like we didn’t do that s***, too.”

Angst rating: 7/10

7. “drivers license”

Not only is “drivers license” undeniably the breakup anthem of the year, but it broke the Spotify record for the most single-day streams for a non-holiday song. Plus, it made Rodrigo the youngest artist to ever debut atop the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The track, which fans believe is about Rodrigo’s ex-boyfriend and co-star Joshua Bassett, starts off smooth and reflective, before surprising listeners with a hard-hitting bridge that’ll make you sob every time.

Angst rating: 7.5/10

8. “jealousy, jealousy”

Get out your high school journal and reactivate your Tumblr account, because this is where things start to get angsty.

On “jealousy, jealousy”, Rodrigo delves into unhealthy comparisons on social media, envy, and feeling like you’re not good enough.

I guess this is growing up.

Angst rating: 8/10

9. “traitor”

Rodrigo’s other songs definitely don’t shy away from being brutally raw and honest, and “traitor” is no different.

The singer describes feeling screwed over by her ex (“You betrayed me/ And I know that you’ll never feel sorry”) and sees her questioning her ex’s authenticity (“There’s no damn way that you/ Could fall in love with somebody that quickly”).

The angst is in the name, people.

Angst rating: 8.5/10

10. “good 4 u”

Now for Rodrigo’s “Misery Business”.

With strong Paramore vibes, “good 4 u” dials up the sarcasm, with Rodrigo singing, “Well, good for you, you look happy and healthy/ Not me, if you ever cared to ask.”

If you’re looking for a song to scream at the top of your lungs in the car, this is the one.

Angst rating: 9/10

11. “brutal”

That brings us to the most angsty tune on the album: “brutal”.

Why has it taken out the top spot for us? Well, it’s got a bit of everything. Rodrigo rants about existential dread, societal pressures, anxiety, feeling insecure and broken relationships.

“And I’m so sick of seventeen/ Where’s my f****** teenage dream?” she sings, before venting, “If someone tells me one more time/ ‘Enjoy your youth,’ I’m gonna cry.”

Angst rating: 10/10

Well, it looks like Sour is Rodrigo’s teenage dream: messy, painful and beautiful.

Header Image: Twitter (@olivia_rodrigo)