Olivia Rodrigo took the world by storm when she released her debut single, “drivers license.” And by “storm,” I mean the raging sea of heartbreak she poured into the song, which resonated with millions of people worldwide.
Since the single’s release on Jan. 8, 2021, the track has been blowing up all over platforms like TikTok and Twitter. Teens left and right have been making remixes and parodies of the song, as well as short clips of themselves dramatically falling into their bed while the song cues.
The most peculiar part about this track is that the lyrics paint a narrative of Rodrigo experiencing heartache, unable to move on as she belts, “And I just can’t imagine how you could be so okay now that I’m gone.” Many speculate that the track is aimed at her ex-co-star, Joshua Bassett from “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.” The song’s release has prompted overly-invested teens and even adults in their 20s to turn into overnight detectives, crafting conspiracy theories about Rodrigo’s relationship with Joshua Bassett.
The song has reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100s. It also broke Spotify’s record of “most streams in a day for a non-holiday song.”
The song itself is a ballad that is most notably reminiscent of Taylor Swift’s songwriting and Lorde’s production. Despite my inability to relate to the song’s meaning, the song’s captivating sound continues to bring me back for another listen. I would recommend this song for anyone who is a fan of Taylor Swift or a sucker for powerful ballads.
