Expectations (Olivia Rodrigo song)

In March 2026, Olivia Rodrigo described the thematic direction of her third studio album in an interview with British Vogue.^[1] She stated that the album predominantly features "sad love songs", explaining that many of her favorite romantic tracks derive their appeal from an undercurrent of fear or longing.^[2][3][4] The album takes inspiration from Rodrigo's time in London. Multiple tracks on the album are said to reference the relationship of Sex and the City characters Miranda Hobbes and Steve Brady.^[1]

Speaking of the album's conception and the influence of Sex and the City on the tracks, Rodrigo stated: "Like, when Miranda and Steve are getting back together, she's crying. 'Steve, anytime something funny happens, I just want to tell you.' And I remember watching that and being like, 'Oh, my God, I have to write a song about this.'"^[5] Released by Geffen Records on June 12, 2026, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love features thirteen tracks, of which "Expectations" appears as the twelfth.^[6] On October 12, she posted a recording to her Instagram story that featured someone saying, "Oh, Olivia does remixes now"; fans speculated that it was American singer Chappell Roan. The next day, Rodrigo announced the official remix of "Expectations", featuring Roan, which was released on October 16 through Interscope Records.^[7][8][9]

"Expectations" is 3 minutes and 41 seconds long.^[6] It has been described as a new wave,^[10][11] synth-pop,^[12][13] baroque pop,^[14] dance-punk,^[15] and electropop song.^[16] Nigro and Mike Wise produced, engineered, and programmed the song. Nigro provided drum programming and played bass and guitar; Wise played guitar; and Sterling Laws played drums. Mitch McCarthy mixed the song, and Randy Merrill mastered it.^[17] Bustle's Jake Viswanath stated that Rodrigo "gets dancier than ever before" on the song "over groovy synths and [19]80s guitars".^[18]

The second-last track on You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, which follows the sentimental breakup song "Less", "Expectations" details Rodrigo's return to dating in Los Angeles after the relationship's end and the new expectations she sets up for potential suitors. In the first verse, she recounts an encounter with a privileged and wealthy man before revealing that she has blocked his number: "He wasn't smart or funny / I convinced myself he was". Subsequently, Rodrigo outlines her romantic non-negotiables, rejecting "passive" men and a "guy with a fake job". She also derides an ex as indecisive, which some critics believe alludes to the regrets expressed on the album's closing track, "Cigarette Smoke".^[18][19][20]

Ranking it as the 11th-best song on You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl in Love, Billboard's Hannah Dailey thought that it is "a fun release that comes toward the end of the album following a long run of emotional heaviness, with Rodrigo trying out blooming, grated [19]80s synths and flexing the speak-sing technique she perfected on Guts' 'Bad Idea, Right?' in the second verse".^[21] Julyssa Lopez of Rolling Stone noted that the song has an "electro-funhouse twitchiness" which "feels like it sprouted from a seed planted by the B-52s, adds another layer, keeping the listener on their toes".^[22] Alex Rigotti of NME wrote: "Thank god we have 'Expectations' to lift our spirits, which find the singer in a fit of dance-punk mania and post-breakup delusion."^[23] Tom Breihan of Stereogum described the song as a "pulsing new wave rager that's incandescent in its bitterness", with an "electro-pop bassline [that] evokes Devo and the Human League".^[24] Heven Haile of Pitchfork called the song a contender for 2026 song of the summer.^[25]

"Expectations" debuted at number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 issued for June 27, 2026.^[26] In Canada, the song entered at number 21 on the Canadian Hot 100 on the chart for the same date.^[27] In the United Kingdom, it debuted at number 56 on the UK Singles Chart.^[28] In Australia, "Expectations" debuted at number 14.^[29] The song entered at number 16 in New Zealand.^[30] It debuted at number 19 on the Billboard Global 200.^[31] "Expectations" also charted at number 11 on Sweden Heatseeker,^[32] number 22 in Singapore,^[33] and number 24 in Portugal.^[34]

• 7-inch vinyl, cassette, CD, download and streaming^[35][36]

1. "Expectations" (featuring Chappell Roan) – 3:43
2. "Expectations" – 3:41

The credits are adapted from Tidal.^[37]

• Dan Nigro – producer, composer, lyricist, engineer, bass, drum programming, synthesizer, guitar, programming, background vocals
• Mike Wise – producer, engineer, guitar, programming
• Olivia Rodrigo – vocals, background vocals, composer, lyricist
• Amy Allen – composer, lyricist
• Sterling Laws – drums
• Randy Merrill – mastering
• Mitch McCarthy – mixing
• Chappell Roan – vocals, composer, lyricist^[a]