You heard me right. I don’t think it’s a secret Barbie would love the song “Teenage Dream” off of Olivia Rodrigo’s new album “Guts” for its raw and emotional approach to the challenges of girlhood.
Olivia’s new album explores her angsty reality of what it was like to be a 19-year-old girl, navigating the fame surrounding the success of her debut album, socializing and having fun, as well as new relationships made along the way. Although she is a globally famous pop star, the themes of navigating girlhood she explores is relatable for girls in a variety of stages of life.
Barbie and “Teenage Dream”
The Barbie movie was the catalyst for many women to reflect on how their experiences have been shaped by their identity. It discusses the challenges of growing up, facing patriarchy, and the frustration that comes with this.
The struggle of being viewed from a man’s perspective is explored through “Teenage Dream” as it discusses topics such as age, politics, gender roles, dating, and struggles to be taken seriously.
In the chorus of the song, Olivia sings:
“Got your whole life ahead of you, you’re only nineteen but I fear that they’ve already got the best parts of me.”
These lines display the anxiety of transitioning from a young girl to a grown woman, mixing the emotions of knowing there is so much potential for your life while also recognizing that your youth, which can be so valued by men, is fleeting. Barbie encounters a similar situation when she leaves Barbie Land and encounters these patriarchal problems while worrying if the “best parts” of her are gone.
Olivia’s Take on Girlhood
It wouldn’t be right to discuss “Teenage Dream” without including the reflections that Olivia makes on her personal experience with growing up.
Moving from being a teenager into adulthood, the first verse of the song says everything:
“When am I gonna stop being great for my age and just start being good?”
Olivia’s desire to be seen as more than just your age is understandable, especially considering her three Grammy Awards for her album “Sour.” Wanting to be recognized for her achievements in music, aside from the fact that it has come to her at an early age. Grappling with one’s identity merging from a teenage girl to a young woman is daunting, but with Olivia Rodrigo and Barbie to help guide us, we can all feel more united in the face of these challenges.