Olivia Rodrigo’s new album references another artist repeatedly. It’s not Taylor Swift.

Key Points:

• Olivia Rodrigo, a leading pop star of her generation, released her third album, "You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love," which features a notable collaboration with Robert Smith of The Cure, marking his first guest appearance on her work.
• The album heavily references The Cure’s influence both lyrically and sonically, blending goth and new wave elements with Rodrigo’s established pop and Taylor Swift-inspired style, creating a stylistic tension throughout the record.
• Critics note the album’s length at 51 minutes as a departure from Rodrigo’s previously concise albums, with a mix of punky anthems, love songs, and darker, more complex themes inspired by her personal experiences and Smith’s musical legacy.
• Rodrigo’s collaboration with Smith is seen as a muse-driven effort to deepen her songwriting beyond typical love and breakup narratives, while also maintaining her characteristic edge and humor.
• The album received a playful thematic rating, heavily favoring goth influences (31 batwings) over Swiftian pop elements (10 cardigans), signaling a successful integration of postpunk aesthetics into her pop framework.