Logical (song)
{{Short description|2023 song by Olivia Rodrigo}}
{{For|the Supertramp song|The Logical Song}}
{{good article}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Logical
| border = yes
| type = song
| artist = Olivia Rodrigo
| album = Guts
| released = {{Start date|2023|9|8}}
| studio =
- Amusement (Los Angeles)
- Skylight (Los Angeles)
| genre =
| length = 3:51
| label = Geffen
| writer =
- Olivia Rodrigo
- Julia Michaels
- Dan Nigro
| producer = Dan Nigro
| misc = {{External music video|type=song|header=Lyric video|{{YouTube|I6OeAufKDBg|"Logical"}}}}
}}
"Logical" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo from her second studio album, Guts (2023). Rodrigo wrote it with songwriter Julia Michaels and its producer, Dan Nigro. The song became available as the album's seventh track on September 8, 2023, when it was released by Geffen Records. An up-tempo piano ballad which incorporates a layer of synthesizers, "Logical" recounts Rodrigo's relationship with an older man who used to manipulate her and the resulting emotional turmoil.
Music critics considered "Logical" one of the best tracks on Guts and praised its lyricism and Rodrigo's vocal performance; Rolling Stone ranked it as her sixth-best song in September 2023. It reached the top 30 in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United States and entered the charts in some other countries. The song received a gold certification in Australia, Brazil, and Canada. Rodrigo included "Logical" on the set list of her 2024–2025 concert tour, the Guts World Tour.
Background and release
File:OlivaRO2150524 (14) (53727393053) (cropped).jpg performing on the Guts World Tour in May 2024|alt=Olivia Rodrigo performing in a fishnet outfit]]
Olivia Rodrigo's debut studio album, Sour (2021), was released in May 2021,{{Cite web|last=Hess|first=Liam|date=May 25, 2021|title=Olivia Rodrigo on Her Breakout Year, Brand-New Album—And What Comes Next|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/olivia-rodrigo-interview-sour-album|url-status=live|access-date=May 26, 2021|website=Vogue|language=en-US|archive-date=May 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526182353/https://www.vogue.com/article/olivia-rodrigo-interview-sour-album |url-access=limited}}{{Cite web|last=Carras|first=Christi|date=May 21, 2021|title=Olivia Rodrigo Does Not Miss. All These Sour Reviews Are Here to Prove It|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2021-05-21/olivia-rodrigo-sour-review-roundup-album|access-date=May 22, 2021|website=Los Angeles Times|archive-date=May 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521233053/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2021-05-21/olivia-rodrigo-sour-review-roundup-album|url-status=live |url-access=limited}} following which she took a break from songwriting for six months.{{Cite magazine |last=Tolentino |first=Jia |author-link=Jia Tolentino |date=July 6, 2023 |title=A New Decade, A New Album, A New Life—Olivia Rodrigo's Next Chapter |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/olivia-rodrigo-august-cover-2023-interview |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230706181410/https://www.vogue.com/article/olivia-rodrigo-august-cover-2023-interview |archive-date=July 6, 2023 |access-date=July 6, 2023 |magazine=Vogue |url-access=limited}} She conceived the follow-up album, Guts (2023), at the age of 19, while experiencing "lots of confusion, mistakes, awkwardness & good old fashioned teen angst".{{cite magazine |last=Dailey |first=Hannah |title=Olivia Rodrigo Announces Sophomore Album Guts: Here's When It Arrives |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/olivia-rodrigo-new-album-guts-release-date-1235361481/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=June 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626171040/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/olivia-rodrigo-new-album-guts-release-date-1235361481/ |archive-date=June 26, 2023 |date=June 26, 2023 |url-status=live}} Sour{{'}}s producer, Dan Nigro, returned to produce every track on it.{{cite web |last=Shafer |first=Ellise |date=August 11, 2021 |title=Olivia Rodrigo and Dan Nigro Dive Deep on Sour's Songwriting and Production Process |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/olivia-rodrigo-dan-nigro-sour-songwriting-production-process-1235033768/ |website=Variety |access-date=July 13, 2022 |archive-date=November 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130062625/https://variety.com/2021/music/news/olivia-rodrigo-dan-nigro-sour-songwriting-production-process-1235033768/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Houghton |first=Cillea |title=The Polished Songwriting Team of Olivia Rodrigo and Dan Nigro |url=https://americansongwriter.com/the-polished-songwriting-team-of-olivia-rodrigo-and-dan-nigro |website=American Songwriter |access-date=July 8, 2024 |date=August 25, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=September 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922092431/https://americansongwriter.com/the-polished-songwriting-team-of-olivia-rodrigo-and-dan-nigro/ }}{{cite AV media notes|title=Guts|others=Olivia Rodrigo|year=2023|author=Geffen Records}} They wrote over 100 songs and included the more rock-oriented tracks on the album because they drew a bigger reaction from her audiences during live shows.{{cite web |last=Savage |first=Mark |title=Olivia Rodrigo Interview: 'I've Got a Few Heartbreaks Left in Me' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-66681334 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=July 8, 2024 |date=September 13, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=February 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225200609/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-66681334 }}
Guts was created over a period of 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.{{cite web |last=Willman |first=Chris |title=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' |url=https://variety.com/2023/music/news/olivia-rodrigo-dan-nigro-guts-intimate-conversation-amex-1235750784/ |website=Variety |access-date=July 28, 2024 |date=October 10, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=January 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240101212108/https://variety.com/2023/music/news/olivia-rodrigo-dan-nigro-guts-intimate-conversation-amex-1235750784/ }} They wrote the song "Logical" with songwriter Julia Michaels. It was inspired by Rodrigo's friend and Bizaardvark co-star Madison Hu, when she said, "It's just not logical, it's just not logical," while discussing one of her relationships with her during a night out.{{cite web |last=Collins |first=Riyah |title=Olivia Rodrigo: Guts Album Track Inspired by Best Friend Madison Hu |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-66986664 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=August 10, 2024 |date=October 2, 2023 |archive-date=August 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240810194018/https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-66986664 |url-status=live }} "Logical" is one of just two tracks on the final tracklist of Guts to feature a songwriter other than Rodrigo and Nigro. Rodrigo announced the album title on June 26, 2023, and its lead single, "Vampire", was released four days later.{{cite web |last=Blanchet |first=Brenton |title=Olivia Rodrigo Reveals Sophomore Album Guts Cover and Release Date: 'I'm So Proud of It' |url=https://people.com/olivia-rodrigo-reveals-sophomore-album-guts-cover-release-date-7553430 |website=People |access-date=November 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627064039/https://people.com/olivia-rodrigo-reveals-sophomore-album-guts-cover-release-date-7553430 |archive-date=June 27, 2023 |date=June 26, 2023 |url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine |last=Shafer |first=Ellise |title=Olivia Rodrigo Announces Sophomore Album, Guts, Coming in September |url=https://variety.com/2023/music/news/olivia-rodrigo-new-album-guts-1235654585/ |magazine=Variety |access-date=June 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626163341/https://variety.com/2023/music/news/olivia-rodrigo-new-album-guts-1235654585/ |archive-date=June 26, 2023 |date=June 26, 2023 |url-status=live}} On August 1, 2023, she revealed Guts{{'}}s tracklist, which features "Logical" as the seventh track.{{cite magazine |last=Dailey |first=Hannah |title=Olivia Rodrigo Unveils Guts Tracklist: 'All American B—h,' 'Get Him Back' & More Song Titles |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/olivia-rodrigo-guts-tracklist-song-titles-1235382915/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=August 1, 2023 |date=August 1, 2023 |archive-date=August 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802223558/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/olivia-rodrigo-guts-tracklist-song-titles-1235382915/ |url-status=live }} The song became available for digital download on the album, which was released on September 8, 2023.{{Cite web|last=Rodrigo|first=Olivia|author-link=Olivia Rodrigo|date=September 8, 2023|title=Guts|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/guts/1694386825|publisher=Apple Music (US)|access-date=June 30, 2023|archive-date=June 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630135703/https://music.apple.com/us/album/guts/1694386825|url-status=live}}
"Logical" was included on the set list of Rodrigo's 2024–2025 concert tour, the Guts World Tour.{{cite magazine |last=Aniftos |first=Rania |title=Olivia Rodrigo's Guts World Tour Setlist: All the Songs She Performed Opening Night |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/olivia-rodrigo-guts-tour-setlist/bad-idea-right-2/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=July 8, 2024 |date=February 24, 2024 |url-status=live |archive-date=July 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709125025/https://www.billboard.com/lists/olivia-rodrigo-guts-tour-setlist/bad-idea-right-2/ }} She performs it before "Enough for You" while sitting on a huge crescent moon prop that suspends from the ceiling, while waving to everyone in the audience, in what The Seattle Times{{'}}s Michael Rietmulder described as a "folk-pop acoustic run".{{cite web |last=Masley |first=Ed |title=Olivia Rodrigo Has Always Been Better Than 'Great for Her Age.' The Guts Tour Proved It |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/02/25/olivia-rodrigo-tour-2024-concert-review-footprint-center-phoenix/72737536007/ |website=USA Today |access-date=August 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225210533/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/02/25/olivia-rodrigo-tour-2024-concert-review-footprint-center-phoenix/72737536007/ |archive-date=February 25, 2024 |date=February 25, 2024 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Rietmulder |first=Michael |title=Olivia Rodrigo Review: In Seattle, Pop Star Proves She's Ready for Arenas |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/music/olivia-rodrigo-review-in-seattle-pop-star-proves-shes-ready-for-arenas/ |website=The Seattle Times |access-date=August 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240808134654/https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/music/olivia-rodrigo-review-in-seattle-pop-star-proves-shes-ready-for-arenas/ |archive-date=August 8, 2024 |date=August 7, 2024 |url-status=live}} It was considered one of the highlights of the show by several critics.{{efn|like Sarah John of Nylon,{{cite web |last=John |first=Sarah |title=Everyone's the Main Character at Olivia Rodrigo's Guts Tour |url=https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/olivia-rodrigo-guts-tour-outfits-style-photos |website=Nylon |access-date=August 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608054151/https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/olivia-rodrigo-guts-tour-outfits-style-photos |archive-date=June 8, 2024 |date=February 27, 2024 |url-status=live}} Rania Aniftos of Billboard,{{cite magazine |last=Aniftos |first=Rania |title=From Crowd Screams to Moments of Gratitude, Here Are 5 Best Moments From Olivia Rodrigo's Guts Tour Kickoff |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/olivia-rodrigo-guts-tour-best-moments-1235614357/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=July 15, 2024 |date=February 24, 2024 |url-status=live |archive-date=February 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224084649/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/olivia-rodrigo-guts-tour-best-moments-1235614357/ }} Audrey Gibbs of The Tennessean,{{cite web |last=Gibbs |first=Audrey |title=Olivia Rodrigo Duets with Sheryl Crow at Nashville Guts Tour Stop, Plus Best Moments From the Night of Pop-punk |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/03/10/olivia-rodrigo-duets-with-sheryl-crow-at-nashville-guts-tour-stop-other-top-moments-from-the-concert/72588105007/ |website=The Tennessean |access-date=August 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240315161657/https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/03/10/olivia-rodrigo-duets-with-sheryl-crow-at-nashville-guts-tour-stop-other-top-moments-from-the-concert/72588105007/ |archive-date=March 15, 2024 |date=March 10, 2024 |url-status=live}} and Melissa Ruggieri of USA Today{{cite web |last=Ruggieri |first=Melissa |title=Olivia Rodrigo Flaunts Her Sass, Sensitivity as Guts Tour Returns to the US |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/07/21/olivia-rodrigo-guts-tour-us-return/74410238007/ |website=USA Today |access-date=August 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240722185940/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/07/21/olivia-rodrigo-guts-tour-us-return/74410238007/ |archive-date=July 22, 2024 |date=July 21, 2024 |url-status=live}}}} Grammy writer Kelly Nguyen opined this was among the more saddening moments, and Detroit Free Press{{'}}s Brian McCollum called the inclusion of the moon the "fanciest frill".{{cite web |last=Nguyen |first=Kelly |title=4 Ways Olivia Rodrigo's Guts World Tour Shows a New Side of the Pop Princess |url=https://www.grammy.com/news/olivia-rodrigo-guts-world-tour-takeaways |publisher=Grammy |access-date=August 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240406224009/https://www.grammy.com/news/olivia-rodrigo-guts-world-tour-takeaways |archive-date=April 6, 2024 |date=February 27, 2024 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=McCollum |first=Brian |title=Olivia Rodrigo Delivers Edgy Pop Master Class at Sold-out Little Caesars Arena in Detroit |url=https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/brian-mccollum/2024/03/24/olivia-rodrigo-detroit-little-caesars-arena-review-photos/73084103007/ |website=Detroit Free Press |access-date=August 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812145020/https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/brian-mccollum/2024/03/24/olivia-rodrigo-detroit-little-caesars-arena-review-photos/73084103007/ |archive-date=August 12, 2024 |date=March 24, 2024 |url-status=live}} Writing for the Chicago Tribune, Bob Gendron observed that it was the show's only moment of high production as the rest of it was mostly simplistic.{{cite web |last=Gendron |first=Bob |title=Olivia Rodrigo's Sold-out United Center Concert Was a Scream-therapy Session and Communal Catharsis |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/03/20/olivia-rodrigo-concert-united-center-chicago/ |website=Chicago Tribune |access-date=August 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328221143/https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/03/20/olivia-rodrigo-concert-united-center-chicago/ |archive-date=March 28, 2024 |date=March 20, 2024 |url-status=live}} Los Angeles Times{{'}}s Mikael Wood called it a charmingly playful exaggeration of the typical pop-star confession, and St. Louis Post-Dispatch{{'}}s Kevin C. Johnson believed it was an oft-used trope for young female pop singers but one which was timeless.{{cite web |last=Wood |first=Mikael |title=Olivia Rodrigo Is 21 Years Young in Thrilling Guts Tour Opener |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2024-02-24/olivia-rodrigo-guts-world-tour-opener-review |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=August 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331003728/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2024-02-24/olivia-rodrigo-guts-world-tour-opener-review |archive-date=March 31, 2024 |date=February 24, 2024 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}{{cite web |last=Johnson |first=Kevin C. |title=Olivia Rodrigo Soars Through Confident Sold-out Enterprise Center Show |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/column/the-blender/olivia-rodrigo-soars-through-confident-sold-out-enterprise-center-show-review/article_92ece6e2-e0ef-11ee-b397-b30f3b00e46c.html |website=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |access-date=August 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240814064230/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/column/the-blender/olivia-rodrigo-soars-through-confident-sold-out-enterprise-center-show-review/article_92ece6e2-e0ef-11ee-b397-b30f3b00e46c.html |archive-date=August 14, 2024 |date=March 13, 2024 |url-status=live}}
Composition
"Logical" is 3 minutes and 51 seconds long. Nigro handled production and vocal production, and he engineered it with Ryan Linvill, Chris Kasych, and the assistant Austen Healey. Nigro plays acoustic guitar, piano, and synthesizer; Linvill plays acoustic guitar, saxophone, bass, synthesizer, and Moog bass; and Benjamin Romans plays piano. Serban Ghenea handled mixing at MixStar Studios in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with assistance from Bryce Bordone, and Randy Merrill helmed mastering. Recording took place at Amusement Studios and Skylight Studios in Los Angeles.
"Logical" is an up-tempo piano ballad,{{cite web |last=Kaplan |first=Ilana |title=Olivia Rodrigo Graduates to Fully Formed Rock Star on Guts |url=https://www.spin.com/2023/09/olivia-rodrigo-guts-album-review/ |website=Spin |access-date=July 9, 2024 |date=September 11, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=September 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230913193632/https://www.spin.com/2023/09/olivia-rodrigo-guts-album-review/ }}{{cite magazine |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |date=September 8, 2023 |title=Olivia Rodrigo Crushes the Expectations and Delivers Another Witty, Pissed-Off Classic |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/olivia-rodrigo-guts-review-1234820411/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908050729/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/olivia-rodrigo-guts-review-1234820411/ |archive-date=September 8, 2023 |access-date=September 8, 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone |url-access=limited}} which is one of just two traditional romantic ballads on Guts according to DIY{{'}}s Lisa Wright.{{cite web |last=Wright |first=Lisa |title=Olivia Rodrigo — Guts |url=https://diymag.com/review/album/olivia-rodrigo-guts |website=DIY |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908065630/https://diymag.com/review/album/olivia-rodrigo-guts |archive-date=September 8, 2023 |date=September 8, 2023 |url-status=live}} The song's minimalistic{{cite web |last=Kornhaber |first=Spencer |title=The Problem Olivia Rodrigo Can't Solve |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2023/09/olivia-rodrigo-guts-review/675260/ |website=The Atlantic |access-date=August 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908153522/https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2023/09/olivia-rodrigo-guts-review/675260/ |archive-date=September 8, 2023 |date=September 8, 2023 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}} piano instrumentation gradually layers new elements and pulls back at key moments, maximizing emotional impact according to Jason Lipshutz of Billboard, before incorporating a drooping layer of synthesizers towards the end.{{cite magazine |last=Lipshutz |first=Jason |title=Olivia Rodrigo's Guts: All 12 Songs Ranked |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/olivia-rodrigo-guts-album-songs-ranked-review/logical/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=September 8, 2023 |date=September 8, 2023 |archive-date=September 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230918104443/https://www.billboard.com/lists/olivia-rodrigo-guts-album-songs-ranked-review/get-him-back/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Saywitz |first=Rachel |title=On Guts, Olivia Rodrigo Gets More Earnest |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/olivia-rodrigo/olivia-rodrigo-guts-review |website=Paste |access-date=July 11, 2024 |date=September 11, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=September 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230913193632/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/olivia-rodrigo/olivia-rodrigo-guts-review }} Rodrigo uses different vocal tones on it,{{Cite web |last=Lyons-Burt |first=Charles |date=September 11, 2023 |title=Olivia Rodrigo Guts Review: More Visceral and More Consistent |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/olivia-rodrigo-guts-album-review/ |access-date=November 1, 2023 |website=Slant Magazine |archive-date=October 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016070457/https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/olivia-rodrigo-guts-album-review/ |url-status=live }} singing gently and delicately in some parts but her voice trembling and choking with anger during the lyric: "Said I was too young, I was too soft/Can't take a joke, can't get you off."{{cite magazine |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |title=Every Olivia Rodrigo Song, Ranked |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/every-olivia-rodrigo-song-ranked-1234821374/logical-1234822187/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=July 9, 2024 |date=September 13, 2023 |url-status=live |url-access=limited |archive-date=July 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709125047/https://gum.criteo.com/syncframe?origin=publishertagids&topUrl=www.rollingstone.com&gpp=DBABBg~BUoAAAJY.QA&gpp_sid=8 }}
"Logical" recounts Rodrigo's relationship with an older man{{cite web|last=Petridis|first=Alexis|author-link=Alexis Petridis|date=September 8, 2023|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/sep/08/olivia-rodrigo-guts-review|title=Oliva Rodrigo: Guts Review: Dramatic Dispatches from the Dark Side of Youth|website=The Guardian|access-date=September 8, 2023|archive-date=September 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908070413/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/sep/08/olivia-rodrigo-guts-review|url-status=live}} who used to manipulate her and the resulting emotional turmoil. According to Slant Magazine{{'}}s Charles Lyons-Burt, the song initially comes across as sincere but is infused with a deep, wounded sarcasm. Rodrigo describes the man as a "master manipulator",{{cite web |last=Olson |first=Samantha |title=Olivia Rodrigo's 'Logical' Lyrics Reflect on Red Flags From a Past Relationship |url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/music/a45048320/olivia-rodrigo-logical-lyrics-meaning/ |website=Cosmopolitan |access-date=August 10, 2024 |date=September 8, 2023 |archive-date=August 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807130559/https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/music/a45048320/olivia-rodrigo-logical-lyrics-meaning/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Gonzales |first1=Erica |title=Olivia Rodrigo Sings About a 'Master Manipulator' Ex on 'Logical' |url=https://www.elle.com/culture/music/a45043231/olivia-rodrigo-logical-lyrics-meaning/ |website=Elle |access-date=August 10, 2024 |date=September 8, 2023 |archive-date=August 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807130600/https://www.elle.com/culture/music/a45043231/olivia-rodrigo-logical-lyrics-meaning/ |url-status=live }} expressing her pain and anger as she reflects on the power dynamics between them. She makes several hyperbolic equivalences in the lyrics,{{cite web |last=Martins |first=Lucas |title=Olivia Rodrigo — Guts |url=https://beatsperminute.com/album-review-olivia-rodrigo-guts/ |website=Beats Per Minute |access-date=July 9, 2024 |date=September 13, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=February 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228033934/https://beatsperminute.com/album-review-olivia-rodrigo-guts/ }} comparing the way she "fell" for him to rainfall in February and the possibility of changing him to the probability that it never rains again and the sun stops shining. Rodrigo likens the irrationality of her believing that he really loved her to someone thinking that "two plus two equals five".{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/olivia-rodrigo-guts/|title=Olivia Rodrigo: Guts Album Review|last=Zhang|first=Cat|website=Pitchfork|date=September 11, 2023|access-date=September 11, 2023|archive-date=September 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914183710/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/olivia-rodrigo-guts/amp/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Caramanica|first=Jon|author-link=Jon Caramanica|date=September 8, 2023|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/08/arts/music/olivia-rodrigo-guts-review.html|title=Olivia Rodrigo Has Seen the World Now, and She's Livid|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=September 13, 2023|url-access=limited|archive-date=September 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914023839/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/08/arts/music/olivia-rodrigo-guts-review.html|url-status=live}} Later, she recalls how he would gaslight her about several things: "Said I was too young, I was too soft/Can't take a joke, can't get you off." Rodrigo neglects these warning signs due to her love for him.{{cite web |last=Gibson |first=Kelsie |title=Olivia Rodrigo's Guts Lyrics Explained: A Guide to All the Songs on Her New Album |url=https://people.com/olivia-rodrigo-guts-album-lyrics-explained-7967550 |website=People |access-date=September 9, 2023 |date=September 8, 2023 |archive-date=September 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230909121033/https://people.com/olivia-rodrigo-guts-album-lyrics-explained-7967550 |url-status=live }} Towards the song's conclusion, she admits her regrets and horror about the fact that she was "half responsible" for what happened and wonders why she did not end the abusive relationship sooner.{{cite web |author=Sowing |title=Olivia Rodrigo — Guts |url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/87553/Olivia-Rodrigo-Guts/ |website=Sputnikmusic |access-date=July 9, 2024 |date=September 9, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=July 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709125025/https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/87553/Olivia-Rodrigo-Guts/ }}
Critical reception
Multiple critics considered "Logical" one of the best songs on Guts. Lyons-Burt and The New York Times{{'}}s Lindsay Zoladz picked it as a highlight.{{cite web |last=Zoladz |first=Lindsay |title=A Deep Dive Into Olivia Rodrigo's Triumphant Guts |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/08/arts/music/amplifier-newsletter-olivia-rodrigo-guts.html/ |website=The New York Times |access-date=August 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908190938/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/08/arts/music/amplifier-newsletter-olivia-rodrigo-guts.html/ |archive-date=September 8, 2023 |date=September 8, 2023 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}} Rolling Stone{{'}}s Rob Sheffield considered the emotional piano ballads the best moments of the album in general, and he named the song as the most powerful and moving one among them. Similarly, Ilana Kaplan of Spin cited it among the scathing ballads that were Guts{{'}}s standout tracks and demonstrated Rodrigo's versatility as a contemporary star. Caramanica thought the song displayed Rodrigo's remarkably pure songwriting which captured raw emotions even in the most stylized lyrics. Heather Phares of AllMusic opined that it showcased an increase in her wisdom and injected a refreshing sense of self-awareness into the catharsis of "Drivers License".{{cite web|last=Phares|first=Heather|date=September 15, 2023|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/guts-mw0004033993|title=Guts — Olivia Rodrigo|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=September 15, 2023|archive-date=September 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917151553/https://www.allmusic.com/album/guts-mw0004033993|url-status=live}} Punch Liwanag of the Manila Bulletin named it as a reflective track where Rodrigo delved into her inner thoughts.{{cite web |last=Liwanag |first=Punch |title=Olivia Rodrigo Strikes Pop-rock Nerve on Guts |url=https://mb.com.ph/2023/9/10/audiojunkie-olivia-rodrigo-strikes-pop-rock-nerve-on-guts |website=Manila Bulletin |access-date=August 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031201803/https://mb.com.ph/2023/9/10/audiojunkie-olivia-rodrigo-strikes-pop-rock-nerve-on-guts |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |date=September 11, 2023 |url-status=live}}
On the other hand, The Australian{{'}}s Jules LeFevre believed "Logical" was forgettable, and Vulture{{'}}s Craig Jenkins thought it felt "a bit mechanical".{{cite web |last=LeFevre |first=Jules |title=One of Pop Music's Biggest and Newest Stars Makes a Gutsy Return |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/review/album-review-fatalism-by-polaris-a-potent-farewell-to-guitarist-ryan-siew/news-story/1f3968a20c1dbc21024541ee7239c0f5 |website=The Australian |access-date=August 15, 2024 |date=September 16, 2023 |url-access=subscription|id={{ProQuest|2864681965}}}}{{cite web |last=Jenkins |first=Craig |title=Olivia Rodrigo Would Rather Go Through It |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/olivia-rodrigo-guts-album-review.html |website=Vulture |access-date=August 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908132014/https://www.vulture.com/article/olivia-rodrigo-guts-album-review.html |archive-date=September 8, 2023 |date=September 8, 2023 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}} Though he considered the ballads the songs where Rodrigo's straightforwardness can be vexing, Spencer Kornhaber of The Atlantic thought the song was one of the better ones. Gabriel Saulog of Billboard Philippines thought it was a considerable improvement but still leaned into the sound of the weaker tracks on Sour.{{cite web |last=Saulog |first=Gabriel |title=Olivia Rodrigo's Guts Is a Teenage Triumph — A Track-By-Track Review |url=https://billboardphilippines.com/music/reviews/olivia-rodrigos-guts-is-a-teenage-triumph-a-track-by-track-review/ |website=Billboard Philippines |access-date=August 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240302063502/https://billboardphilippines.com/music/reviews/olivia-rodrigos-guts-is-a-teenage-triumph-a-track-by-track-review/ |archive-date=March 2, 2024 |date=September 29, 2023 |url-status=live}} Writing for Pitchfork, Cat Zhang believed Guts{{'}}s ballads were not inherently bad but regurgitated Rodrigo's prior material compared to other tracks on the album, which demonstrated a greater increase in self-awareness.
Sheffield ranked "Logical" as Rodrigo's sixth-best song in September 2023 and picked his favorite lyric: "Loving you is loving every argument you held over my head/You brought up the girls you could have instead." Sputnikmusic{{'}}s Sowing believed the lyric in which Rodrigo declared herself half responsible was one of the quotable lines of Guts. GQ included "And now you got me thinkin'/Two plus two equals five" in its list of the album's standout and "gutsiest" lyrics, and Nylon included "I fell for you like water/ that falls from the February sky/ but now the current's stronger/ and I couldn't get out if I tried" in its list of Guts{{'}}s most impeccable lyrics.{{cite web |last=Wang |first=Steffanee |title=17 Impeccable Lyrics From Olivia Rodrigo's Guts |url=https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/best-olivia-rodrigo-guts-lyrics |website=Nylon |access-date=July 31, 2024 |date=September 9, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=July 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240729083339/https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/best-olivia-rodrigo-guts-lyrics }}{{cite web |last=Atkinson |first=Jessie |title='Everything I Do Is Tragic, Every Guy I Like Is Gay!' – the Gutsiest Lyrics on Olivia Rodrigo's Guts |url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/olivia-rodrigo-guts-lyrics |website=GQ |access-date=July 31, 2024 |date=September 8, 2023 |archive-date=August 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240804154714/https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/olivia-rodrigo-guts-lyrics |url-status=live }} Celia Almeida of Miami New Times listed the lyric where the older man attacks Rodrigo for being too young and inexperienced among Rodrigo's five most "scathing" ones.{{cite web |last=Almeida |first=Celia |title=It's Brutal Out Here: Olivia Rodrigo's Most Scathing Lyrics |url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/5-most-brutal-lyrics-by-olivia-rodrigo-19075442 |website=Miami New Times |access-date=August 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712152326/https://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/5-most-brutal-lyrics-by-olivia-rodrigo-19075442 |archive-date=July 12, 2024 |date=February 23, 2024 |url-status=live}}
Critics praised Rodrigo's vocal performance on "Logical". Lucas Martins of Beats Per Minute believed the gripping intensity of her voice combined with the hyperbolic equivalences in the song's lyrics to evoke a sense of overwhelming shame unlike anything Rodrigo had expressed before—her pain laid bare—vulnerable and raw, with nothing concealed, resulting in a truly remarkable performance. Writing for Consequence, Paolo Ragusa believed it would perfectly fit a Broadway musical's second act, due to Rodrigo delivering intensifying dynamics charged with both power and confusion.{{cite web |last=Ragusa |first=Paolo |title=On Guts, Olivia Rodrigo Embraces Her Imperfections and Sharpens Her Sound |url=https://consequence.net/2023/09/olivia-rodrigo-guts-review/ |website=Consequence |access-date=July 30, 2024 |date=September 8, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=September 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230913193631/https://consequence.net/2023/09/olivia-rodrigo-guts-review/ }}
Commercial performance
"Logical" debuted at number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 issued for September 23, 2023. In Canada, the song entered at number 26 on the Canadian Hot 100 issued for the same date and was certified gold by Music Canada. In the United Kingdom, it debuted at number 23 on the Official Audio Streaming Chart and number 22 on Billboard. In Australia, "Logical" entered at number 21 and received a gold certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association. The song debuted at number 21 in New Zealand. It charted at number 19 on the Billboard Global 200. "Logical" also reached national record charts at number 16 in Ireland, number 50 in Portugal, and number 56 in Greece. Additionally, the song peaked at number 17 on the Sweden Heatseeker chart and received a gold certification in Brazil.
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Guts.
- Dan Nigro – producer, songwriter, engineer, acoustic guitar, piano, vocal producer, synthesizer, background vocals
- Olivia Rodrigo – vocals, background vocals, songwriter
- Julia Michaels – songwriter
- Ryan Linvill – additional producer, engineer, acoustic guitar, saxophone, bass, synthesizer, Moog bass, background vocals
- Benjamin Romans – piano
- Chris Kasych – engineer
- Austen Healey – record engineering assistance
- Randy Merrill – mastering
- Serban Ghenea – mixing
- Bryce Bordone – mixing assistance
Charts
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Logical"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Gold|certyear=2024|access-date=27 September 2024|refname="ARIA"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Olivia Rodrigo|title=Logical|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|access-date=September 12, 2024|refname="PMB"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Olivia Rodrigo|title=Logical|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|access-date=February 27, 2024|refname="MC"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Olivia Rodrigo|title=Logical|award=Silver|type=single|relyear=2023|certyear=2025|id=20803-5451-1|access-date=February 21, 2025|refname="BPI"}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}
Note
{{Notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Olivia Rodrigo}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Olivia Rodrigo
Category:Songs written by Julia Michaels