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Draft:Love Is Embarrassing

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"Love Is Embarrassing"
Song by Olivia Rodrigo
from the album Guts
ReleasedSeptember 8, 2023 (2023-09-08)
Studio
  • Amusement (Los Angeles)
  • East West (Los Angeles)
GenreNew wave
Length2:34
LabelGeffen
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Dan Nigro
Lyric video
"Love Is Embarrassing" on YouTube

"Love Is Embarrassing" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo from her second studio album, Guts (2023). Rodrigo wrote it with its producer, Dan Nigro. The song became available as the album's ninth track on September 8, 2023, when it was released by Geffen Records. A new wave song, "Love Is Embarrassing" has self-deprecating lyrics in which Rodrigo derides her crush and expresses embarrassment about how much she was attracted to him.

Critics found the lyricism of "Love Is Embarrassing" relatable and praised the production and Rodrigo's performance, which they also compared to other artists. The song reached the top 30 in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United States and entered the charts in some other countries, receiving a gold certification in Canada. She included it on the set list of her 2024 concert tour, the Guts World Tour. Rodrigo suffered a wardrobe malfunction while performing "Love Is Embarrassing" during the London tour stop, which critics believed she handled well.

Background and release

[edit]
Olivia Rodrigo singing into a microphone while Dan Nigro plays the guitar behind her
"Love Is Embarrassing" was the last song Olivia Rodrigo and Dan Nigro decided to include on Guts (2023).

After Olivia Rodrigo experienced unprecedented commercial success with her debut single, "Drivers License" (2021),[1][2] its co-writer, Dan Nigro, produced all of the tracks on her debut studio album, Sour (2021).[3][4] She drew inspiration from several genres, including pop, folk, and alternative rock.[5] The album was released in May 2021, receiving critical acclaim and commercial success,[6][7] following which Rodrigo decided to take a break from songwriting for six months.[8] She conceived the follow-up album, Guts (2023), at the age of 19, while experiencing "lots of confusion, mistakes, awkwardness & good old fashioned teen angst".[9] Nigro returned to produce every single track on it.[10] 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.[11]

Guts was created over a period of 10 months, with songwriting and recording consuming the first eight and the final two being used for mixing and fine-tuning.[12] The following morning, after experiencing a night when Rodrigo lay in bed replaying every embarrassing moment in her life and cringing at herself, she wrote "Love Is Embarrassing" as the last song for the album in her living room.[13][14] She presented it to Nigro just five days before Guts was due for submission, and it was included on the album even though he thought it was not a good idea.[12] Rodrigo announced the album title on June 26, 2023, and its lead single, "Vampire", was released four days later.[15][16] On August 1, 2023, she revealed Guts's tracklist, which features "Love Is Embarrassing" as the ninth track.[17] The song became available for digital download on the album, which was released on September 8, 2023.[18]

Composition

[edit]

"Love Is Embarrassing" is two minutes and 34 seconds long.[18] Nigro handled production and vocal production, and he engineered it with Dave Schiffman. Nigro plays acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, synthesizer, and drum programming; Garrett Ray plays drums; and Sam Stewart plays guitar. Serban Ghenea mixed the song at SLS Studios in London with assistance from Bryce Bordone, and Randy Merrill mastered it. Recording took place at Amusement Studios and East West Studios in Los Angeles.[10]

"Love Is Embarrassing" is a new wave song.[19][20][21] Rolling Stone's Rob Sheffield described it as an "impeccable Eighties New-Wave tribute" and one of Guts's "bops [that] go for a 1980s synth/guitar new wave chug".[22][23] The song's chorus includes lively guitars and a driving, new wave-style beat, and its bridge received comparisons to the work of Devo.[21][22][24] Rodrigo's tone conveys complete disenchantment with a love interest and she keeps shifting her delivery;[21][24] Sheffield believed she sings with a "hiccup in her voice" that is reminiscent of Dale Bozzio.[22] He compared the fusion of synthesizers and guitars to the Cars, the Go-Go's, and Missing Persons,[22][23] while Cat Zhang of Pitchfork called it a "Kelly Clarkson-meets-Two Door Cinema Club romp".[25] Writing for Beats Per Minute, Lucas Martins thought Rodrigo's "looseness and her rockstar swagger" were evocative of Debbie Harry.[26]

According to critics, the title of "Love Is Embarrassing" references Sky Ferreira's 2013 song "Everything Is Embarrassing".[19][27] "Love Is Embarrassing" has self-deprecating lyrics,[28] in which Rodrigo derides her crush and cringes about how much she was attracted to him.[20][24] She recounts how she informed her friends that he was "the one" just a month after meeting him, after which he immediately disappointed her.[19][28] Rodrigo reevaluates her feelings and comes to the conclusion that love is "fucking embarrassing", describing the crush as "some weird second string loser" who is not worth her time.[24][25] She regrets consoling him when his ex-girlfriend began dating a new man and recalls her anger when he found a different girl who was like Rodrigo.[23][25] Despite this experience, Rodrigo admits that she still fantasizes about romantic dramas in her mind and will continue seeking love: "I'm planning out my wedding with some guy I'm never marrying / I'm giving up, I'm giving up, but I keep coming back for more."[22][24] Billboard's Jason Lipshutz described it as a "diary-ready account of young heartbreak".[21]

Critical reception

[edit]

"Love Is Embarrassing" received positive reviews from music critics, some of whom highlighted its production. AllMusic's Heather Phares and Consequence's Paolo Ragusa named it a standout track on Guts.[20][24] Lipshutz believed the song would find an audience in new wave fans and proved Rodrigo's unparalleled talent for blending deep musical genre exploration with intimate and diary-like stories of young heartbreak.[21] The New York Times's Jon Caramanica believed it displayed how Rodrigo had not given into pressure to work with pop producers like Max Martin and pursued an intimate sound instead, and Martins thought Guts tracks like it promised Rodrigo a bright future in rock music.[19].[26]

Some commented on Rodrigo's vocal performance. The Los Angeles Times's Mikael Wood believed she displayed malleable vocal phrasing which was able to keep up with the evolving distorted guitars.[27] The Line of Best Fit's Matthew Kim thought her self-critical delivery of the line "Jesus, what was I even doing?" amplified and complemented the album's diverse spectrum of emotions.[29]

Critics also praised the lyricism on "Love Is Embarrassing" as relatable. Lipshutz believed the song would be relatable to anybody who has cried about an ex-partner and regretted it later.[21] Caramanica thought it displayed Rodrigo's remarkably pure songwriting which captured raw emotions even in the most stylized lyrics.[19] Slant Magazine's Charles Lyons-Burt believed her lyricism had become more precise, which improved the resonance of both, her self-criticism and critiques of others, and songs like "Love Is Embarrassing" revealed different attitudes or emotions with each listen due to their conflicted core.[30]

Sheffield ranked "Love Is Embarrassing" as Rodrigo's 20th-best song in September 2023 and picked his favorite lyric: "You found a new version of me/And I damn near started World War 3."[22] GQ included "Just watch as I crucify myself/ For some weird second string/ Loser who's not worth mentioning" in its list of the album's standout and "gutsiest" lyrics, and Nylon included it alongside "You found a new version of me and I damn near started World War III" in its list of Guts's most impeccable lyrics.[31][32]

Commercial performance

[edit]

"Love Is Embarrassing" debuted at number 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 issued for September 23, 2023.[33] In Canada, the song entered at number 29 on the Canadian Hot 100 issued for the same date and was certified gold by Music Canada.[34][35] In the United Kingdom, it debuted at number 24 on the Official Audio Streaming Chart and number 21 on Billboard.[36][37] "Love Is Embarrassing" received a silver certification in the United Kingdom from the British Phonographic Industry, and the Official Charts Company declared it her 20th-biggest song in the country in February 2024.[38][39]

In Australia, "Love Is Embarrassing" entered at number 26.[40] The song debuted at number 23 in New Zealand.[41] It charted at number 22 on the Billboard Global 200.[42] "Love Is Embarrassing" also reached national record charts at number 14 on the Sweden Heatseeker chart,[43] number 20 in Ireland,[44] number 66 in Greece,[45] and number 67 in Portugal.[46]

Live performances

[edit]
Olivia Rodrigo performing in a fishnet outfit
Rodrigo performing on the Guts World Tour in May 2024

Rodrigo opened her Tiny Desk concert in December 2023 by performing "Love Is Embarrassing".[13][14] The song was included on the set list of her 2024 concert tour, the Guts World Tour.[47] While Rodrigo was reprising it at the tour's stop in London's O2 Arena, the laces of her bandeau top broke.[48] She held it to keep it from falling off, drawing the attention of a dancer who tried to fix it, while the group continued performing high-energy choreography.[48][49] Rodrigo slightly subdued her dancing during the first chorus when the wardrobe malfunction happened, stating: "This is fucking embarrassing. I almost flashed you guys, but it's OK now!", and carried out the intended choreography during the second chorus.[49][50] Critics praised how she handled the situation,[48][51][52] and Parade's Sammi Burke believed that Rodrigo's voice remained steady through it.[50] Sydney Bucksbaum of Entertainment Weekly and Logan DeLoye of iHeartRadio thought that similarly to Rodrigo, the dancer also flawlessly completed the high-energy choreography while keeping hold of her top, seamlessly performing as if it was planned.[51][53]

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Guts.[10]

  • Dan Nigro – producer, songwriter, engineer, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, vocal producer, bass, synthesizer, drum programming, background vocals
  • Olivia Rodrigo – vocals, background vocals, songwriter
  • Garrett Ray – drums
  • Sam Stewart – guitar
  • Dave Schiffman – engineer
  • Randy Merrill – mastering
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing
  • Bryce Bordone – mixing assistance

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for "Love Is Embarrassing"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[35] Gold 40,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[38] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Molanphy, Chris (January 22, 2021). "Why Olivia Rodrigo's 'Drivers License' Had the Biggest Debut Since 'WAP'". Slate. Archived from the original on January 24, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  2. ^ Coscarelli, Joe (January 19, 2021). "Olivia Rodrigo's 'Drivers License' Hit No. 1 in a Week. Here's How". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  3. ^ Shafer, Ellise (August 11, 2021). "Olivia Rodrigo and Dan Nigro Dive Deep on Sour's Songwriting and Production Process". Variety. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  4. ^ Houghton, Cillea (August 25, 2023). "The Polished Songwriting Team of Olivia Rodrigo and Dan Nigro". American Songwriter. Archived from the original on September 22, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  5. ^ McCarthy, Lauren (February 5, 2021). "Olivia Rodrigo". Nylon. Archived from the original on March 30, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  6. ^ Hess, Liam (May 25, 2021). "Olivia Rodrigo on Her Breakout Year, Brand-New Album—And What Comes Next". Vogue. Archived from the original on May 26, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  7. ^ Carras, Christi (May 21, 2021). "Olivia Rodrigo Does Not Miss. All These Sour Reviews Are Here to Prove It". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  8. ^ Tolentino, Jia (July 6, 2023). "A New Decade, A New Album, A New Life—Olivia Rodrigo's Next Chapter". Vogue. Archived from the original on July 6, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ a b c Geffen Records (2023). Guts (Media notes). Olivia Rodrigo.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ a b Willman, Chris (October 10, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo and Dan Nigro Use Intimate Storytelling Show in L.A. to Recall the 'Toil and Jubilation' of Making Guts: 'I Was Really Scared'". Variety. Archived from the original on January 1, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Kaufman, Gil (December 11, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Rocks NPR's 'Tiny Desk' with Moving Guts Set". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  14. ^ a b Paul, Larisha (December 11, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Spills Her Guts All Over NPR's Tiny Desk". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2024.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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  16. ^ Denis, Kyle (June 21, 2023). "Fans Think Olivia Rodrigo Shared a Snippet of New Song 'Vampire': Listen". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
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  20. ^ a b c Phares, Heather (September 15, 2023). "Guts — Olivia Rodrigo". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 17, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  21. ^ a b c d e f Lipshutz, Jason (September 8, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo's Guts: All 12 Songs Ranked". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  22. ^ a b c d e f Sheffield, Rob (September 13, 2023). "Every Olivia Rodrigo Song, Ranked". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  23. ^ a b c Sheffield, Rob (September 8, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Crushes the Expectations and Delivers Another Witty, Pissed-Off Classic". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  24. ^ a b c d e f Ragusa, Paolo (September 8, 2023). "On Guts, Olivia Rodrigo Embraces Her Imperfections and Sharpens Her Sound". Consequence. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  25. ^ a b c Zhang, Cat (September 11, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo: Guts Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on September 14, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  26. ^ a b Martins, Lucas (September 13, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo — Guts". Beats Per Minute. Archived from the original on February 28, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  27. ^ a b Wood, Mikael (September 11, 2023). "Review: Olivia Rodrigo Spills Her Guts on a Bubble-gum Rock Masterpiece". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 17, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
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  29. ^ Kim, Matthew (September 8, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo: Guts Review - A New Pop Star for a New Era". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  30. ^ Lyons-Burt, Charles (September 11, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Guts Review: More Visceral and More Consistent". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  31. ^ Wang, Steffanee (September 9, 2023). "17 Impeccable Lyrics From Olivia Rodrigo's Guts". Nylon. Archived from the original on July 29, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  32. ^ Atkinson, Jessie (September 8, 2023). "'Everything I Do Is Tragic, Every Guy I Like Is Gay!' – the Gutsiest Lyrics on Olivia Rodrigo's Guts". GQ. Archived from the original on August 4, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  33. ^ a b "Olivia Rodrigo Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  34. ^ a b "Olivia Rodrigo Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  35. ^ a b "Canadian single certifications – Olivia Rodrigo – Love Is Embarrassing". Music Canada. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  36. ^ a b "Official Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  37. ^ a b "Olivia Rodrigo Chart History (U.K. Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  38. ^ a b "British single certifications – Olivia Rodrigo – Love Is Embarrassing". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  39. ^ Griffiths, George (February 20, 2024). "Olivia Rodrigo's Official Top 20 Biggest Songs in the UK". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  40. ^ a b "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. September 18, 2023. Archived from the original on September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  41. ^ a b "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 18, 2023. Archived from the original on September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  42. ^ a b "Olivia Rodrigo Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  43. ^ a b "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 37". Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  44. ^ a b "Olivia Rodrigo Chart History (Ireland Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  45. ^ a b "IFPI Charts". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on November 22, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  46. ^ a b "Olivia Rodrigo – Love Is Embarrassing". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  47. ^ Aniftos, Rania (February 24, 2024). "Olivia Rodrigo's Guts World Tour Setlist: All the Songs She Performed Opening Night". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  48. ^ a b c Aniftos, Rania (May 15, 2024). "Watch Olivia Rodrigo Handle an 'Embarrassing' Wardrobe Malfunction Like a Pro". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  49. ^ a b Saunders, Angel (May 16, 2024). "Olivia Rodrigo Jokes 'I Almost Flashed You Guys' Following Guts Tour Wardrobe Malfunction". People. Archived from the original on May 20, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  50. ^ a b Burke, Sammi (May 15, 2024). "Fans Applaud Young Pop Star for 'Smoothly' Handling 'Terrifying' Wardrobe Malfunction on Stage". Parade. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  51. ^ a b Bucksbaum, Sydney (May 15, 2024). "Olivia Rodrigo Dances Through Onstage Wardrobe Malfunction: 'I Almost Flashed You Guys'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  52. ^ Tolliver, Jazmin (May 16, 2024). "Olivia Rodrigo Laughs Off Wardrobe Malfunction: 'I Almost Flashed You Guys'". HuffPost. Archived from the original on August 8, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  53. ^ DeLoye, Logan (May 16, 2024). "Watch Olivia Rodrigo Handle 'Disastrous Wardrobe Malfunction' Like a Pro". iHeartRadio. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  54. ^ "Olivia Rodrigo Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  55. ^ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 22, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2024.


Category:2023 songs Category:American new wave songs Category:Olivia Rodrigo songs Category:Songs written by Olivia Rodrigo Category:Songs written by Dan Nigro Category:Song recordings produced by Dan Nigro

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