Aspiring 17-year-old musician Olivia Rodrigo has broken multiple records with her new single “drivers license,” including being one of the first Asian Americans to top the Apple Music and Billboard Hot 100 charts. She currently claims third place for most streamed artist on Spotify, trailing behind Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande. Many PHS students today have connected with her lyrics and songwriting. Due to her young age and the fact that “drivers license” is her first single, these are astonishing accomplishments. An all-around artist, Rodrigo has also previously acted in Disney’s “Bizaardvark” and “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” where she wrote the hit song “All I Want.” Co-written with producer Dan Nirgom, “drivers license” is her first release since signing with Interscope Records and Geffen Records in 2020. 

Aside from its record-breaking status, Rodrigo’s song is a heartbreaking melody about a lost love. The song includes the wistful lyrics, “I know we weren’t perfect, but I’ve never felt this way for no one.” It’s easy to spell out the plot of the song from Rodrigo’s lyrics about driving by an ex’s house. A simple, yet melancholy piano melody combined with searing imagery and a crisp vocal tone created Rodrigo’s masterpiece, and touched the hearts of her listeners. The song’s lyrics are a fresh, new take on symbolizing heartbreak. The meaning behind the heartfelt lyrics as well as the real sound of a car engine starting in the beginning of the song give the masterpiece a mysterious, yet enticing flair unlike many other attempts at creating sad music by modern artists. 

Rodrigo’s teenage fanbase is also eating up the drama surrounding the song’s release. Fans have speculated that “drivers license” is about Rodrigo’s co-star in “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” Joshua Bassett. Bassett, according to the Rodrigo fandom, left her for singer Sabrina Carpenter after declaring that he would wait for Rodrigo until she turned 18. This drama has escalated on the social media platform TikTok, where users have been posting videos about the situation, based on the lyrics “And you’re probably with that blonde girl / Who always made me doubt.” The music video incorporates subtle details hinting towards their relationship, including Rodrigo wearing the same sherpa-trimmed denim jacket that Bassett’s character happens to wear in “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.” However, the drama did not end here, with Bassett releasing his own song “Lie Lie Lie” only a few days later and Carpenter releasing “Skin” soon after. Carpenter claims that the song has nothing to do with Rodrigo, but fans believe otherwise, based on the lyrics hinting at a relationship between Carpenter and Bassett. 

The combination of drama, publicity from the “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” and heartfelt lyrics are what boosted the song’s popularity so dramatically. The song continues to grow, becoming a classic of our generation. Teens constantly stream the song as they suffer through quarantine, feeling isolated through Zoom calls and lack of activity; TikTokers post about the song’s relatability and the comfort it has brought to them when pining over that certain person in their life. Since Rodrigo is only 17, the success of her song has inspired many young artists to continue following their aspirations. She has become a role model for many teens pursuing a career in music, just as Taylor Swift was a role model for her. The song’s groundbreaking success has altered the music industry forever, placing new emphasis on Asian American artists and relatable lyrics. This is the perfect song to blast alone in room or during late night drives. 

The Tower

Sophie Miller's Work

The Tower