Sour (album)

Sour
Olivia Rodrigo crossing her arms and sticking her tongue out. Her face is covered in stickers, with the ones on her tongue spelling out "SOUR".
Studio album by
Olivia Rodrigo
ReleasedMay 21, 2021 (2021-05-21)
Recorded2020 – March 30, 2021
Studio
Genre
Length34:46
LabelGeffen
ProducerDan Nigro
Olivia Rodrigo chronology
Sour
(2021) 		Guts
(2023)
Alternative cover
Olivia Rodrigo with her head resting in her hands looking at a cake with a sick look on her face.
Target and international editions cover
Singles from Sour
  1. "Drivers License"
    Released: January 8, 2021
  2. "Deja Vu"
    Released: April 1, 2021
  3. "Good 4 U"
    Released: May 14, 2021
  4. "Traitor"
    Released: August 10, 2021
  5. "Brutal"
    Released: September 3, 2021

Sour (stylized in all caps) is the debut studio album by American singer and songwriter Olivia Rodrigo. It was released on May 21, 2021, by Geffen Records. The album was written by Rodrigo and producer Dan Nigro. Originally planned as an EP, Sour was expanded into a full-length album following the viral success of her debut single, "Drivers License".

Influenced by Rodrigo's favorite genres and singer-songwriters, Sour is primarily a pop record that spans from energetic pop-punk songs to bedroom pop ballads. Its subject matter centers on adolescence, failed romance, and heartache. She said the album explores her perils and discoveries as a 17-year-old, with its title referring to the "sour" emotions young people experience, but are often criticized for, including anger, jealousy, and unhappiness.

Sour was the first debut album to produce two number-one debuts on the US Billboard Hot 100: "Drivers License" and "Good 4 U". The singles "Deja Vu" and "Traitor" entered the top 10. Sour broke the global Spotify record for the biggest opening week for an album by a female artist. It topped the charts in several countries, including the US Billboard 200, and was one of the best-selling albums of 2021.

Sour was praised by music critics, who regarded it as a strong debut album, underscoring Rodrigo's realistic lyrics and appeal to Gen Z listeners. Various publications listed it among the best albums of 2021, including Billboard and Rolling Stone that placed the album at number one on their year-end rankings. At the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, Sour and "Drivers License" won Best Pop Vocal Album and Pop Solo Performance, respectively; Rodrigo won Best New Artist as well. A YouTube concert film and a Disney+ documentary, titled Sour Prom and Driving Home 2 U respectively, supplement the album. Rodrigo embarked on the Sour Tour, her first headlining concert tour, from April 5 to July 7, 2022. In 2023, it was ranked number 358 on Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". As of November 2024, it is the most-streamed album by a female artist on Spotify.[1]

  1. ^ "Spotify Most Streamed Albums of All Time". kworb.net. Retrieved November 2, 2024.