May 21st, 2021. Olivia Rodrigo released her debut album “SOUR”. The album quickly rose to the top of the charts and broke the global Spotify record for the biggest opening week for an album by a female artist.
The album takes you through the aftermath of a breakup: the loneliness, anger and emotional vulnerability felt. The melodies of heartbreak and angst quickly attracted teens around the world. Those fans were quick to jump to the conclusion that “SOUR” was about Rodrigo’s co-star on the Disney+ series: High School Musical the Musical the Series: Joshua Bassett, due to references to their relationship throughout her album and in the promotion of the album.
A year after their rumored breakup, Bassett has opened up about his “truth.” December 3rd, 2021 Bassett released his EP titled “Crisis / Secret / Set Me Free” telling his side of the story.
The first song on the EP, titled “Crisis” takes you through a lyrical journey as Basset describes the emotional turmoil the past year has been. Before now fans haven’t gotten to hear Bassett’s side of events and his side is drastically different from how things were presumed to be after the release of “SOUR.”
“Half the shit you’re saying is only half true / messin with my life as a career move / I can’t help but wonder why you wont make it end,” Bassett calls out Rodrigo for not ending the constant attacks and threats towards him when she had the power to, and for using the situation to her advantage even though it caused him to take the downfall.
“Secret,” the second song on Bassett’s EP, has a more bitter tone than the other two songs that are more on the emotional side. “Good for you, fooling everyone / You had me tricked for 16 months,” good for you being a possible play on Olivia’s song “Good 4 you.”
The narrative portrayed through Rodrigo’s album is challenged for the first time by the release of Bassett’s EP. The main theme of “Secret” is Bassett being betrayed and lied to which challenges the narrative that he left Rodrigo.
In “Set Me Free,” the third song on Bassett’s EP; he apologizes and takes responsibility for hurting Rodrigo, which shows his level of maturity. He illustrates the pain that he’s been in and how he wants to be free from the weight of the drama.
“And I know you feel used, I know you’ve been hurt / Anything I did to make you feel worse / I’d take it all back if I could,” sings Bassett. He describes not being able to recognize Rodrigo and not wanting an apology but just wanting to be left alone and set free from being tied to the album. Bassett also seems to forgive her in the song for what had happened in their relationship.
