Olivia Rodrigo launched the European segment of her ‘Guts’ tour with a stellar performance at the Dublin 3Arena, reasserting her status as a global pop sensation. The venue brimmed with her young female fans, their glitzy miniskirts twinkling with anticipation as the 21-year-old superstar graced the stage in a dazzling ensemble of a silver skirt, matching crop top, and black Doc Martens.
Rodrigo stormed into the concert with her second single, ‘Bad Idea Right?’ from her second album, Guts, demonstrating her presence in the world music scene beyond being just a teenage idol. As a representative of Gen-Z, the ex-Disney prodigy takes inspiration from the late 90s and early 2000s music and style, embodying influences from pop-rock icons like No Doubt, Hole, and Alanis Morissette.
Her relatable image combined with the emotional intensity of her lyrics that dissect the trials of youth and the throes of growing up resonate deeply with the nostalgic younger generation. Her debut single ‘Drivers License’, which encapsulated the agony of young love lost, has held its heart-rending power, perhaps due to being released amidst the loneliness of a global pandemic.
Rodrigo’s audience, entranced, harmonised with her as she performed the emotive number seated at her piano early in the concert. There was equal enthusiasm for Rodrigo’s ‘Guts’ lead song ‘Vampire’, a tale of a draining former lover, and the captivating ‘Traitor’ from her first album, ‘Sour’.
Directing a call for high-energy participation from the crowd, Rodrigo implored, “I want you to jump, I want you to scream, I want you to sing at the top of your lungs. Can you do that for me?!” The audience reciprocated with a unanimous affirmative. Rodrigo’s stage persona has noticeably grown since her debut performance at Dublin’s Fairview Park in the 2022 summer season.
Tonight, she exudes an intoxicating cocktail of unfiltered sensitivity and self-assuredness, hitting every note perfectly and reminding us of the treasure trove of hit songs she possesses. During performances of the track Logical from the Guts album and the Sour favourite Enough For You, she mesmerisingly floats around the arena on a suspended lunar crescent, with fans breaking into thunderous screams every time she comes enticingly closer.
However, this event is not an excessively planned spectacle as compared to many grand pop events. [ Olivia Rodrigo: Deftly injecting the boldness of rock music under the guise of pop fame ]
It allows space for the ballads to flourish in a mid-show unplugged section, and provides the opportunity for Rodrigo to energetically express herself, romping and freely roaming the stage during the brisk songs, backed up by her exclusively female band.
Despite the show boasting numerous flamboyant features including a striking V-shaped catwalk, performing dancers, and a downpour of star-shaped ticker tapes during the final performance of Get Him Back!, the reality reveals that Rodrigo actually requires none of it. The quality of her songs coupled with her unquestionable appeal is all that is necessary. Beware, Taylor Swift. Your reign is under threat.