Jealousy, Jealousy

Album: Sour (2021)
Charted: 36 24
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Songfacts®:

  • Here, Olivia Rodrigo tackles social media envy as she sings of the girls in Instagram with "paper-white teeth and perfect bodies." Rodrigo's insecurity complexes when confronted by the sight of these beautiful people are killing her, but she can't help comparing herself to them.
  • This was one of the first songs Rodrigo wrote for Sour at a time when she was virtually addicted to social media. The singer told Nylon she felt crippled by the comparisons. "I would look for things that would hurt my feelings all the time and compare myself to everyone," Rodrigo said. "I felt like my life was only what I showed to others. I didn't feel like my life was any deeper than my Instagram feed. That's a really troubling mindset to be in as a teenager."

    Rodrigo added she wants to be honest to her fans about the effect the incessant, toxic cycle of social media has on her. The teenage star still gets jealous when looking at the "happier, prettier" celebs on Instagram.
  • Instagram is not the only social media platform to inspire a Sour track. Rodrigo penned "Enough For You" after finding a breakup video on TikTok.
  • Rodrigo's Nylon interviewer compared this song's atonal piano and the way she slowly sings the word "slowly" to Fiona Apple. Rodrigo said she's been obsessed over Apple's music ever since she heard her 1996 debut album Tidal. "I remember thinking that I wanted to make jazzy music like her when I was younger, so I would play these jazz chords, and be like, 'Nobody can do it like her,'" she said. "I'm not going to be able to do anything even half as good as Tidal was."
  • Rodrigo wrote the song with Los Angeles singer-songwriter Casey Smith. His other credits include Ashe's "Moral Of The Story" and Jonas Brothers' "Cool."
  • Rodrigo's usual producer, Dan Nigro, came up with the shadowy, bass-led production with the help of UK-based Jam City. Other collaborations between Nigro and Jam City include Conan Gray's "Heather."

Comments: 1

  • Anonymous, from Anonymous,I get the song because I feel like I should be like one of the "popular" kids because it makes me feel like a outcast and it sucks.
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