Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘drivers license’ is the ultimate pop power ballad for your shower-singing repertoire

“Drivers license” by Olivia Rodrigo is the song currently defining spring of 2021. As a debut January 2021 single on Rodrigo’s first EP, written by Rodrigo and David Nigro, this song has been in the works since this past summer, referenced by Rodrigo working on and discussing the song on social media. 

Rodrigo’s “drivers license” fits within the power pop, bedroom pop and indie pop genres. Above everything else, the song is considered a power ballad with poignant lyrics and minimalistic qualities. The musical composition incorporates kick drums, harmonies, syncopated hand claps and a dreamy bridge. One might begin to hear influences from Taylor Swift and Lorde in the single. 

The song set a Spotify record twice for being the most played song in a single day for a non-holiday related piece. “Drivers license” also broke Amazon records for being the most listened to song and as the No. 1 hit in history in the U.S. Billboard Top 100 chart with a reach as far as the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Spain among others. 

Directly related, fans interpret that the song is Rodrigo lamenting over a recent break up between her and her “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” co-star, Joshua Bassett, as many lines in the song point to this conclusion. For example, within the first couple of verses Rodrigo sings “And you’re probably with that blond girl / who always made me doubt / she’s so much older than me / She’s everything I’m insecure about,” referencing drama between her, Bassett and Sabrina Carpenter. 

Fans think this lyric refers to the fact that Bassett began dating Sabrina Carpenter, a blonde singer and actress who is older than Rodrigo. Another reason for why people assume that the song is about the couple’s breakup is because Bassett wrote a song that presumably is about Rodrigo and in relation to the end of their relationship called “Lie Lie Lie.” Carpenter also released “Skin”, referencing the chosen “blonde” lyric by Rodrigo. The song is available on Apple Music, Youtube Music, Spotify and plays on indie and pop radio stations.