Olivia Rodrigo got her start on Bizaardvark in 2016, and dove deeper into Disney fame as the star of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series three years later.  The singer-songwriter-actress stole viewers’ hearts with hit performances on the latter including dynamic duets like “Wondering” and “I Think I Kinda, You Know,” as well as the potently emotional solo “All I Want.”  On January 8, 2021, the teen became a lyrical sensation with the release of her debut song as an independent artist: “Drivers License.”

 

Fans got a taste of the number in July, as a newly-licensed Liv shared her summertime sorrow in an Instagram post-- a dip of the toe into what would become a miles-deep plunge.  Climbing its way to the top of the global charts just days after its premiere, “Drivers License” has earned praise from countless celebrities, individuals everywhere, and has even been hinted by Rolling Stone as an early potential contender for song of the year.  Drawing inspiration from Lorde and being a self-proclaimed Swiftie, she sings humble thanks for all of the support, and proves that teenage girls can indubitably soar to the top.  The sentiment of her experiences lies in the ability to overcome, to fall apart and put yourself back together-- a tear jerking lesson that cannot be uttered enough.  At just 17 years old, Olivia Rodrigo has become a worldwide phenomenon and overnight feminine icon.

 

Rumored to be about her Disney+ co-star Joshua Bassett, “Drivers License” is a hauntingly heartfelt ballad detailing the would-be teenage milestone, muddied by heartbreak and soiled by reminiscence.  The scene of the song is set in the first few seconds, with sound bytes from what she explains is her mom’s car.  The chime of the open door and initial breath before taking to the streets of the suburbs defines both the beginning and the end of an era for Rodrigo.

 

The story changes from the hopefulness of being licensed to drive, to the contemplation of whether or not the feelings between her and her ex boyfriend were real at all.  Listeners learn of “that blonde girl, who always made [her] doubt,” similarly rumored to be Girl Meets World star Sabrina Carpenter, and the subsequent turmoil that their age difference brings.  At the end of the bridge, through mentions of all the ways in which driving around reminds her of him, Rodrigo passionately and explicitly reveals that “I still f*cking love you.”  The climax comes paramount to an unwavering buildup of raw emotion, spilling into the resolution-- “I know we weren’t perfect, but I’ve never felt this way for no one.”  Though the lyrics depict a specificity that only some may resonate with, Rodrigo somehow projects such a relatability that we can’t help but reel this tune on repeat.

 

“Drivers License” is the perfect track to blast in the shower, to belt in the car, and to serve as the soundtrack on your journey to personal growth.