On April 17, Olivia Rodrigo released the much-anticipated “drop dead” — the first single from her upcoming third studio album “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love,” scheduled to be released on June 12.

The track, in typical Rodrigo fashion, boasts a catchy melody and an underlying layer of angst. Initially introducing itself as slow-paced, with an almost generic-sounding intro, the energy in the chorus and second verse make up for any doubts one would have had. Even though the less energetic first verse isn’t as satisfying, it provides a nice balance and prevents the song from being too repetitive. Each shift in energy is a tasteful, successful choice that displays the range of Rodrigo’s vocal skill and control, especially in the high notes of the chorus. More than that, though, the single’s lyrics are light-hearted and relatable.

The chorus opens with the lyrics “Oh, one night I was bored in bed / And stalked you on the internet,” playfully admitting to a habit most listeners are guilty of themselves when lovestruck. Confessions like this one pepper the song and, by not shying away from vocalizing the intense and slightly illogical ways a person may act when crushing on someone, they are well-placed and refreshing.

Rodrigo also acknowledges her “feminine intuition,” a line she used to advertise the song, explaining that a relationship with her muse was meant to be, even if they are a “Pisces and a Gemini.” While the astrological signs of Rodrigo and Rodrigo’s crush — who many speculate to be the star’s ex, Louis Partridge — aren’t compatible, she doesn’t care. With such lines, the song depicts the exciting beginning stages of a crush, effectively and endearingly connecting to a broad audience.

The single additionally features lyrics that play with the many dimensions of love, comparing the initial highs and in-the-moment decisions to their long-term consequences. Rodrigo sings, “If you let me stay the night / Well, I think I might just have to stay forever,” suggesting that if she gives in to the relationship in the moment, she will fall in love. She later adds, “The most alive I’ve ever been / But kiss me, and I might drop dead.” Here, she hints at a darker outcome — while everything is perfect in the initial moments of the relationship, she knows that it could end sourly. The use of foreshadowing alongside a love story is a strong way to set up the rest of her June album.

In a letter announcing the upcoming project, Rodrigo herself admitted a tendency towards writing heartbreak into her songs. “No matter how hard I try to write love songs they always come out laced with a little melancholy,” Rodrigo wrote.

Despite this, “drop dead” feels like one of Rodrigo’s happier songs, a nice change of pace that matches her rebrand from edgy purple to bubblegum-pop pink. However, while the love song contrasts the topics of many of her heartbreak-fueled songs, the blunt lyricism, Y2K-feeling pop melody and beat, and semi-rapping in “drop dead” feel very similar to some of her earlier work. The upcoming album allows room for a new era of carefree music, but “drop dead” could be a sign that it will fall back on something more familiar.

In “drop dead,” Rodrigo stays true to the signature edgy, direct, and catchy style that brought her to fame. Despite the risk that Rodrigo is holding back by using such a familiar sound, the song is pure Rodrigo and exactly what fans need after the years-long wait. She is brutally honest in the most enjoyable way, making this the song of the summer and an exciting preface for the music to come from the 23-year-old artist.

—Staff writer Mary E. Tito can be reached at [email protected].