Olivia Rodrigo is the ultimate pop-rock star as she leaves fans screaming for more in Sydney

US pop star Olivia Rodrigo has kicked off the Sydney leg of her world tour, performing an epic show in front of thousands of fans.

Christine Estera

@ChristineEstera

4 min read

October 18, 2024 - 8:36AM

'Give me 14 of them': Olivia Rodrigo loses it over Aussie staple

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There was nothing Sour about Olivia Rodrigo when she kicked off the Sydney leg of her Guts World Tour on Thursday night.

After performing four sold-out shows in Melbourne this past week, the alternative rock pop star was ready to bring her edgy yet glittery show to Qudos Bank Arena – part of which she performed while dangling from the roof on a crescent moon, hovering above a 22,000 capacity crowd.

Coming in hot dressed in a sparkly silver two-piece, 21-year-old Rodrigo didn’t waste any time kicking off her set with her high-energy hit Bad Idea, Right? followed by Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl, which she performed as yearbook-esque imagery flashed on the big screen in homage to her Disney starlet days on the High School Musical series.

Olivia Rodrigo performed her first Sydney show on her Guts World Tour on October 17. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The crowd filled with fangirls, fanboys, cool mums and girldads out on a school night screamed for their pop idol while decked in their lavender and sparkles, which was the clear theme for the evening.

“How are things tonight, Sydney?” Rodrigo screamed when first addressing the sellout crowd. “Welcome to the Guts World Tour. Tonight is going to be a f***ing blast.”

“Here’s what I want. I want everyone out of their seats, I want you to jump, I want you to scream at the top of your lungs. Can you do that for me, Sydney?

“Tonight is really, really special and I’m so grateful you’re here. Thank you so much for coming.”

Candles that spelt “Guts” burned until Rodrigo took to the stage at 9pm. Picture: Christine Estera

The singer then performed Vampire, the lead track for her second album Guts, before sitting down in front of a piano to sing her biggest hit to date, Drivers License, her chart-topping debut single from her very first album Sour.

The song won her a Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance, in addition to her wins for Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Album in 2022.

The singer wowed the crowd who were decked in lavender and sparkles, which was the clear theme for the night. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Rodrigo, who is visiting Australia for the first time, went on to sing Teenage Dream, a heartfelt reflection on the challenges of growing up.

Her fans, aka Livvies, empathised with her as home movies of Rodrigo played on the big screen – showing how she went from a little ballerina with big dreams to being a global superstar.

“I wrote this next song a few days before my 19th birthday. Back then I was scared of a lot of things,” she told the crowd.

“Mainly I was really terrified of growing up. Dreaded it more than anything and I would like cry at my birthday parties. And now that I’m 21, I look back at that and think it’s kind of funny because nowadays I’m so excited to grow up.

The star switched up her outfits a total of four times. Picture: Christine Estera

Home movies played for fans during her Teenage Dream set. Picture: Christine Estera

“I feel like I get happier and more sure of myself with every year that passes by. So if I could give any advice to the 18 year old girl who wrote this song, I’d tell her not to worry so much as she has no idea that magical things are just around the corner.”

After changing into a black sequinned bra and hotpants combo, Rodrigo went more pop-punk as if channelling Cyndi Lauper as she rocked out her hits Pretty Isn’t Pretty and Love Is Embarrassing, before once again slowing it down with the fan favourite Logical, which she sang while atop a crescent moon in the middle of the arena.

Rodrigo hovered above delighted fans art Qudos Bank Arena. Picture: Christine Estera

The singer sang two songs while sitting on the moon. Picture: Christine Estera

“You guys are such an incredible crowd. One of the loudest I’ve ever heard,” she told the Sydney crowd while hovering metres above fans. “It’s deafening in the best way.”

After landing back on the stage, Rodrigo called on her guitarist Daisy to sit with her for a two-song acoustic set of Happier and her surprise track All I Want, which she famously wrote and sang when starring on the Disney hit, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.

Fans granted Rodrigo her wish for them to “scream at the top of your lungs” when she belted out Deja Vu, before she left the stage to return in a shiny red outfit, which indicated she was ready to end the show with a bang.

Gyrating on the ground, a camera filmed Rodrigo from below the see-through stage as she sang her punk-rock hit Obsessed.

At times, Rodrigo gyrated on the see-through stage while filmed by an underground camera. Picture: Christine Estera

Rodrigo’s tee cheekily read “Kiss my Aussie.” Picture: Christine Estera

All-American B***h was next where she switched up the lyrics “Perfect all-American hips” to the sing a raunchier “Perfect all-American tits” line.

But just when Sydney fans thought the show was over, she returns wearing a tongue-in-cheek tank top with the slogan “Kiss my Aussie” emblazoned on the front as she danced and rocked out to her two final songs Good 4 U and Get Him Back!.

Given Rodrigo is an expert in revenge anthems, it was rather fitting really to end the show on that note.

Olivia Rodrigo’s night one Sydney setlist:

1. Bad Idea, Right?

2. Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl

3. Vampire

4. Traitor

5. Drivers License

6. Teenage Dream

7. Pretty Isn’t Pretty

8. Love is Embarrassing

9. Making the Bed

10. Logical