All I Want

Album: High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (2019)
Charted: 32 90
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Here, Olivia Rodrigo sings about her troubles with past boyfriends, and her desire to to meet a "good guy" to share a "love that lasts."
  • The piano ballad was recorded for episode 4, "Blocking," of the Disney+ mockumentary web TV show High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Olivia sings the song from the perspective of her character, Nini Salazar-Roberts. It was recorded live on the show during a scene where Nini laments the loss of her relationship for E.J. and her resurfacing feelings for Rick.
  • All I Want" marked Olivia's songwriting debut. The 16-year-old actress penned it in just three days while filming the series and going to school. She said in a behind-the-scenes video: "(It's) basically about Nini, and, kind of, her boy troubles. She just found out that E.J. really betrayed her and did something untrustworthy, so she's just grappling with that, and also looking back on her relationship with Ricky. I think it's a very relatable concept, at least for me."
  • The song was produced by Matthew Tishler, who previously worked with Olivia on songs for Disney Channel's Bizaardvark. Tishler has also worked with teen pop singers such as Ashley Tisdale and Dove Cameron, plus popular K-pop/J-pop artists like BTS and EXO.
  • Part of the chorus was inspired by a conversation between Olivia and her mom about boy problems. Her mom told her: "There's nothing wrong with you."

    Is it something wrong with me?
    All I want is a good guy


    Olivia explained to Genius: "It's hard sometimes being in love with the person who doesn't love you the same way can feel kind of degrading to you, and you're wondering like, "Oh, maybe if I was prettier, or more interesting, or funnier, then they wouldn't act this way," but it's totally not true. It has everything to do with them and nothing to do with you, but I think Nini still has yet to figure that out in this song."
  • Olivia Rodrigo signed with Geffen Records in 2020. The key to her deal was how impressed the label's A&R team was with her songwriting on this ballad. You might have heard of her debut single with the label - a ditty titled "Drivers License."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.

Vanessa Carlton

Vanessa CarltonSongwriter Interviews

The "A Thousand Miles" singer on what she thinks of her song being used in White Chicks and how she captured a song from a dream.

Pete Anderson

Pete AndersonSongwriter Interviews

Pete produced Dwight Yoakam, Michelle Shocked, Meat Puppets, and a very memorable track for Roy Orbison.

Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty

Rob Thomas of Matchbox TwentySongwriter Interviews

Rob Thomas on his Social Distance Sessions, co-starring with a camel, and his friendship with Carlos Santana.

Lori McKenna

Lori McKennaSongwriter Interviews

Lori's songs have been recorded by Faith Hill and Sara Evans. She's performed on the CMAs and on Oprah. She also has five kids.