expectations (feat. Chappell Roan)

The harmony is deliberately restrained, cycling through diatonic chords in D major without chromatic detours or modulations. This simplicity serves the song's emotional directness — there are no harmonic surprises to distract from the vocal interplay between Rodrigo and Roan. The reordering of the same four chords between verse and chorus creates subtle structural contrast without increasing complexity, a common folk-pop strategy that prioritizes singability and lyrical clarity over harmonic invention.

Written during the sessions for Rodrigo's second album GUTS, "expectations" emerged as one of several bonus tracks held back from the standard tracklist. Rodrigo and longtime collaborator Dan Nigro crafted the song around the idea of two people in a relationship buckling under the weight of what the other person needs them to be. Chappell Roan's involvement grew from a mutual admiration between the two artists during a period when Roan's own career was accelerating rapidly.

Released as part of the deluxe edition GUTS (spilled) in March 2024, "expectations" pairs two of Gen Z's defining pop voices for a raw meditation on romantic pressure. The track leans into understated folk-pop arrangements, letting both singers' vocal chemistry carry lyrics about wanting to be enough while suspecting you never will be.