Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                
Wikipedia

Making the Bed

"Making the Bed" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo from her second studio album, Guts (2023). Rodrigo wrote it with its producer, Dan Nigro. The song became available as the album's sixth track on September 8, 2023, when it was released by Geffen Records. A pop song which incorporates piano, guitars, synthesizers, and percussion and evokes dream pop, "Making the Bed" has introspective lyrics which feature Rodrigo reflecting on her flaws and attempting to persevere in spite of them, as it explores her disillusionment with fame and recurring dreams.

"Making the Bed"
Song by Olivia Rodrigo
from the album Guts
ReleasedSeptember 8, 2023 (2023-09-08)
Studio
GenrePop
Length3:18
LabelGeffen
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Dan Nigro
Lyric video
"Making the Bed" on YouTube

Music critics were divided about whether it was one of the better tracks on Guts but welcomed the display of personal accountability and maturity in its lyrics. The song reached the top 20 in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United States and entered the charts in some other countries. Rodrigo performed it at the Bluebird Café, at the Grammy Museum, and during a Tiny Desk concert. She included "Making the Bed" on the set list of her 2024 concert tour, the Guts World Tour.

Background and release

edit
 
Olivia Rodrigo performing "Making the Bed" on the Guts World Tour in May 2024

Olivia Rodrigo's debut studio album, Sour (2021), was released in May 2021,[1][2] following which she decided to take a break from songwriting for six months.[3] She felt pressure to conform to people's expectations, which led her to make questionable decisions and date people she believed she should not have.[4] Rodrigo conceived the follow-up album, Guts (2023), at the age of 19, while experiencing "lots of confusion, mistakes, awkwardness and good old fashioned teen angst".[5] Dan Nigro returned to produce every single track on Guts,[6] which was created over 10 months, with songwriting and recording consuming the first eight and the final two being used for mixing and fine-tuning. After completing a set of gleeful and up-tempo songs for the album, Rodrigo and Nigro decided to create something more serious.[7]

Rodrigo and Nigro wrote the song "Making the Bed" in New York, inspired by Rodrigo's belief that she was placing herself in situations or with people that did not bring her true happiness and peace, which reflected the album's general theme of taking self-responsibility and dealing with difficult relationships.[8][9] She reflected on the self-doubt caused by her shifting priorities after becoming famous at the age of 19, feeling full of energy and enthusiasm but also being overwhelmed by the many fascinating people, exciting opportunities, and glamorous new experiences the industry offered her.[10] Of more than 100 songs written for it, Rodrigo included the more rock-oriented tracks on the album because they drew a bigger reaction from her audiences during live shows.[11]

Rodrigo announced the album title on June 26, 2023, and its lead single, "Vampire", was released four days later.[12][13] On August 1, 2023, she revealed Guts's tracklist, which features "Making the Bed" as the sixth track.[14] The song became available for digital download on the album, which was released on September 8, 2023.[15] Its lyric video included an easter egg indicating that Rodrigo would tour in support of the album before one was officially announced.[16][17] On September 29, Rodrigo performed it on a piano at the Bluebird Café.[18] She reprised "Making the Bed" on a piano at the Grammy Museum on October 4, 2023.[19] Rodrigo sang the song during a Tiny Desk concert in December 2023.[8][9][20] It was included on the set list of her 2024 concert tour, the Guts World Tour.[21] Lying on her back on a platform, Rodrigo sings "Making the Bed" with organ instrumentation and purple lights while people in the audience shine their cellphone lights. It is one of the few gentle songs in the set, which rock-influenced pop songs mostly dominate.[22][23]

Composition

edit
 
"Making the Bed"
"Making the Bed" prominently features synth drones and gentle guitars, evoking the sound of dream pop. Its melody was compared to Kate Bush's 1978 single "Wuthering Heights".
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Making the Bed" is three minutes and 18 seconds long.[15] Nigro handled production and vocal production, and he engineered it with Dani Perez and the assistant Austen Healey. Nigro plays guitar, piano, bass, synthesizer, and drum programming; Sam Stewart plays guitar; and Ryan Linvill plays saxophone. Serban Ghenea mixed the song at MixStar Studios in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with assistance from Bryce Bordone, and Randy Merrill mastered it. Recording took place at Amusement Studios in Los Angeles and Electric Lady Studios in New York City.[6]

"Making the Bed" begins as a melancholic pop ballad and later prominently features synth drones and gentle guitars, evoking the sound of dream pop.[24][25] The song's production has been described as hazy.[26][27] According to The Independent's Helen Brown, its melody is reminiscent of Kate Bush's 1978 single "Wuthering Heights" and the intimate and slow-paced tone recalls the work of Taylor Swift.[26] Amidst glimmering guitars, a sorrowful piano melody, steady percussion, echoing guitar fuzz, subtle keyboard tones, and the wistful twang of a reverb-laden electric guitar, Rodrigo expresses her sorrow, her voice quivering with remorse.[27][28] Melissa Ruggieri of USA Today wrote that the "sumptuous melody escalates into a fury of guitars".[29]

"Making the Bed" features Rodrigo reflecting on her flaws and attempting to persevere in spite of them,[22] as it explores her disillusionment with fame and a recurring dream which is caused by her anxiety.[27][30] Through the lens of a young adult grappling with the realities of fame, Rodrigo reflects on the challenges of growing up and the consequences of achieving her dreams.[31][32] She experiences self-doubt upon realizing that she is acting older than her age and attempts to hide and "pull the sheets over my head".[29] The song portrays her feelings of being a Hollywood misfit, as she admits to leaving old friends behind, partying with a new crowd, and pushing away the people who knew her better.[32][33] She believes these new friends are not reliable, describing them as "fair weather friends".[30][34] Though people tell Rodrigo they love her, she perceives this as superficial and compares it to how someone would admire a tourist attraction.[27][35] Rodrigo then recounts a recurring dream of her driving a car without brakes.[28][31][36] Despite attaining what she once desired, she realizes that fame has brought more turmoil than fulfillment: "I got the things I wanted / It's just not what I imagined."[34][37]

Critical reception

edit

Some critics praised the lyricism of "Making the Bed" while others were less enthusiastic. The Guardian's Laura Snapes considered the song a standout on Guts.[10] Likewise, Ruggieri named it one of the two best songs on the album and believed it succeeded due to Rodrigo's authenticity, without which it could have come across as "whiny".[29] Gabriel Saulog of Billboard Philippines thought "Making the Bed" showcased the best songwriting among all the tracks and was one of the most serious compositions she had ever created.[38] Punch Liwanag of the Manila Bulletin compared the songwriting to Swift and named it as a reflective track where Rodrigo delved into her inner thoughts.[39] On the other hand, The Australian's Jules LeFevre believed "Making the Bed" was forgettable, and The Wall Street Journal's Mark Richardson said it was a tad overly sweet and sentimental.[40][41] Spencer Kornhaber of The Atlantic considered it overly maudlin, generic, and one of the ballads where Rodrigo's straightforwardness can be vexing.[42]

Music critics viewed Rodrigo taking accountability in the lyrics of "Making the Bed" positively. Sputnikmusic's Sowing and Rolling Stone's Larisha Paul highlighted it as an introspective song.[9][43] Lucas Martins of Beats Per Minute believed the song was a rare instance on Guts where she contemplated her life in showbusiness, bringing a sense of realism that is less common in her other work.[44] Writing for Variety, Chris Willman thought that "Making the Bed" potentially marked Rodrigo's most significant step toward a mature self-awareness on the album, as a track that shifted away from seeking retribution or placing blame and instead acknowledged that she is facing consequences of her own choices.[45] Heather Phares of AllMusic opined that the song showcased an increase in her wisdom and injected a refreshing sense of self-awareness into the catharsis of "Drivers License".[46]

Critics commented on the production and Rodrigo's vocal performance on "Making the Bed". DIY's Lisa Wright thought it was one of the few ballads on Guts that she did not manage to infuse with enough bold energy to seamlessly connect it with the more upbeat tracks.[25] Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times noted the emotionality in Rodrigo's voice, describing it as "trembling with regret".[27] Writing for The Daily Telegraph, Poppie Platt believed the song did not reflect any sonic or thematic growth for Rodrigo and felt like a "mere overhang from her debut".[47]

Sheffield ranked "Making the Bed" as Rodrigo's 14th-best song in September 2023 and picked his favorite lyric: "I tell someone I love them, just as a distraction/And they tell me that they love me like I’m some tourist attraction."[33] Nylon included "And I'm playing the victim so well in my head/ But it's me who's been making the bed" in its list of Guts's most impeccable lyrics.[48] Austin American-Statesman's Deborah Sengupta Stith declared "I got the things I wanted / It's just not what I imagined" one of her 10 favorite Rodrigo lines.[22]

Commercial performance

edit

"Making the Bed" debuted at number 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100 issued for September 23, 2023.[49] In Canada, the song entered at number 20 on the Canadian Hot 100 issued for the same date and was certified gold by Music Canada.[50][51] In the United Kingdom, it debuted at number 19 on the Official Audio Streaming Chart and Billboard.[52][53] In Australia, "Making the Bed" entered at number 18 and received a gold certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association.[54][55] The song debuted at number 13 in New Zealand.[56] It charted at number 16 on the Billboard Global 200.[57] "Making the Bed" also reached national record charts at number 14 in Ireland,[58] number 43 in Portugal,[59] and number 46 in Greece.[60] The song received a gold certification in Brazil.[61]

Credits and personnel

edit

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Guts.[6]

  • Dan Nigro – producer, songwriter, engineer, guitar, piano, vocal producer, bass, synthesizer, drum programming, background vocals
  • Olivia Rodrigo – vocals, background vocals, songwriter
  • Sam Stewart – guitar
  • Ryan Linvill – saxophone
  • Dani Perez – engineer
  • Austen Healey – record engineering assistance
  • Randy Merrill – mastering
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing
  • Bryce Bordone – mixing assistance

Charts

edit
Chart positions for "Making the Bed"
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[54] 18
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[50] 20
Global 200 (Billboard)[57] 16
Greece (IFPI)[60] 46
Ireland (Billboard)[58] 14
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[56] 13
Portugal (AFP)[59] 43
UK (Billboard)[53] 19
UK Streaming (OCC)[52] 19
US Billboard Hot 100[49] 19

Certifications

edit
Certifications for "Making the Bed"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[55] Gold 35,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[61] Gold 20,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[51] Gold 40,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[62] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

edit
  1. ^ Hess, Liam (May 25, 2021). "Olivia Rodrigo on Her Breakout Year, Brand-New Album—And What Comes Next". Vogue. Archived from the original on May 26, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  2. ^ Carras, Christi (May 21, 2021). "Olivia Rodrigo Does Not Miss. All These Sour Reviews Are Here to Prove It". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  3. ^ Tolentino, Jia (July 6, 2023). "A New Decade, A New Album, A New Life—Olivia Rodrigo's Next Chapter". Vogue. Archived from the original on July 6, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  4. ^ Puckett-Pope, Lauren (September 9, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo's 'Get Him Back!' Lyrics Convey a Clever Contradiction About Exes". Elle. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  5. ^ Dailey, Hannah (June 26, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Announces Sophomore Album Guts: Here's When It Arrives". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Geffen Records (2023). Guts (Media notes). Olivia Rodrigo.
  7. ^ Willman, Chris (October 10, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo and Dan Nigro Use Intimate Storytelling Show in L.A. to Recall the 'Toil and Jubilation' of Making Guts: 'I Was Really Scared'". Variety. Archived from the original on January 1, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Kaufman, Gil (December 11, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Rocks NPR's 'Tiny Desk' with Moving Guts Set". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  9. ^ a b c Paul, Larisha (December 11, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Spills Her Guts All Over NPR's Tiny Desk". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Snapes, Laura (September 2, 2023). "'I Had All These Feelings of Rage I Couldn't Express': Olivia Rodrigo on Overnight Pop Superstardom, Plagiarism and Growing Up in Public". The Guardian. Archived from the original on December 17, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  11. ^ Savage, Mark (September 13, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Interview: 'I've Got a Few Heartbreaks Left in Me'". BBC News. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  12. ^ Shafer, Ellise (June 26, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Announces Sophomore Album, Guts, Coming in September". Variety. Archived from the original on June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  13. ^ Denis, Kyle (June 21, 2023). "Fans Think Olivia Rodrigo Shared a Snippet of New Song 'Vampire': Listen". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  14. ^ Dailey, Hannah (August 1, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Unveils Guts Tracklist: 'All American B—h,' 'Get Him Back' and More Song Titles". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 2, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  15. ^ a b Rodrigo, Olivia (September 8, 2023). "Guts". Apple Music (US). Archived from the original on June 30, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  16. ^ Dailey, Hannah (September 8, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Appears to Tease Guts World Tour in Lyric Video: Fans React". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  17. ^ Garcia, Thania; Shafer, Ellise (May 8, 2024). "Olivia Rodrigo Adds Asia and Australia Legs to Guts World Tour". Variety. Archived from the original on May 9, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  18. ^ Iasimone, Ashley (September 30, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Performs 'If It Makes You Happy' with Sheryl Crow, Debuts 'Lacy' and 'Making the Bed' Live". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 8, 2023. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  19. ^ Willman, Chris (October 4, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Talks with Linda Perry, Sings Fan Favorite 'Lacy' in Grammy Museum Appearance". Variety. Archived from the original on October 12, 2023. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  20. ^ Cills, Hazel (December 11, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo: Tiny Desk Concert". NPR. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  21. ^ Aniftos, Rania (February 24, 2024). "Olivia Rodrigo's Guts World Tour Setlist: All the Songs She Performed Opening Night". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  22. ^ a b c Sengupta Stith, Deborah (February 29, 2024). "Olivia Rodrigo's Riot Pop Releases Righteous Rage as Guts Tour Hits Austin's Moody Center". Austin American-Statesman. Archived from the original on August 12, 2024. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  23. ^ McCollum, Brian (March 24, 2024). "Olivia Rodrigo Delivers Edgy Pop Master Class at Sold-out Little Caesars Arena in Detroit". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on August 12, 2024. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  24. ^ Kim, Matthew (September 8, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo: Guts Review - A New Pop Star for a New Era". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  25. ^ a b Wright, Lisa (September 8, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo — Guts". DIY. Archived from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  26. ^ a b Brown, Helen (September 8, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo, Guts Review: Even Angrier, Wittier and Rockier than Her Excellent Debut". The Independent. Archived from the original on September 11, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  27. ^ a b c d e Wood, Mikael (September 11, 2023). "Review: Olivia Rodrigo Spills Her Guts on a Bubble-gum Rock Masterpiece". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 17, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  28. ^ a b Petridis, Alexis (September 8, 2023). "Oliva Rodrigo: Guts Review: Dramatic Dispatches from the Dark Side of Youth". The Guardian. Archived from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  29. ^ a b c Ruggieri, Melissa (September 8, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo's Guts Is a No-skip Album but These 2 Songs Are the Best of the Bunch". USA Today. Archived from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  30. ^ a b Prance, Sam (September 8, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Reveals Heartbreaking Meaning Behind Her 'Making the Bed' Lyrics". Capital. Archived from the original on August 30, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  31. ^ a b Lipshutz, Jason (September 8, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo's Guts: All 12 Songs Ranked". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  32. ^ a b Kaplan, Ilana (September 11, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Graduates to Fully Formed Rock Star on Guts". Spin. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  33. ^ a b Sheffield, Rob (September 13, 2023). "Every Olivia Rodrigo Song, Ranked". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  34. ^ a b Olson, Samantha (September 8, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Grapples with Her Rise to Fame in 'Making the Bed' Lyrics". Cosmopolitan. Archived from the original on April 7, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  35. ^ Murphy, John (September 8, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo – Guts". MusicOMH. Archived from the original on September 14, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  36. ^ Gibson, Kelsie (September 8, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo's Guts Lyrics Explained: A Guide to All the Songs on Her New Album". People. Archived from the original on September 9, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  37. ^ Caramanica, Jon (September 8, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Has Seen the World Now, and She's Livid". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 14, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  38. ^ Saulog, Gabriel (September 29, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo's Guts Is a Teenage Triumph — A Track-By-Track Review". Billboard Philippines. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  39. ^ Liwanag, Punch (September 11, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Strikes Pop-rock Nerve on Guts". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on October 31, 2023. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  40. ^ LeFevre, Jules (September 16, 2023). "One of Pop Music's Biggest and Newest Stars Makes a Gutsy Return". The Australian. ProQuest 2864681965. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  41. ^ Richardson, Mark (September 11, 2023). "Guts by Olivia Rodrigo Review: Pop's Princess Rocks Out". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on September 12, 2023. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  42. ^ Kornhaber, Spencer (September 8, 2023). "The Problem Olivia Rodrigo Can't Solve". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  43. ^ Sowing (September 9, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo — Guts". Sputnikmusic. Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  44. ^ Martins, Lucas (September 13, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo — Guts". Beats Per Minute. Archived from the original on February 28, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  45. ^ Willman, Chris (September 7, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Sends Teendom Off with a Bang in Guts, a Record That's as Much Brash Fun as the First One: Album Review". Variety. Archived from the original on February 6, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  46. ^ Phares, Heather (September 15, 2023). "Guts — Olivia Rodrigo". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 17, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  47. ^ Platt, Poppie (September 8, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo, Guts, Review: Sugar-Coated Girl-Power That Goes Down a Little Too Easily". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on September 9, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  48. ^ Wang, Steffanee (September 9, 2023). "17 Impeccable Lyrics From Olivia Rodrigo's Guts". Nylon. Archived from the original on July 29, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  49. ^ a b "Olivia Rodrigo Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  50. ^ a b "Olivia Rodrigo Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  51. ^ a b "Canadian single certifications – Olivia Rodrigo – Making the Bed". Music Canada. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  52. ^ a b "Official Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  53. ^ a b "Olivia Rodrigo Chart History (U.K. Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  54. ^ a b "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. September 18, 2023. Archived from the original on September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  55. ^ a b "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  56. ^ a b "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 18, 2023. Archived from the original on September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  57. ^ a b "Olivia Rodrigo Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  58. ^ a b "Olivia Rodrigo Chart History (Ireland Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  59. ^ a b "Olivia Rodrigo – Making the Bed". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  60. ^ a b "IFPI Charts". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  61. ^ a b "Brazilian single certifications – Olivia Rodrigo – Making the Bed" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  62. ^ "British single certifications – Olivia Rodrigo – Making the Bed". British Phonographic Industry.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Making_the_Bed&oldid=1254820594"