Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan are putting their own playful spin on modern dating with the official music video for “expectations,” a new version of Rodrigo’s fan favorite track that transforms romantic frustrations into a colorful battle across vintage television game shows. Released Oct. 15, the collaboration brings together two of pop music’s most distinctive performers for a theatrical visual filled with retro sets, unexpected cameos and plenty of tongue in cheek competition.
Directed by Bardia Zeinali, the video opens with multiple versions of Rodrigo appearing on The Big Expectations Show, a fictional television program hosted by David Byrne, the Talking Heads frontman who takes on the role of Johnny Johnson. The clip quickly establishes its nostalgic aesthetic, drawing inspiration from classic game shows of the 1980s and 1990s while giving the familiar format a distinctly pop music makeover.
As the visual unfolds, Rodrigo and Roan move through a series of elaborately staged competitions inspired by programs such as The Price Is Right, Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune. One of the most entertaining sequences features a Family Feud style showdown called Sister Squabble, where the two singers and their families face off against each other. The sequence adds a playful personal element to the video, turning the competitive spirit of the show into a friendly clash between the artists.
The visual also features appearances from drag performer Aquaria and Brooklyn punk duo the Venus Twins, while producer Dan Nigro makes a cameo of his own. A yellow car bearing the license plate “XPECT8NS” also plays a role in the story, eventually connecting back to the game show concept teased in Rodrigo and Roan’s promotional imagery before the release.
Beyond its colorful production design, the video complements the song’s central message about having higher standards in relationships. The original “expectations,” which appears on Rodrigo’s third studio album, you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love, explores the frustrations of romantic situations that fail to meet the standards someone has set for themselves. The updated version gives Roan room to contribute a fresh verse, bringing her own perspective on dating and emotional disappointment into the song.
Musically, the remix retains the original track’s sharp pop energy while allowing Roan’s distinctive vocal delivery to add another dimension to the performance. Her contribution brings a new personality to the song, creating a lively exchange between the two singers rather than simply placing a guest vocal over the existing recording.
The collaboration also marks Roan’s first official featured appearance on another artist’s release. Both singers share a creative connection through producer Nigro, who has worked extensively with Rodrigo and has also contributed to Roan’s music. Their partnership brings together Rodrigo’s emotionally direct songwriting and Roan’s theatrical, irreverent approach to pop, making the remix feel like a natural meeting of their artistic personalities.
The video has also sparked discussion about its visual effects after some viewers questioned whether artificial intelligence was used in a brief animated sequence. Behind the scenes footage shared by members of the creative team showed the use of hand drawn 2D and 3D animation, along with an analog treatment that involved filming the designs displayed on a Windows Vista computer screen. The process helped create the video’s deliberately lo fi, nostalgic finish.
“expectations” originally appeared on you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love, Rodrigo’s third studio album, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 485,000 equivalent album units in its first week. The Chappell Roan assisted version expands the album’s world while giving one of its tracks a new identity through a fresh vocal contribution and an elaborate visual concept.
With “expectations,” Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan turn romantic disappointment into a playful competition where the stakes are high, the sets are extravagant and nobody is willing to settle for less. Between David Byrne’s hosting role, the vintage game show references and the chemistry between the two singers, the video transforms a song about relationship standards into an entertaining pop spectacle.
