As we entered 2021, we were hit with a wave of new music from many beloved artists, but none have taken the spotlight quite like Olivia Rodrigo and her debut single, “drivers license.” Rodrigo dropped the music video for her debut EP on January 8, 2021, and the song skyrocketed to prominence over the week, becoming the most-streamed non-holiday song on Spotify. The breakup ballad became an overnight sensation, propelling itself to the top of the charts on multiple other platforms such as Apple Music and Amazon music. The Disney star broke multiple records and garnered massive attention from major artists such as the Jonas Brothers, Halsey, Conan Gray, Finneas as well as the queen herself and Rodrigo’s idol, Taylor Swift. And if a debut EP breaking multiple major records wasn’t impressive enough, she’s done it at only 17. 

Rodrigo rose to the spotlight earlier in 2019 as the star of the hit Disney+ show “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” and even wrote an original song, “All I Want”–which became quite popular on Tiktok–and co-wrote another with her co-star, Joshua Bassett. If that name sounds familiar, it’s probably because of all the rumors circulating that “drivers license” is written about him and his relationship with another artist whom you may have heard of–Sabrina Carpenter. The rumors and speculation of many fans surrounding the alleged love triangle possibly referenced in the hit song caused quite a buzz and helped bolster it to immense popularity. 

While the drama surrounding the supposed love triangle between Rodrigo, Bassett and Carpenter has been a major factor in the song’s rise to prominence, it’s clear that the song’s lyrics and mellow sound have resonated with many listeners on a deeper level. Although it sounds like a basic pop song at first, the lyrics definitely hit hard. 

The relatability, melancholic feeling and flow of the lyrics were artfully written and showcase the lyrical genius and song-writing ability of Rodrigo. The overall body of the song definitely shows a strong Taylor Swift influence in her vulnerable story-telling and metaphorical lyricism–similar to Swift’s “folklore” and “evermore” albums–and the pop-ish sounds of her “Lover” album. While the main body of the song builds and flows beautifully in a familiar pop sound, the most enthralling part of the song, its powerful bridge, captures listeners in a much more indie-electro pop vibe, similar to the “Pure Heroine” album by Lorde—another artist whom Roderigo has mentioned as an idol of hers. Rodrigo’s powerful, clear vocals add another layer of captivating depth and raw emotion to the song. The sad ballad perfectly captures young love and heartbreak and beautifully portrays emotion through artistic sound and lyricism, creating a truly perfect sad song.

Rodrigo has also posted many other original songs on her social media which also capture her true talent and song-writing abilities. With the massive success of  “drivers license” and Rodrigo’s clear talent, I see a bright future for this young star and cannot wait for her next work.  For now, I will be singing or screaming and crying to “drivers license” at every red light and stop sign.