Vampire (Olivia Rodrigo song)

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"Vampire"
A black and white picture of a female with dark lips and purple Band-Aids crossing her neck
Single by Olivia Rodrigo
from the album Guts
Written December 2022 – January 2023
Released June 30, 2023 (2023-06-30)
Studio Electric Lady (New York City)
Genre Pop rock
Length 3:39
Label Geffen
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Dan Nigro
Olivia Rodrigo singles chronology
"Brutal"
(2021)		 "Vampire"
(2023)
Music video
"Vampire" on YouTube

"Vampire" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo. Geffen Records released it on June 30, 2023, as the lead single from her upcoming second studio album, Guts (2023). Rodrigo co-wrote the song with Dan Nigro, the main producer on her debut studio album, Sour (2021). A pop rock tune, "Vampire" is driven by piano and rock instrumentation consisting of electric guitars, synthesizers, and programmed drums. An accompanying music video for the song directed by Petra Collins was released on June 30 as well. It has topped the charts in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United States, becoming Rodrigo's third chart-topping single in all five countries; and has reached the top 10 in Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom.

Background and release

Olivia Rodrigo released her debut single, "Drivers License", which she co-wrote with producer Dan Nigro,[1] to unexpected success in January 2021.[2] Billboard declared it one of the "most dominant" number-one singles in US chart history.[3] Her debut studio album, Sour, on which Nigro produced all tracks,[4] was released in May 2021 and received critical acclaim.[5] It produced three more top-ten singles on the US Billboard Hot 100, including "Good 4 U" which reached number one.[6][7] Talking to Clash, Rodrigo stated that her second studio album would "probably [be] a lot happier" than Sour.[8] In a February 2022 interview, Rodrigo revealed that she had already decided a title for her second studio album, and she had some songs ready for it.[9][10] Later that year, she confirmed that she was working on new material with Nigro which would be released in 2023.[11] Rodrigo has spoken favorably about collaborating with him.[12] She further revealed in April that she was "trying to get as much done as possible" before she would embark on the Sour Tour (2022).[13] Later that year, she confirmed that new material would be released in 2023.[14]

On June 2, 2023, Rodrigo's website was updated with a clock counting down until June 30.[15] On June 13, she announced "Vampire" as the lead single from her upcoming second studio album and revealed its cover art and release date, June 30.[16][17] Limited edition 7-inch and CD singles featuring a demo version of the song were made available for pre-order,[18][19] along with its pre-save on streaming platforms.[20] "Vampire" was co-written by her and Nigro; a press release was released coinciding with its announcement, which teased that it will feature the sound of a musician who is fully in charge and exudes maturity and boldness.[9] Rodrigo told Billboard that she considered the song as "[her] version of a rock opera". She revealed it was selected as the lead single for Guts (2023) because it "felt like an evolution — in a good way that wasn't too stark", besides honoring her "singer-songwriter roots".[21] She further described its creation: "I was upset about a certain situation and [...] the chords and melody and lyrics just poured out of me — almost like an out-of-body experience, [...] at first I thought it was meant to be a piano ballad. But when Dan and I started working on it, we juxtaposed the lyrics with these big drums and crazy tempo changes. So now it's like a heartbreak song you can dance to."[22] The song was first written by Rodrigo on the piano in December 2022. She and Nigro finished writing and recording it the following month.[21][23]

The black-and-white cover art depicts Rodrigo with "a dark lip and purple criss-cross Band-Aids on her neck", based on which Nylon's Steffanee Wang wrote that "it might lean in the gothic, shadow-y pop arena".[9] Some critics thought the Band-Aids indicated the spot where someone would be bitten by a vampire.[20][24] The artwork also references the poster of the 1968 horror film Dracula Has Risen from the Grave.[25][23] On June 20, she revealed lyrics from "Vampire": "How do you lie?".[26] A 15-second snippet of the song was played when fans called Rodrigo's Sour Heartbreak Hotline.[27] Rodrigo teamed up with YouTube Shorts to launch "#vampireOR2" on June 30, 2023, an Internet challenge exclusively on the platform.[28]

Lyrics and composition

"Vampire" is three minutes and 39 seconds long.[29] Nigro produced the song and provided drum programming. He plays guitar, percussion, piano, bass, and synthesizer, Benjamin Romans plays piano, Paul Cartwright plays viola and violin, Sam Stewart plays electric guitar, and Sterling Laws plays drums. Recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City, Serban Ghenea mixed it.[30][31]

"Vampire" is a pop rock song,[21] in the key of F major with a slow tempo of 67 beats per minute in common time. It starts as a piano ballad, similarly to "Drivers License" according to Billboard's Jason Lipshutz, and eventually transforms into "a pop-rock epic full of jittery percussion and wounded, dramatic vocal runs".[21] In the song, Rodrigo uses critical language towards an unidentified person, including "bloodsucker, fame fucker, bleedin' me dry like a goddamn vampire." "Fame fucker" is replaced in the clean version of the song with "dream crusher," and "goddamn" is shortened to "damn."[32] Rodrigo makes several references to vampires, and at one point, sings "I should've known it was strange you only come out at night".[31] She recalls how a several-years-older man she dated exploited her: "Went for me and not her/ 'Cause girls your age know better".[33][34]

Rodrigo stated there was "a lot of vampire lore to be played with" and she found "fun songwriting fodder" in it.[35] She also revealed her and Nigro's vision for the song was for it to "[crescendo] the entire time" and "[reflect] the pent-up anger that you have for a situation".[23]

Critical reception

"Vampire" received critical acclaim upon its release. The Guardian's Laura Snapes gave the song a five-star rating and stated, "The pre-chorus has a dreamy lightheadedness to it that's quickly become a Rodrigo trademark [...] The fantastic 'Vampire' bears Rodrigo's wounds in a reminder of what's at stake for young women."[36] Pitchfork named the song as the "Best New Track", and Quinn Moreland stated that it proved the "undeniable songwriting chemistry" between Rodrigo and Nigro: "There's an unhurried emotional logic to the track's structure, [...] it's the song's chorus that's especially showstopping, even as it indulges in some on-the-nose imagery".[37] Abby Jones and Jo Vito of Consequence thought the song "blossoms into a vehicle for Rodrigo's candid, emotional performance", and "the arrangement opens up to a high-energy backbeat, akin to the more upbeat tracks from Sour" after the second verse.[25] Justin Curto of Vulture called "Vampire" a "full performance [...] with each line sounding more emotionally exhausted than the last" and wrote that Rodrigo's lyricism "keep the charming specificity of her Sour tracks while packing more of a clever punch".[38]

Music video

On June 27, 2023, YouTube Shorts shared a teaser in which Rodrigo can be viewed resting on a patch of grass before being deluged by a blue-green haze while "a pounding electric guitar-filled snippet of 'Vampire' plays", which Billboard thought was likely from its music video.[39] A later teaser shows her lying under a full moon while a piano-driven instrumental plays.[40] Petra Collins—with whom Rodrigo had previously worked on the visuals for her 2021 singles "Good 4 U" and "Brutal"—directed the video, which was released at 12 a.m. ET on June 30.[41] Hours prior to its release, the artist premiered the video at an exclusive YouTube Space event in Playa Vista, Los Angeles.[42]

Filmed in Los Angeles, the music video for "Vampire" contains references to vampires "without being too on the nose".[31] In the video, Rodrigo performs the song in an ethereal flower field. Once it is revealed that she is actually performing on stage at an awards show, she is hit by a falling light. As the pounding beat picks up speed, Rodrigo, who has a severe gash on her shoulder, keeps performing while spilling blood on her face and white outfit. When security guards surround her and attempt to escort her off the stage, she runs off and begins to feel ambushed as she runs out of the theater. Security continues to chase her into the city, which eventually culminates in her levitating into the night sky.[43]

Live performance

Rodrigo's first live performance of "Vampire", on the piano, was published to her YouTube channel on July 6, 2023.[35]

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from Qobuz.[30]

  • Dan Nigro – producer, songwriter, guitar, percussion, piano, bass, synthesizer, drum programming
  • Olivia Rodrigo – songwriter, vocals
  • Benjamin Romans – piano
  • Paul Cartwright – viola, violin
  • Sam Stewart – electric guitar
  • Sterling Laws – drums
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing

Charts

Chart performance for "Vampire"
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[44] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[45] 31
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[46] 1
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[47] 32
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[48] 23
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[49] 37
France (SNEP)[50] 45
Germany (Official German Charts)[51] 10
1
Hong Kong (Billboard)[52] 15
Iceland (Plötutíðindi)[53] 10
Ireland (IRMA)[54] 1
Italy (FIMI)[55] 85
Latvia (LAIPA)[56] 9
Lithuania (AGATA)[57] 19
Luxembourg (Billboard)[58] 10
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[59] 37
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[60] 7
Malaysia (Billboard)[61] 5
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[62] 1
Norway (VG-lista)[63] 10
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[64] 24
Philippines (Billboard)[65] 5
Singapore (RIAS)[66] 3
South Africa (Billboard)[67] 24
South Korea BGM (Circle)[68] 24
South Korea Download (Circle)[69] 139
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[70] 15
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[71] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[72] 1
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[73] 22
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[74] 17

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Vampire"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Various June 30, 2023
Geffen [29][30]
Italy July 7, 2023 Radio airplay Universal [75]

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑
    • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
    • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
    • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 "Vampire" release formats:
    • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  46. ↑ Illegal name entered Olivia Rodrigo/Olivia+Rodrigo/chart?f=793 "Olivia Rodrigo – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Olivia Rodrigo.
  47. ↑ Illegal name entered Olivia Rodrigo/Olivia+Rodrigo/chart?f=1239 "Olivia Rodrigo – Chart history" Billboard Canada CHR/Top 40 for Olivia Rodrigo.
  48. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 202327 into search.
  49. ↑ "Olivia Rodrigo: Vampire" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  50. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  51. ↑ "Musicline.de – Olivia Rodrigo Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
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  59. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 27, 2023" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40
  60. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
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  62. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  63. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  64. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 202327 into search.
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  70. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire". Swiss Singles Chart.
  71. ↑ "Archive Chart: 20230707" UK Singles Chart.
  72. ↑ Illegal name entered Olivia Rodrigo/Olivia+Rodrigo/chart?f=379 "Olivia Rodrigo – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Olivia Rodrigo.
  73. ↑ Illegal name entered Olivia Rodrigo/Olivia+Rodrigo/chart?f=343 "Olivia Rodrigo – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Olivia Rodrigo.
  74. ↑ Illegal name entered Olivia Rodrigo/Olivia+Rodrigo/chart?f=381 "Olivia Rodrigo – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Olivia Rodrigo.
  75. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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