Olivia Rodrigo’s – Olivia Rodrigo says her track “stupid song” on her new studio album—released June 12—was inspired by Annie Ernaux’s book “Simple Passion,” shaping it into a story about love that spirals into longing, unhappiness, and feeling “totally insane.”
Olivia Rodrigo didn’t just write “stupid song” to sound sweet. In a Popcast interview. the 23-year-old singer-songwriter linked the track’s emotional fuel to Annie Ernaux’s book “Simple Passion. ” and it changes how the lyric lands—especially the moment she sings she feels like “a thread on your shirt that is coming undone.”.
Rodrigo dropped her new studio album on Friday, June 12, including “stupid song.” During the interview, she said she was “really inspired by this book Simple Passion by Annie Ernaux.”
Her explanation goes straight to the book’s core: Ernaux’s subject is “having this affair with this person and she’s not quite happy. ” Rodrigo said. describing how the longing can take over until “everything she does. she’s reminded of this person” and “the longing overcomes her.” Rodrigo said she was drawn to “all of the ways in which love makes you insane and miserable”—not just the bright. celebratory side of romance.
“It’s a lot more to mine there than, ‘Yay, oh my God, he’s so hot, he loves me,’” she added.
On the track, the feeling becomes blunt and immediate. Rodrigo sings: “I’m a thread on your shirt that is coming undone I feel right, I feel wrong, I feel totally insane / And I want you more than any stupid song could ever say.”
Rodrigo has also already brought the song to a live TV audience. She performed “stupid song” on Jimmy Kimmel Live, calling it deeply personal. “It means a lot to me. ” she said. explaining that when she’s trying to write about “something that’s as deep and all-encompassing as romantic love. ” it’s hard to avoid the sense that “every song feels a little bit frivolous.” Her goal. she said. was to “capture that.”.
Rodrigo’s “stupid song” is now out for listeners on her June 12 studio album, with the connection to “Simple Passion” making the track’s messy urgency feel less like a catchy line—and more like a blueprint for romantic obsession.
Olivia Rodrigo stupid song Annie Ernaux Simple Passion Popcast Jimmy Kimmel Live lyrics meaning romantic love
Wait so it’s not about stupid?? lol
Annie Ernaux book?? I thought it was just another pop song about texting someone back. Like how deep can a “stupid song” be, it’s literally a title. Still catchy though I guess.
This is why I can’t with celebrities. She says “thread on your shirt coming undone” and everyone’s like wow masterpiece, but it’s honestly just anxiety lyrics. Also I didn’t know who that author was so now I’m supposed to read a whole book to get the chorus??
So her “stupid song” is basically about an affair and not being happy? That seems kinda messed up, unless it’s just like a story. I saw a clip on TikTok where she sounded super dramatic, and now they’re saying it’s inspired by some French book, which like… okay. Either way the line about feeling “totally insane” hits, even if I still don’t understand why it’s called stupid. Jimmy Kimmel interview did not explain it enough, imo.