Sour Analysis- "Traitor"

Love love love this song. I remember my jaw dropping the first time I heard the line: “you didn’t cheat but you’re still a traitor”. Such a simple sentence but when the music pulls back for that one word it’s so powerful. Her entire album is very raw and honest in a way I feel only a Gen Z artist can manage. Not sure if that makes sense? I feel like her generation is very in touch with their emotions, aware of their mental health and have a very ‘eff you’ attitude for someone who wronged them and will call people out on their bs. Throughout this album she voices thoughts that I, a millennial woman, would never have the courage to call out & feelings that I would not have the courage to admit out loud. Even though it’s teen heartbreak, it HITS you. Can’t wait to see how she grows as an artist if she’s this open at 17!

100%! Your interpretation totally ties all of the angst together! I love it!

English Teacher KP

That’s a good point! I think the context of Brutal contributes to my read on it, because it tells us the speaker is 17 and tired of being told to “enjoy her youth.”

This comment is fascinating! When I hear "traitor," my mind automatically goes to a historical context. I think of it as a super serious word and very grounded. I didn't even think about how kids tend to use it in a hyperbolic way! Thanks for sharing your thoughts because now I can totally see it this way!

English Teacher KP

Love your analysis! One thing I like in particular about Traitor is that word -- it has such a childlike connotation. I think of kids playing in the woods and designating one of their friends to play the "traitor" or the lost boys in Peter Pan. I think it helps capture the very young and big emotions of your first heartbreak. Sour in general is an excellent representation of the overwhelming feelings and pain you go through in your teenage years, and Traitor fits so well into it.

I agree! You can feel the despair in her voice! It makes it so relatable!

English Teacher KP

Yes! It really is so powerful! I love it!

English Teacher KP

In my opinion, Olivia Rodrigo's greatest strength is her ability to make pure and true emotion shine through in her music. Just raw confessional poetry, like reading her journal. I love this song in particular, because the absolute heartbreak the speaker feels is so clear and so relatable. The way she sings "you betrayed me", there's anger and sadness and disbelief all at once.

I love how you called out Deja Vu, because when you read that line I literally thought the same thing! Sour is such a beautiful work of art. What I love about this song is how it holds her ex accountable. I love how she acknowledges like "hey, we were in this partnership. I had your back and for you to pull this, I don't care what you say. It's wrong." That mindset is so powerful. She doesn't even try to justify her feelings they just are.

Camila Dejesus

OMG! I'm so glad you liked it! I'm excited for the rest of the album ❤❤❤

English Teacher KP

This may well be my favorite video of yours. Sour is powerful. I'm pumped for project 2 and preemptively but proudly got the OR butterfly. You got a ride sister...good luck on the last track love

Hunter Kuehn