"Favorite Crime" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo. It is the tenth track on Rodrigo's debut album Sour, which was released on May 21, 2021, through Geffen Records. It is a folk-pop and indie pop ballad, written by Rodrigo and its producer Dan Nigro.

"Favorite Crime"
Vevo's "Official Live Performance" cover
Song by Olivia Rodrigo
from the album Sour
WrittenSeptember 2020
ReleasedMay 21, 2021
RecordedSeptember 2020
StudioAmusement (Los Angeles)
Genre
Length2:32
LabelGeffen
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Dan Nigro
Lyric video
"Favorite Crime" on YouTube

Upon release, the song charted within the top 10 in New Zealand and Ireland, and within the top 20 in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The song was also certified Gold in Australia and New Zealand. The song received its debut performance as part of Vevo's Lift series on May 25, 2021.

Background and release edit

American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo released her debut single "Drivers License" in January 2021, to critical acclaim.[1] On April 1, 2021, Rodrigo announced that her debut album, at that time known by the placeholder title *O*R, was set to be released on May 21, 2021.[2] On April 13, Rodrigo confirmed the album title to be Sour. Alongside the confirmation, the track listing was revealed, which included "Favorite Crime" as the tenth track.[3]

"Favorite Crime" was released as part of Sour on May 21, 2021, alongside a lyric video.[4]

Composition and promotion edit

"Favorite Crime" was written by Rodrigo and Dan Nigro in 2020.[5] The song is a stripped-down folk-pop and indie pop ballad.[6][7][8] The song runs for a total length of 2 minutes and 32 seconds.[9] The song features Rodrigo "singing over fingerpicked guitar figures in [a] sweetly folky style".[10] The lyrics of the song center around "the examination of glaring red flags that only appear in their true colors through the lens of hindsight".[11] The song has been compared to American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift's 2020 albums Folklore and Evermore,[7] and the harmonies have been compared to that of New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde's "Royals" (2013).[6]

The song received its debut performance on May 25, 2021, as part of Vevo's Lift series. In the performance, Rodrigo sings the song while on a rooftop, alongside backup singers and a guitar player.[12][13]

Commercial performance edit

In the United States, on the week dated June 5, 2021, "Favorite Crime" debuted at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100, accompanied by 10 other tracks on Sour.[14] The following week, it rose to number 16.[15] It fell to number 26 on the week dated June 19 and number 43 the following week. It has spent a total of 11 weeks on the chart.[16] On the Rolling Stone Top 100, it was one of nine songs on Sour to chart in the top 10, debuting at number 8, selling 166,800 units with 20.8 million streams in its first week.[17] It rose to number 6 the next week, with 149,100 units sold and 18.8 million streams;[18] it has spent 11 weeks on the Rolling Stone Top 100 and is still currently charting as of August 2021.[19] It debuted at number 8 on the Streaming Songs chart,[20] where it eventually peaked at number 6.[21] Internationally, it peaked at number 6 in New Zealand,[22] number 8 in Ireland,[23] number 13 in Australia,[24] 14 in Canada,[25] 17 in the United Kingdom,[26] 21 in Norway,[27] and 76 in Sweden.[28] The song also peaked at number 14 on Billboard's Global 200 chart.[29] The song has been certified Platinum in Canada by Music Canada, double Platinum in Australia by the Australian Recording Industry Association and Gold in New Zealand by Recorded Music NZ.[30][31]

Critical reception edit

Bobby Oliver, writing for Spin, described "Favorite Crime" as "superb" and "showstopp[ing]",[7] while Maura Johnston of Entertainment Weekly labelled the harmonies as "spectral".[6] However, Billboard critic Larisha Paul ranked the song last out of all 11 songs on Sour.[11]

Credits and personnel edit

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Sour and Tidal.[5][32]

Recording edit

  • Recorded at Amusement Studios (Los Angeles)
  • Mixed at SOTA Studios (Los Angeles)
  • Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City)

Personnel edit

  • Olivia Rodrigo – vocals, songwriting, vocal arrangement
  • Dan Nigro – songwriting, production, recording, vocal arrangement, acoustic guitar, bass, Juno 60
  • Randy Merrill – mastering
  • Mitch McCarthy – mixing
  • Ryan Linvill – saxophone, assistant engineering
  • Kathleen – vocal arrangement

Charts edit

Certifications edit

Certifications for "Favorite Crime"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[30] 2× Platinum 140,000
Canada (Music Canada)[43] Platinum 80,000
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[44] Gold 45,000
Mexico (AMPROFON)[45] 2× Platinum+Gold 350,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[31] Gold 15,000
Norway (IFPI Norway)[46] Gold 30,000
Poland (ZPAV)[47] Gold 25,000
Portugal (AFP)[48] Gold 5,000
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[49] Gold 30,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[50] Platinum 600,000
United States (RIAA)[51] 3× Platinum 3,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References edit

  1. ^ DeVille, Chris (January 18, 2021). "What Will Be The Impact Of Olivia Rodrigo's 'Drivers License' And Its Historically Massive Debut". Stereogum. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  2. ^ Fuamoli, Sose (April 6, 2021). "Olivia Rodrigo's 'f*cked around and made an album'". Triple J. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  3. ^ Martoccio, Angie (April 13, 2021). "Olivia Rodrigo Details Debut Album 'Sour,' Reveals Tracklist". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 13, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  4. ^ Rodrigo, Olivia (May 21, 2021). "Favorite Crime (Lyric Video)". YouTube. Archived from the original on July 30, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Sour (liner notes). Olivia Rodrigo. Geffen Records. 2021. 00602438077441.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ a b c Johnston, Maura (May 21, 2021). "'Sour' review: Olivia Rodrigo's debut hints at an even brighter future". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c Oliver, Bobby (May 24, 2021). "Olivia Rodrigo, 'Sour': Album Review". Spin. Archived from the original on May 24, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  8. ^ Gigwise Staff. "The Best Albums of 2021 So Far | Gigwise". Gigwise. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  9. ^ "Favorite Crime by Olivia Rodrigo". Apple Music. May 21, 2021. Archived from the original on August 9, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  10. ^ Aroesti, Rachel (May 21, 2021). "Olivia Rodrigo: Sour review – cathartic rage at teenage heartbreak". The Guardian. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  11. ^ a b Paul, Larisha (May 21, 2021). "Every Song Ranked on Olivia Rodrigo's 'Sour': Critic's Picks". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  12. ^ Moen, Matt (May 25, 2021). "Olivia Rodrigo Performs Rooftop Version of 'favorite crime'". Paper. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  13. ^ Rodrigo, Olivia (May 25, 2021). "Favorite Crime (Live Performance) | Vevo Lift". YouTube. Archived from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  14. ^ "The Hot 100 Chart - June 5, 2021". Billboard. June 5, 2021. Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  15. ^ "The Hot 100 Chart - June 12, 2021". Billboard. June 12, 2021. Archived from the original on June 8, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  16. ^ "The Hot 100 Chart - August 14, 2021". Billboard. August 14, 2021. Archived from the original on August 10, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  17. ^ "Top 100 Popular Songs - May 21, 2021". Rolling Stone. May 21, 2021. Archived from the original on July 13, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  18. ^ a b "Top 100 Popular Songs - May 28, 2021". Rolling Stone. May 28, 2021. Archived from the original on June 8, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  19. ^ "Top 100 Popular Songs - July 30, 2021". Rolling Stone. July 30, 2021. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  20. ^ "Streaming Songs Chart - June 5, 2021". Billboard. June 5, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  21. ^ "Streaming Songs Chart - June 12, 2021". Billboard. June 12, 2021. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  22. ^ a b "Olivia Rodrigo – Favorite Crime". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  23. ^ a b "Irish-charts.com – Discography Olivia Rodrigo". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  24. ^ a b "Olivia Rodrigo – Favorite Crime". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  25. ^ "Billboard Canadian Hot 100 Chart: June 12, 2021". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 8, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  26. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  27. ^ a b "Discography Olivia Rodrigo". Topplista. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  28. ^ a b "Olivia Rodrigo – Favorite Crime". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  29. ^ "Global 200 Chart". Billboard. June 5, 2021. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  30. ^ a b "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  31. ^ a b "New Zealand single certifications – Olivia Rodrigo – Favorite Crime". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  32. ^ Rodrigo, Olivia (May 21, 2021). "Credits / Sour". Tidal. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  33. ^ "Olivia Rodrigo Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  34. ^ "Olivia Rodrigo Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  35. ^ "Charts". June 17, 2021. Archived from the original on June 17, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  36. ^ "Olivia Rodrigo – Favorite Crime" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  37. ^ "Olivia Rodrigo – Favorite Crime". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  38. ^ "RIAS Top Charts". Recording Industry Association Singapore. Archived from the original on June 8, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  39. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 202122 into search. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  40. ^ "Olivia Rodrigo Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  41. ^ "Billboard Global 200 – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  42. ^ "Top 1000 Singles + EPs Digitais: Semanas 01 a 52 de 2021" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  43. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Olivia Rodrigo – Favorite Crime". Music Canada. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  44. ^ "Danish single certifications – Olivia Rodrigo – Favorite Crime". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  45. ^ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved July 5, 2023. Type Olivia Rodrigo in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Favorite Crime in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
  46. ^ "Norwegian single certifications – Olivia Rodrigo" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  47. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2022 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  48. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Olivia Rodrigo – Favorite Crime" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  49. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Olivia Rodrigo – Favorite Crime". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  50. ^ "British single certifications – Olivia Rodrigo – Favorite Crime". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  51. ^ "American single certifications – Olivia Rodrigo – Favorite Crime". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 28, 2023.

External links edit