Unless you have been living under a rock, its been almost impossible to ignore the meteoric rise of Californian born teenage singer-songwriter "Olivia Rodrigo" and her debut single "drivers license," 2021 has already been quite the journey for the former Disney' High School Musical, The Musical: The Series', star.
The song rose to prominence following its release in early January, as it went viral on TikTok, and has already passed over 150 million Youtube views (and counting!).
Despite being only 3* months years into the year, some critics have already tipped it to be the song of 2021, and with its heartbreakingly emotive sentiment, it seems like a fitting power balled for the times.
Despite being just 18, Olivia Rodrigo has shown maturity beyond her tender years with her poignant, powerful, heart-aching words on this track. Lyrics throughout the single, such as "And I just can't imagine how you could be so okay, now that I'm gone," are examples of how laid bare and candid Rodrigo is on "drivers license," such honest lyrics really resonate with any listener and unifies us as humans. Like Rodrigo, we have all been through the agony of teenage heartache and can relate to every feeling she sings about. This impassioned essence is furthered by her cathartic wail of anguish, delivered in a piercing soprano vocal range.
The combination is truly a sight to behold, as Rodrigo effortlessly guides you on her emotional rollercoaster and opens her heart courageously to the listener. It is such a formidable feat for any artist to achieve, let alone a brand-new one, making it all the more impressive.
The icing on the cake of this impressive debut single is the exquisitely dreamy and minimalist production by Dan Nigro, which beautifully provides a fitting accompaniment to the dramatic and melancholic narrative of the track.
When listening to this immensely talented artist showcase her deeply heartfelt lyrics and emotional yet refined vocal range, you can't help but think you might be listening to the next Taylor Swift, and maybe even more.
If the madness of 2020 taught us anything, it's that the world we live in is an unpredictable place. And despite being just a third into this one, I would be shocked if "drivers license" does not go down as one of the finest songs of 2021. The future is Olivia Rodrigo's, and with her commanding vocal range and captivating songwriting ability, she can make it anything she wants it to be.
**Article was to have been published 3 months ago.