"Vampire" (stylized in all lowercase) is the lead single and third track from Olivia Rodrigo's second album GUTS. It was released on June 30, 2023 through Geffen Records.
Background[]
On June 13, 2023, Rodrigo announced the song on social media.[1]
Based on the lyrics "But you made me look so naive" and "Cause girls your age know better", the song is probably inspired by her relationship with Adam Faze, who was 26 when he dated 18 year old Olivia.
Audio[]
Lyrics and composition[]
"Vampire" has been described as an indie rock and alternative pop song with influences of gothic rock, disco, new wave, symphonic rock, pop, and folk and has been described to have an EDM influenced ending. 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". 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". Rodrigo makes several references to vampires, and at one point, sings "I should've known it was strange you only come out at night". She recalls how a several-years-older man she dated exploited her: "Went for me and not her / 'Cause girls your age know better". Listeners speculated on the song's subject, with many believing it to be about either film producer Adam Faze or DJ Zack Bia, both of whom Rodrigo "reportedly dated for about six months". In an interview with GQ, Bia said that he did not believe the lyrics referred to him as "there was never any drama" after their relationship ended. Others believed the song was about Taylor Swift, which Rodrigo told The Guardian she "was very surprised" by. Rodrigo stated there was "a lot of vampire lore to be played with" and she found "fun songwriting fodder" in it. She also revealed her and Nigro's vision for the song was how it "crescendoed the entire time and reflects the pent-up anger that you have for a situation".
Track Listing[]
Streaming[]
- Vampire
CD single & 7” vinyl[]
- Vampire (A-side)
- Vampire (First Demo) (B-side)
Cross-references[]
- ''I should've known it was strange'' could possibly be a reference to Strange.
- ''But you made me look so naive'' could possibly be a reference to Naive Girl.
Offical versions[]
- Album version - 3:40
- Piano demo - Unknown
- First demo - 2:37
- Demo version 2 - Unknown
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
Hate to give the satisfaction asking how you're doing now
How's the castle built off people you pretend to care about?
Just what you wanted, look at you, cool guy, you got it
I see the parties and the diamonds sometimes when i close my eyes
Six months of torture that you sold as some forbidden paradise
I loved you truly, gotta laugh at the stupidity
[Chorus]
'Cause I've made some real big mistakes
But you make the worst one look fine
I should've known it was strange
You only come out at night
I used to think I was smart
But you made me look so naive
The way you sold me for parts
As you sunk your teeth into me, oh
Bloodsucker, famefucker
Bleeding me dry like a goddamn vampire
[Verse 2]
Every girl I ever talked to told me you were bad, bad news
You called them crazy, God I hate the way I called them crazy too
You're so convincing
How do you lie without flinching?
(How do you lie, how do you lie, how do you lie?)
Oh, what a mesmerizing, paralyzing, fucked up little thrill
Can’t figure out just how you do it and God knows I never will
Went for me and not her
'Cause girls your age know better
[Chorus]
'Cause I've made some real big mistakes
But you make the worst one look fine
I should've known it was strange
You only come out at night
I used to think I was smart
But you made me look so naive
The way you sold me for parts
As you sunk your teeth into me, oh
Bloodsucker, famefucker
Bleeding me dry like a goddamn vampire
[Bridge]
You said it was true love
But wouldn't that be hard?
You can't love anyone
'Cause that would mean you had a heart
I tried you help you out, now I know that I can't
'Cause how you think’s the kind of thing
I'll never understand
[Chorus]
'Cause I've made some real big mistakes
But you make the worst one look fine
I should've known it was strange
You only come out at night
I used to think I was smart
But you made me look so naive
The way you sold me for parts
As you sunk your teeth into me, oh
Bloodsucker, famefucker
Bleeding me dry like a goddamn vampire
[Intro: Dan Nigro, Olivia Rodrigo]
It's gotta have like a, you know?
Ambiance
Ambiance
Okay
One, two, three, four
Well, sing it again
Oh, oh, oh
One, two, three, four
[Verse 1]
Hate to give the satisfaction asking how you're doing now
How's the castle built off people you pretend to care about?
Just what you wanted
Look at you, cool guy, you got it
I see the parties and the diamonds sometimes when I close my eyes
Six months of torture you sold as some forbidden paradise
I loved you truly
I gotta laugh at the stupidity
[Chorus]
'Cause I've made some real big mistakes
But you make the worst ones look fine
I should've known it was strange
You only come out at night
I used to think I was smart
But you made me look so naive
The way you sold me for parts
As you sunk your teeth into me, oh
Bloodsucker, fame fucker
Bleedin' me dry like a goddamn vampire
[Verse 2]
And every girl I ever talked to told me you were bad, bad news
You called them crazy, God, I hate the way I called them crazy too
You're so convincing
How do you lie without flinching?
When people ask about it now, I never know quite what to say
Hard to admit I was a mark, an easy step to get your way
Went for me and not her
'Cause girls your age know better
[Chorus]
I've made some real big mistakes
But you make the worst one look fine
I should've known it was strange
You only come out at night
I used to think I was smart
But you made me look so naive
The way you sold me for parts
As you sunk your teeth into me, oh
Bloodsucker, fame fucker
Bleedin' me dry like a goddamn vampire
[Outro]
Pretty good
==Physical Release== #
Behind the scenes[]
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- Prior to its release, you could call the number 323-622-7687 to get a snippet of the song
- Olivia teased the music video for the single on June 27, 2023.
- In Drivers License's spotify canvas, it says the license expires on June 30th, 2023, which is when Vampire came out, meaning the Sour era "expired" that day and the Guts era has began.
- In the song's clean version, “famefucker”, “Goddamn”, and “fucked up” are replaced with “dreamcrusher”, "damn", and “tragic” respectively.
- In a TikTok, Olivia showed alternatives of the clean versions:[2]
- First take was "Fame Lover"
- Second take was "Fame Hunter"
- Third take was "Tree Hugger"
- Fourth take was "Whale Blubber"
- Fifth take was "Garlic Butter"
- Sixth take was "Mark Zucker"
References[]
[]
v • e  | |
|---|---|
| Featured Tracks | all-american bitch • bad idea right? • vampire • lacy • ballad of a homeschooled girl • making the bed • logical • get him back! • love is embarrassing • the grudge • pretty isn't pretty • teenage dream |
| Bonus Tracks | obsessed • girl i've always been • scared of my guitar • stranger • so american |
| Scrapped Tracks | Fantasy • Hate Ur Guts • Lights • Loveable • She's All That |
| Related Tracks | Santa Monica Mountains |
| Producers | Olivia Rodrigo • Daniel Nigro • Alexander 23 • Ryan Linvill • Ian Kirkpatrick |
| Tour | Guts World Tour • Guts World Tour: Spilled |
| Misc | Can't Catch Me Now |
| Extras | Merchandise • The Secret Tracks • Olivia Rodrigo: Guts World Tour |