"Get Him Back!" | ||||
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Single by Olivia Rodrigo | ||||
from the album Guts | ||||
Released | September 15, 2023 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:31 | |||
Label | Geffen | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Olivia Rodrigo singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Get Him Back!" on YouTube |
"Get Him Back!" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo from her second studio album, Guts (2023). Rodrigo wrote it with Dan Nigro, who co-produced it with Alexander 23 and Ian Kirkpatrick. The song was sent to Italian radio as the album's third single on September 15, 2023. "Get Him Back!" was inspired by Rodrigo's tendency to enter into her relationships due to people's expectations and details both her desire to return to her ex and get vengeance on him. Some critics picked the song as a standout.
Background
After the commercial success of her debut studio album, Sour (2021),[3] Olivia Rodrigo continued collaborating with Dan Nigro, who had produced all of the tracks on it.[4] The follow-up album, Guts (2023), was conceived when she was aged 19, a year that she described as "lots of confusion, mistakes, awkwardness & good old fashioned teen angst".[5] The album and its title were announced on June 26, 2023, and its lead single, "Vampire", was released four days later.[6][7] The song reached number one in various countries,[8][9] including the United States, where it became her third number one single on the Billboard Hot 100.[10] "Bad Idea Right?" was chosen as the follow-up single.[11]
Rodrigo wrote "Get Him Back!" with Nigro.[12] She detailed its inspiration in an interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music: "I had such a desire to live and experience things and make mistakes and grow after Sour came out, I kind of felt this pressure to be this girl that I thought everyone expected me to be. I think because of that pressure, maybe I did things that maybe I shouldn’t have—dated people that I shouldn't have."[13] On July 31, 2023, Rodrigo revealed a video clip which included clues about Guts' tracklist, intended for fans to decode. It featured her relaxing in a bedroom, unpacking boxes, and experimenting with various devices, including an electric keyboard and a retro typewriter.[14] On August 1, 2023, Rodrigo revealed the tracklist, which features "Get Him Back!" as the eighth track.[15] A teaser clip released alongside the tracklist included letters addressed to "258 get him back drive".[16] The song was released as a track of Guts on September 8, 2023, via Geffen Records.[17]
Composition
"Get Him Back!" is three minutes and 31 seconds long.[17] Nigro produced and engineered the song with Alexander 23 and Ian Kirkpatrick and provided vocal production. He plays acoustic guitar, electric guitar, percussion, piano, bass, synthesizer, and drum programming; Alexander 23 plays drums, slide guitar, bass, and synthesizer; Kirkpatrick plays synthesizer and drum programming; and Sterling Laws plays drums. Mitch McCarthy mixed the song, and Randy Merrill mastered it.[12]
According to Elle's Lauren Puckett-Pope, "Get Him Back!" "riffs on the dual interpretation of [the] words: 'get him back' as in restore the relationship, and 'get him back' as in procure revenge". In its lyrics, Rodrigo details a short-lived relationship that commenced during summertime and concluded by spring. She goes on to dispute her ex's claims about his height and describes him as egotistical but "so much fun".[13] Experiencing conflicting feelings about him, she drafts letters addressed to him and fantasizes about kissing him and making him feel envious.[13]
Reception
The New York Times's Caryn Ganz described "Get Him Back!" as a "hilarious rap-rock banger", on which Rodrigo "playfully spins the title phrase, seeking both revenge and reconciliation".[1] Chris DeVille of Stereogum picked the song as Guts's "most obvious hit" and a standout track. He believed the live performance upon its release proved "someone within Rodrigo's team" thought the same.[18] In a ranking of all songs on the album, Billboard's Jason Lipshutz named it the best track and stated: "Rodrigo rollicks through the verses, almost rapping her account of a joyfully misguided romance, before a stomp-along hook arrives with an array of voices buoying her wordplay; the extended bridge [...] marks one of the most euphoric pop moments of the album, and very likely of all 2023."[19]
Rolling Stone ranked "Get Him Back!" as the seventh best song of 2023. USA Today ranked the song as one of the best of 2023.[20]
Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Billboard | The 100 Best Songs of 2023: Staff Picks | 9 | [21] |
Pitchfork | The 100 Best Songs of 2023 | 5 |
[22] |
Rolling Stone | The 100 Best Songs of 2023 | 7 | [2] |
Slant | The 50 Best Songs of 2023 | 41 | [23] |
USA Today | Best Songs of 2023 | N/A | [24] |
Music video
Jack Begert directed the music video for "Get Him Back!", which was filmed on an iPhone 15 Pro Max in late July 2023.[25] The video was released on September 12, 2023, shortly after the announcement of the device. In it, Rodrigo destroys several things while going to various different places; she wrecks a house and creates a chaotic traffic congestion (filmed at Los Angeles Center Studios). She joins clones of herself, who throw knives and break car windows while singing the song with her.[25][26] Consequence's Abby Jones thought that the eight clones of Rodrigo were "each representing one of the contradicting voices in Rodrigo's head telling her to key [her ex's] car".[27]
Live performances
Rodrigo performed "Get Him Back!" live for the first time on the TV show Today on September 8, 2023.[18][28][29] Four days later, she reprised the song and "Vampire" at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards.[30] Rodrigo was clad in white knee-high leg warmers, a red sports bra, and a red knee-length skirt. The first set, which featured the scenery of a hazy forest, was destroyed by fireworks; the faux malfunction was a recreation of a similar sequence in the "Vampire" music video.[31][32] After being hurried off-stage by a staff member, Rodrigo joined clones of herself in pink dresses to perform "Get Him Back!" afront a blue curtain, referencing its music video.[33][34]
Usage in media
- The song was featured in the first trailer for the 2024 film adaptation of the 2017 musical Mean Girls.[35]
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Guts.[12]
- Olivia Rodrigo – vocals, background vocals, songwriter
- Dan Nigro – producer, songwriter, engineer, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, percussion, piano, vocal producer, bass, synthesizer, drum programming, background vocals, mixing
- Alexander 23 – co-producer, drums, engineer, slide guitar, bass, synthesizer, background vocals
- Ian Kirkpatrick – co-producer, engineer, synthesizer, drum programming
- Sterling Laws – drums
- Randy Merrill – mastering
Charts
Weekly charts |
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[66] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[67] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Italy | September 15, 2023 | Radio airplay | Universal | [68] |
United States | September 19, 2023 | Contemporary hit radio | Geffen | [69] |
References
- 1 2 Ganz, Caryn (August 24, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Goes Into Rock Star Mode with Guts". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
- 1 2 Rolling Stone Staff (December 1, 2023). "The 100 Best Songs of 2023". Rolling Stone.
She flips from both meanings of "Get him back" so quickly it all morphs into one blissful pop-punk rager...
- ↑ Blistein, Jon (June 13, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Is Finally Ready to Release New Music". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ↑ Unterberger, Andrew (February 23, 2022). "Woman of the Year Olivia Rodrigo Is Writing New Music (and Reuniting with a Big Collaborator)". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Brandle, Lars (July 7, 2023). "Taylor Swift Sets Chart Record in Australia with Top-Five Sweep". Billboard. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
- ↑ "Billboard Canadian Hot 100: Week of July 15, 2023". Billboard. July 11, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
- ↑ Trust, Gary (July 10, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo's 'Vampire' Debuts as Her Third Billboard Hot 100 No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
- ↑ Dailey, Hannah (August 7, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Announces Next Guts Single 'Bad Idea Right?': Here's When It Arrives". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 7, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
- 1 2 3 Geffen Records (2023). Guts (Media notes). Olivia Rodrigo.
- 1 2 3 Puckett-Pope, Lauren (September 9, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo's 'Get Him Back!' Lyrics Convey a Clever Contradiction About Exes". Elle. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
- ↑ Dailey, Hannah (July 31, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Teases Guts Tracklist with Mysterious Video: Can You Decode the Clues?". Billboard. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ↑ Dailey, Hannah (August 1, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Unveils Guts Tracklist: 'All American B—h,' 'Get Him Back' & More Song Titles". Billboard. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ↑ Duran, Anagricel (August 1, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Reveals Tracklist for Guts". NME. Archived from the original on August 1, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- 1 2 Rodrigo, Olivia (September 8, 2023). "Guts". Apple Music (US). Archived from the original on June 30, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
- 1 2 DeVille, Chris (September 8, 2023). "Watch Olivia Rodrigo Sing Guts Standout 'Get Him Back!' Live For The First Time On The Today Show". Stereogum. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
- ↑ Lipshutz, Jason (September 8, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo's Guts: All 12 Songs Ranked". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
- ↑ Ruggieri, Melissa (December 7, 2023). "It was a great year for music. Here are our top songs including Olivia Rodrigo and the Beatles". USA Today. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- ↑ Lipshutz, Jason (December 7, 2023). "The 100 Best Songs of 2023: Staff Picks". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 12, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
- ↑ "The 100 Best Songs of 2023". Pitchfork. December 4, 2023. Archived from the original on December 29, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
- ↑ "The 50 Best Songs of 2023". Slant. December 6, 2023. Archived from the original on December 12, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
- ↑ "It was a great year for music. Here are our top songs including Olivia Rodrigo and the Beatles". USA Today. December 16, 2023. Archived from the original on December 29, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- 1 2 Hussey, Allison (September 12, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Joins More Olivia Rodrigos in New Video for 'Get Him Back!'". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
- ↑ Blistein, Jon (September 12, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo and Her Clones Trash Houses and Bust Windows in 'Get Him Back!' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
- ↑ Jones, Abby (September 12, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Unleashes a Gang of Evil Olivias in 'Get Him Back!' Video". Consequence. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
- ↑ Richards, Will (September 9, 2023). "Watch Olivia Rodrigo Debut 'Get Him Back!' Live on The Today Show". NME. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
- ↑ "Watch Olivia Rodrigo Perform New Song 'Get Him Back!' on Today". Today. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
- ↑ Bloom, Madison (September 12, 2023). "Watch Olivia Rodrigo Perform 'Vampire' and 'Get Him Back!' at MTV VMAs 2023". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ↑ Betancourt, Bianca (September 13, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Gets Rowdy with a Performance of 'Vampire' and 'Get Him Back!' at the VMAs". Harper's Bazaar. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ↑ Odman, Sydney (September 13, 2023). "VMAs: Olivia Rodrigo Gives Explosive Performance of 'Vampire' and 'Get Him Back!'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
- ↑ Avila, Daniela; DeSantis, Rachel (September 13, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Psychs Out Crowd — Including Selena Gomez! — with Faux Stage Malfunction During Performance at 2023 VMAs". People. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
- ↑ Scorziello, Sophia (September 13, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo Performs 'Vampire' and 'Get Him Back!' at 2023 MTV VMAs". Variety. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
- ↑ Avila, Daniela; Blistein, Jon (November 8, 2023). "The 'Mean Girls' Musical Seems to Forget It's a Musical in First Trailer". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
- ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ↑ "Olivia Rodrigo – Get Him Back!" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ↑ "Olivia Rodrigo Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- ↑ "Olivia Rodrigo Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
- ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202337 into search. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
- ↑ "Top Singles (Week 37, 2023)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
- ↑ "Olivia Rodrigo – Get Him Back!" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ↑ "Olivia Rodrigo Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- ↑ "IFPI Charts". www.ifpi.gr. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ↑ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of September 27, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved September 27, 2023.
- ↑ "2023 37-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. September 15, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 39, 2023" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
- ↑ "Olivia Rodrigo – Get Him Back!" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- ↑ "Singel 2023 uke 37". VG-lista. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ↑ "OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie" (Select week 08.09.2023–14.09.2023.) (in Polish). OLiS. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
- ↑ "Olivia Rodrigo – Get Him Back!". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
- ↑ "RIAS Top Charts Week 37 (8 - 14 Sep 2023)". RIAS. Archived from the original on September 19, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 202345 into search. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
- ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 202337 into search. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
- ↑ "Olivia Rodrigo – Get Him Back!" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
- ↑ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 37". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ↑ "Olivia Rodrigo – Get Him Back!". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
- ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ↑ "Olivia Rodrigo Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- ↑ "Olivia Rodrigo Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ↑ "Olivia Rodrigo Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
- ↑ "Olivia Rodrigo Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
- ↑ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
- ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ↑ "British single certifications – Olivia Rodrigo – Get Him Back". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
- ↑ Vitali, Giacomo (September 11, 2023). "Olivia Rodrigo - get him back! (Radio Date: 15-09-2023)". EarOne (in Italian). Universal Music Group. Archived from the original on September 11, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
- ↑ "A Recap of Radio Adds Recap". Hits. September 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.