Teens use music as a form of expression, a soundtrack to their lives and a source of inspiration in addition to being a means of entertainment. I recently got to go to Olivia Rodrigo’s much-awaited “Guts” tour at the Little Caesars Arena, and because it was my first concert, it was a very memorable experience for me.

There was a huge line to get into the venue, but once the stadium opened everyone was able to get in quickly. There was an electric buzz in the air as soon as I entered the venue. Enthusiastic voices filled the area as fans of all ages anticipated Olivia’s entrance onto the stage. I was excited and nervous at the same time and I wasn’t sure what to expect. Lines were winding around the entire stadium for the bathroom and merch. 

Chappell Roan was the opener and kept the audience hyped before Olivia took the stage, and got everyone involved with her hit song, “HOT TO GO!”. Soon, the lights dimmed and the crowd erupted into cheers. Olivia had emerged onto the stage, opening the show with her hit song “bad idea right?” Instantly, I was captivated by her energy and strong vocals. Everyone was jumping up and down and it was the perfect song to start with. 

Olivia’s ability to establish a personal connection with her audience was one of the most remarkable features of the “Guts” tour. Between songs, she shared anecdotes and heartfelt messages, making the experience so much more special. She was very engaging with the crowd; she even sang “Happy Birthday” to a girl who had brought a sign.

Olivia played a variety of songs from both her new album, “GUTS,” and her debut album, “SOUR,” during the performance. Every song, including “drivers license,” which was her first hit, and “vampire,” which is her most recent smash hit, seemed to strike a chord with the crowd, including me. She made her setlist a good order of more upbeat songs and slower songs to make sure the audience was engaged the entire time.

One thing that I thought was cool that I hadn’t noticed at the beginning was that everyone on the stage was a woman. All the members of the band, and all the backup singers and dancers. This was also a message that Olivia was trying to convey to the audience about women’s empowerment and to the newer generation because some of her fanbase is quite young.

Olivia’s performances of “enough for you” and “logical” were some of the night’s most memorable moments and my favorite. She smiled and waved to many of the fans as she moved through the stadium while perched on a purple moon, adding to the special atmosphere of the performance. “logical” is my favorite song and she waved at me while singing it, which was so surreal.

She ended the night with a performance of “get him back!”, which everyone in the audience knew and was able to sing along to. She ended the song with huge confetti cannons, which everyone rushed to collect. I was sat in the lower bowl but was able to go down to the floor once the concert was over and took some home. Overall, it was one of the best nights of my life, and Olivia’s electric energy made it so special.