Unless you lived under a rock in 2021, you’ve heard a song from Olivia Rodrigo’s debut album SOUR. Or maybe you’re still listening to it on repeat on the daily! SOUR broke a ton of records. It had “the biggest opening week for an album by a female artist in global Spotify history” according to Paper Magazine, it topped both the Billboard 200 and the top 30 of Billboard’s Hot 100 at #1 for weeks, and it’s even nominated for Album of the Year at the 2022 Grammy Awards (which I personally think she’s going to win!).
On March 25, Rodrigo premiered “Driving Home 2U” on Disney+; a film all about the story behind how SOUR came to be after the release of its top single, “drivers license.” The film was advertised as following Olivia’s road trip from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles and hearing her stories along the way — but it was so much more than that.
In the film, we not only got to hear about the story of each song on the album from Olivia herself, but she performed each one as well. Each song came with a slightly different rendition than the studio recording — like “Good 4 U” being accompanied by a violin ensemble, and the backing for “Traitor” being recorded by Olivia in the moment with just a keyboard, a guitar, and a loop station. Plus, each one was staged like a mini music video with some really gorgeous backdrops in places like national parks and the beach. I think this was a really special opportunity for fans to hear more about what each of the songs meant to Olivia, especially considering that the tickets for her SOUR tour sold out in seconds and a majority of fans won’t have the chance to see her live for a while.
What I think made the film so special was that Olivia kept it on track about her experiences and her emotions. On a surface level that may sound narcissistic, but in watching the film — it truly wasn’t. Olivia didn’t cater to all the typical areas that the media wanted to hear. She didn’t play into the drama surrounding the album; she simply gave a genuine backstory to her time working on SOUR.
I just love that despite much of the negative response to the album being criticism that “all the songs” were “just about one boy,” Olivia didn’t let people diminish what her work meant to her. Sure, many of the songs were about one relationship, but I think we all have to remember what it was like to be 17 and going through your first heartbreak. Olivia was just a kid in high school when she wrote this album, and I think the innocence and journey to self-understanding that she depicts in the songs are what makes it resonate so deeply with fans. Plus, doesn’t anyone remember the peak of people saying all Taylor Swift’s songs were “just about boys”? Can we stop doing the same to Olivia? Don’t you think 19 is too young to be messed with?
In conclusion, whether you’re a die-hard fan or you just want to learn a bit more about the album, go stream this film now. I think it was beautifully done and I can’t wait to see what Olivia comes out with next!
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