Less than a month into her sold-out Unraveled Tour, Olivia Rodrigo posted a short video on her Instagram story with a voice saying, “Ooh, Olivia does remixes now.” The internet very quickly put the pieces together that Chappell Roan would be featured on Rodrigo’s first official remix and second collaboration ever, following Robert Smith on “what’s wrong with me.”
Rodrigo released “expectations” featuring Chappell Roan on Thursday evening alongside a music video with a plethora of guest stars and retro vibes. Roan tackles the second verse and following choruses, ranting with Rodrigo about her own relationship woes with women.
Within an hour of the song’s release, fans have already labeled it a “bisexual anthem.”
Although “expectations” marks their first official collaboration, Roan and Rodrigo have already worked together many times before. The friendship blossomed before either of them rose to great fame under their shared producer, Dan Nigro. Roan has contributed background vocals to multiple of Rodrigo’s projects such as “lacy,” “obsessed,” “Can’t Catch Me Now” and “get him back!.”
It’s common knowledge that the pop stars are good friends; Roan opened for both the SOUR Tour and the GUTS World Tour in 2022 and 2024, respectively, before she shot up in fame with the release of “Good Luck, Babe!.”
The duo has always been supportive of and shown out for each other, with Rodrigo even bringing the Midwest Princess onstage as a surprise guest for an iconic performance of “HOT TO GO!” at the Los Angeles date of the GUTS Tour, which is featured in the tour’s concert film. They have both been spotted at each other’s headline shows, dancing their hearts out and singing along to every word. Rodrigo recently invited Roan out to perform at Daisy Chain Fields, the “drop dead” singer’s own woman-lead festival built to support women’s rights and curate safe spaces. It is so powerful and refreshing to witness two of the biggest women in pop rooting for the other’s success instead of competing against each other.
Rodrigo’s third studio album you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love dropped in June, and it appeared that many listeners shared the same opinion: they thought of Roan when they heard “expectation.,” especially within the bridge. The song seemed to be exactly Roan’s style. It became quite the conversation across the fanbases, so you can imagine the excitement when it was announced that Roan would be on the remix. Fans didn’t have to stay up late for this release since the remix and it’s music video were dropped earlier than usual on a Thursday night, giving listeners time to enjoy the release over and over before bedtime.
The music video begins in “the big expectations show” hosted by David Byrne under the name Johnny Johnson with an audience of, also, David Byrne. Rodrigo plays three different contestants in this game show, all dressed in the cutest outfits with the best hair and makeup.
For the first chorus, the video shifts to Rodrigo in yet another perfect outfit but this time in a dollhouse-like structure. She sings the iconic, “I won’t settle for a guy with a fake job / They seem so desperate for loving but baby I’m not.”
After the first chorus, we cut to another of Byrne’s game shows, this time it’s a Family Feud parody called “Sister Squabble.” The contestants were the reigning champions, “The Rodrigos” vs. the first-time finalists, “The Roans.” Instead of shaking hands, Roan and Rodrigo exchange a pinky promise before Byrne asked the duo to answer the prompt: “Places you should take her…”
Roan takes over the second verse and completely switches up the lyrics from the original version of “expectations.” She starts with, “I took her to a concert / Front row, thought it’d be fun,” knocking off correct answers on the game board as she continues unraveling a story of being ghosted by a fiery LA girl.
Their outfits and makeup remained peak as Rodrigo and Roan appeared in Jeopardy!– and The Wheel of Fortune-like sets.
The well known “And now his number blocked” from the original turned into “She could have just said no,” putting a fun twist into the already exciting song. Roan takes over the next chorus while she and Rodrigo share the dollhouse-type set.
“I won’t settle for a girl with a fake job,” Roan sings, a statement that no matter who we love, we have big expectations. Their voices fit so perfectly together — which we have known from their previous works — but having both women brought forward is something fans would love to have more of.
While such a woman-centric song, the male-sung section of the bridge brought exciting guest stars to the music video, including Nigro — a subtle and sweet nod to where their friendship originally blossomed.
“Two of my most favorite people in the entire world on one song together! And!!! They thought it was a good idea to put me in the music video!” Dan Nigro shared on Instagram following the release.
Rodrigo holds down the original final chorus while Roan dances around it with insane high notes. The two dance around the game show sets with confetti falling on them, as if they have won it all. The remix of our dreams closes with the duo giggling together.
For Roan’s first ever feature, this seemed to be the perfect fit. When Rodrigo and Roan pick up a microphone respectively, everyone knows it will be pop perfection; now we know it’s even better when they share that microphone.
