Olivia Rodrigo: Her Recent Jump in Popularity

I’m sure many of you have heard Drivers License, Deja Vu, watched High School Musical the Musical the Series, or listened to Olivia’s debut album Sour. Ever since Drivers License was released, there has been a giant spark in the popularity of Olivia Rodrigo. Fans deciphered that the songs were about Olivia’s ex Joshua Bassett and his new “blonde girl”, Sabrina Carpenter. People are saying that Olivia is taking after her idol, Taylor Swift, with her writing style and meaning behind her songs. This seems to be true because Olivia has set amazing records from releasing her new music and has even surpassed Taylor’s monthly spotify listener count by around 5.5 million. As of today (May 31st), Sour is currently the number 2 album on the Itunes store. 

You may be wondering why people love Olivia and her music so much, and it’s because many can relate to her songs. Her songs speak on relationships, exes, and what goes through one's mind after a breakup. Her songs have beautiful rhythms and harmonies, which makes them very appealing, but what she speaks about in these songs can resonate with pretty much anyone who has had a failed connection with a partner or someone they loved romantically. Her songs show emotions like sadness, but also anger. In “good 4 u” and “brutal”, there’s more of an upbeat vibe rather than her other songs. Not only can you cry to her songs, but you can scream them in anger too. In her song “happier”, she uses the lyrics 

“I hope you're happy, but not like how you were with me

I'm selfish, I know, I can't let you go

So find someone great but don't find no one better

I hope you're happy, I wish you all the best, really

Say you love her, baby, just not like you loved me

And think of me fondly when your hands are on her

I hope you're happy, but don't be happier”

These lyrics convey a feeling of sadness and mourning after losing a connection with someone you’ve loved so much. She gives us a song we can deeply connect with and even cry to. In her song “good 4 u”, she uses these lyrics 

“Maybe I'm too emotional

Your apathy is like a wound in salt

Maybe I'm too emotional

Or maybe you never cared at all

Well, good for you, you look happy and healthy

Not me, if you ever cared to ask

Good for you, you're doin' great out there without me

Baby, like a damn sociopath

I've lost my mind

I've spent the night cryin' on the floor in my bathroom

Just over the fact that I really don't get it

But I guess good for you”

She expresses feelings of anger and damage that has been done to her post breakup. She gives her fans an outlet to express their experiences and pain, by doing it herself. 

Having this variety of emotions in her songs gives an outlet to the people who love her music. We get to express our emotions from Olivia expressing hers. In her album, she goes through emotions of anger, betrayal, sadness, resentment, but also yearning for one's happiness, even though they hurt her so much. With so many emotions that can surface in the midst of a breakup or falling out, the way one feels can be very unpredictable, frantic, and manic. Olivia Rodrigo’s album completely captures and encompasses these feelings, which makes people love her music. Most of us can deeply relate to her lyrics. Not only that, but Olivia’s effort into harmonies is absolutely breathtaking. Olivia’s spark in popularity is due to the meanings in her songs and the overall energies in them. She deserves the love that she has been getting, and I hope she will still be supported this way in her future!