traitor

Lore & Background

The song has been rumored to be about American actor and singer Joshua Bassett, who co-starred with Rodrigo in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Lyrically, the song is about "feeling betrayed when you see your ex stepping into a new relationship while you're still reeling from your separation," as she whispers the lyrics "Guess you didn't cheat but you're still a traitor." Rodrigo said of the song's success: "I wrote it on my bed while I was crying. I never really thought that it was going to be a song that resonated with so many people. I thought that it was a very specific situation that I was going through, and it's so funny that that's the non-single song that's the most successful. So many people have been like, 'How did you know? This is exactly what happened to me!'"

In Their Own Story

The song was released with a lyric video alongside the album on May 21, 2021. It was sent to radio in the US on August 10, 2021, as the fourth single from Sour. The music video, directed by Olivia Bee, was released on October 21, 2021. Rodrigo promoted the video on Instagram with the caption "surprise! traitor mv out now!" The music video received a nomination for Best Pop Video at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards. "Traitor" received its debut performance on June 26, 2021, as part of the release of Rodrigo's concert film Sour Prom. Later, she performed the song at the iHeartRadio Music Festival on September 17–18, 2021, in Las Vegas, Austin City Limits on October 2, 2021, as well as on Jimmy Kimmel Live and at the 2021 American Music Awards. An acoustic performance was featured on Rodrigo's documentary film Driving Home 2 U: A Sour Film, released on March 25, 2022, on Disney+. Olivia also performed "traitor" which was featured in her Tiny Desk Performance on the NPR Music YouTube channel on December 7, 2021. She performed this song on her SOUR Tour, where it was usually sandwiched between "Favorite Crime" and "Deja Vu."

Reader's Guide

The narrative arc begins with a quiet observation of betrayal, building into a crescendo of emotional realization as the protagonist acknowledges she is no longer important to her ex. The lyrics decode the specific pain of being replaced quickly, using metaphors of memory and presence to illustrate the void left behind. Musically, the composition starts with a sparse piano melody that mirrors the singer's isolation, gradually introducing strings and drums to reflect the swelling intensity of her anger and sorrow. This dynamic shift underscores the transition from sadness to a powerful, defiant realization of self-worth. The accompanying music video features intimate, dimly lit scenes where the artist performs in various settings, often interacting with shadows or empty spaces that represent her ex's absence. Visual motifs include mirrors and reflections, symbolizing the fractured identity she feels after being discarded.

Did You Know?

• "Traitor" was written by Olivia Rodrigo and Dan Nigro, with production by Nigro.
• The song debuted and peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 upon the album's release, charting alongside "Good 4 U" and "Deja Vu" in the top 10.
• Rodrigo said she wrote the song on her bed while crying and never thought it would resonate with so many people.
• The music video for "Traitor" was directed by Olivia Bee and released on October 21, 2021.
• The song received a nomination for Best Pop Video at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards.