Making the Bed
[4] Rodrigo conceived the follow-up album, Guts (2023), at the age of 19, while experiencing "lots of confusion, mistakes, awkwardness and good old fashioned teen angst".
[5] Dan Nigro returned to produce every single track on Guts,[6] which was created over 10 months, with songwriting and recording consuming the first eight and the final two being used for mixing and fine-tuning.
[8][9] She reflected on the self-doubt caused by her shifting priorities after becoming famous at the age of 19, feeling full of energy and enthusiasm but also being overwhelmed by the many fascinating people, exciting opportunities, and glamorous new experiences the industry offered her.
[10] Of more than 100 songs written for it, Rodrigo included the more rock-oriented tracks on the album because they drew a bigger reaction from her audiences during live shows.
[26][27] According to The Independent's Helen Brown, its melody is reminiscent of Kate Bush's 1978 single "Wuthering Heights" and the intimate and slow-paced tone recalls the work of Taylor Swift.
[29] "Making the Bed" features Rodrigo reflecting on her flaws and attempting to persevere in spite of them,[22] as it explores her disillusionment with fame and a recurring dream which is caused by her anxiety.
[27][30] Through the lens of a young adult grappling with the realities of fame, Rodrigo reflects on the challenges of growing up and the consequences of achieving her dreams.
[38] Punch Liwanag of the Manila Bulletin compared the songwriting to Swift and named it as a reflective track where Rodrigo delved into her inner thoughts.
[39] On the other hand, The Australian's Jules LeFevre believed "Making the Bed" was forgettable, and The Wall Street Journal's Mark Richardson said it was a tad overly sweet and sentimental.
[9][43] Lucas Martins of Beats Per Minute believed the song was a rare instance on Guts where she contemplated her life in showbusiness, bringing a sense of realism that is less common in her other work.
[44] Writing for Variety, Chris Willman thought that "Making the Bed" potentially marked Rodrigo's most significant step toward a mature self-awareness on the album, as a track that shifted away from seeking retribution or placing blame and instead acknowledged that she is facing consequences of her own choices.
[45] Heather Phares of AllMusic opined that the song showcased an increase in her wisdom and injected a refreshing sense of self-awareness into the catharsis of "Drivers License".
DIY's Lisa Wright thought it was one of the few ballads on Guts that she did not manage to infuse with enough bold energy to seamlessly connect it with the more upbeat tracks.
[27] Writing for The Daily Telegraph, Poppie Platt believed the song did not reflect any sonic or thematic growth for Rodrigo and felt like a "mere overhang from her debut".
