“153080_TH01_7019” by Walt Disney Television is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
Whether you got your driver’s license 20 years ago or last week, Olivia Rodrigo’s hit song “drivers license” will pull at your heartstrings.
The song was released on January 8th and topped the Billboard Global 200 Chart for eight consecutive weeks, looming above many experienced musicians. The song describes the pain a teenage girl feels upon receiving her driver’s license since she and her ex-boyfriend used to talk about it. Rodrigo used her heartbreak and created a powerful song that perfectly captivates the simple yet complex theme of teenage heartbreak. Rodrigo’s song is deeply personal, yet undeniably relatable. Its instrumentation, along with Rodrigo’s vocals and lyrics, has captivated people all over the world. Critics praised the song, with Rolling Stone calling it “an emotionally potent early contender for song of the year.” The song was even endorsed by Rodrigo’s idol, Taylor Swift. Swift left a comment on Rodrigo’s Instagram saying, “I say that’s my baby and I’m really proud.”
Throughout the song, Rodrigo ties the concept of driving to the relationship she is mourning. Rodrigo’s use of imagery brings the listener closer to the story with every line. With lyrics like “Yeah, you said forever, now I drive alone past your street” and “still see your face in the white cars, front yards Can’t drive past the places we used to go to,” one can’t help but create a picture in their mind. Rodrigo is exceptional at letting her voice carry emotions, and the accompaniment of the piano matches her melancholy. The instrumentals and vocals truly shine during the bridge, the part of a song that usually follows a chorus and delivers something different, incorporating a new emotion of anger. Often, sadness and anger go hand in hand when it comes to situations of heartbreak.
“drivers license” has made Rodrigo a bona fide celebrity, but she is certainly familiar with being in the spotlight. Rodrigo has starred as Paige in the Disney Channel show Bizaardvark and currently stars in High School Musical The Series as Nini, which you can stream on Disney+. In High School Musical The Musical The Series, Rodrigo gets to show off her singing and songwriting skills, but she also displays her expertise in acting and dancing. The show’s soundtrack includes her incredible original ballad “All I Want” and the song “Just For a Moment,” which she wrote with fellow co-star Joshua Bassett. “drivers license” is taking the world by storm and Olivia Rodrigo will no doubt become a new force in the entertainment industry. Rodrigo is someone young girls can look up to; she is gifted with the ability to bring people from all walks of life together. On April 13th, Rodrigo announced that her debut album SOUR will be available starting May 21st. The album will have eleven tracks, including the single “drivers license.”The album will be released at a busy time for Rodrigo, with the second season of High School Musical The Musical The Series being released just a week before on May 14h.
