Pop singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo is back with another single this Friday ahead of the release of her sophomore album “GUTS” next month. The track, titled “bad idea right?” was accompanied by a music video directed by longtime Rodrigo collaborator Petra F. Collins. The song details a story of Rodrigo having a fun night out with her friends when she receives a text from an ex. Despite her friends and her own best wishes, she decides to go to his new apartment to see him–bad idea, right?
The video and song pack y2k nostalgia with elements of 90s soft grunge that evokes the sentiment of a teenaged rom-com pre-social media. The track was a deviation from Rodrigo’s typical style. The singer offered a brief explanation of her creative process that went into it when she shared some behind-the-scenes photos from the video shoot.
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Social Media Reactions
The song is receiving largely positive reactions across social media. Rodrigo, who is 20 years old, often finds herself hitting an audience of women both in their 20s and teenage years. Her Gen Z status and penchant for nostalgia continue to connect with listeners across the internet.
@olivialayne6 I love teen girl romcom montage music ???? #popculture #popculturenews #newmusic #badidearight #oliviarodrigo #2000sromcoms #teenromcoms #newsong #fypシ #fyp #greenscreen
Several TikTok creators are already memorizing the fast-paced lyrics.
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@katherinezaino Olivia rly NEVER misses! #oliviarodrigo #badidearight #swifttok #swiftie
The GUTsy Theories
Some are theorizing about the subject of the song. Few suspect that the song references Rodrigo’s alleged ex boyfriend actor-singer Joshua Bassett. Bassett is long rumored to have inspired Rodrigo’s breakout hit, “driver’s license.” The pair once co-starred in “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.”
@youbrokemefirst91 stream bad idea, right? or else ‼️ #oliviarodrigo #badidearight #guts #sour #jolivia #joshuatbassett #hsmtmts #rickybowen #ninisalazarroberts #rini
Elsewhere, some are manifesting that the song will appear in the upcoming season finale of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” on Amazon Prime Video. The show, based on the series of novels of the same name by author Jenny Han, often incorporates music into its storytelling as a plot device. Han, who serves as an executive producer, included several Olivia Rodrigo songs throughout the first and second season.
The central plot of the show revolves around Belly Conklin (Lola Tung) embroiled in a love triangle between two brothers, Conrad Fisher (Chris Briney) and Jeremiah Fisher (Gavin Casalegno). The triangle develops one fateful summer after the three have spent many childhood summers at their mother Susannah Fisher’s home. Susannah is best friends with Belly’s mother. As tensions rise in the love triangle towards the end of the show’s sophomore season, many feel that “bad idea right?” would make for the perfect soundtrack.
@jamieforst IN HIS SWEATSHIRT & ON HIS CAR LIKE COME ON #TSITP #belly #teamconrad #badidearight? #oliviarodrigo
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Rodrigo is yet to comment on whether or not the track will appear in the show’s season finale next week. The show has also featured the likes of Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers, Bleachers, and more. Rodrigo’s sophomore album, “GUTS”, will hit streaming on September 8.
