Songs of the year, number 21: Olivia Rodrigo - vampire (Official Video)

Part epic, part psychodrama, part vampire gothic horror... The only word that can be found to sum up Olivia Rodrigo's first single of 2023 would be... Immense. 

Ostensibly a stream of conscious rant about a toxic relationship, the song mines the imagery of the vampire novel, meaning we have the joy of Rodrigo rhyming 'Blood sucker' with 'Fame fucker' plus enough musical high drama to conjure up memories of Meatloaf's Bat Out Of Hell. 

It's possibly one of the weirdest number one singles there's been this year, and is definitely one of those songs where you feel like you need to sit down for a bit afterwards and just, calm, down.

A tremendous tour de force.

Song of the year, number 18: Olivia Rodrigo - favorite crime (Live Performance) | Vevo LIFT

An understated slice of acoustic pop from the girl of the year Olivia Rodrigo. Debut album SOUR has bite but it also has its tender moments, as 'favourite crime' and 'hope that ur OK' testify. She makes it seem easy and effortless, but there is craft there as well as guileless. 

Olivia Rodrigo - drivers license (Official Video)

Olivia Rodrigo looks set to be the Girl of The Year and, to be honest, she's earned it. 'Drivers License' was her calling card and with its overwrought, often sweary, take on the demise of first love she stamped her mark on the music world of 2021. Her album is out now and has gained critical and public acclaim so her star seems set and she will be well worth keeping an eye on over the next year or so.