Having taken a break after her brief tour, Olivia Rodrigo is back… and sadder than ever? The pop star has sung her two new singles, released one, and announced her third world tour. This marks her definitive return to the pop scene she has dominated since the release of her hit single, ‘Driver’s License’, at just seventeen.
Yet, her return has been anything but predictable for fans. Continuing her established pattern of four lettered album titles, fans had placed their bets on the title ‘Luck’ for OR3. However, Rodrigo rocked the boat when her title was just a little longer than expected: ‘You seem pretty sad for a girl so in love.’ Despite the pink aesthetic, Rodrigo has been clear: the project is as much about being sad and melancholic as it is about being happy when with someone else. This may not come as a major shock to fans now, as rumors circulated about her split from British actor Louis Partridge at the start of the year.
Though allegedly split up, the album’s first ballad, ‘Drop Dead,’ is undoubtedly a crushworthy track that captures the giddy excitement of a perfect first date. Its music video, featuring her galloping through the halls of Versailles, wired earphones and all, adds to its charm. Sonically, the song stands apart from her established style, which may be why it is the album’s lead single. Of course, she has made similar moves in the past, having released ‘bad idea right’ as another single for her second album GUTS. Her willingness to shift and experiment points to a broader tradition she is a part of. In a distinctly unique way, Rodrigo is personally committed to producing a body of work that goes beyond algorithms and TikTok trends. That is not to say it’s not part of a wider capitalist culture, as her music is no doubt meant to be – and is – widely consumed by a diverse audience. Yet, she manages to convey a shared experience of womanhood in a strikingly intimate way. It is perhaps in this balance that her pop music travels so successfully.
But it wasn’t all lovesick ballads for the 23-year-old; the second single from her album, which premiered on SNL over the weekend, was a complete pivot from the upbeat romantic tone. Sat on a swing she sang her song ‘begged,’ a candid reflection about accepting the bare minimum from someone at the expense of yourself. Afterward, the performance left fans speculating about the ins and outs of her relationship with Louis. But perhaps we are too quick to judge. Just a few days ago, during an interview with Jimmy Fallon, she revealed that a number of ballads on the album are, in fact, inspired by fictional relationships, including Miranda and Steve from Sex and the City. For those unfamiliar, their relationship was initially turbulent and very on-and-off, before the two eventually (spoiler alert) reunite and get married. After revealing this, Fallon couldn’t help but gush, clutching his chest in a mock heartbreak and delight at the reference.
Amidst rumors of scrapping her album entirely, Olivia Rodrigo has nonetheless returned to the center of pop culture attention. In the current pop landscape, Olivia stands out as the only contemporary female star with both the emotional depth in her writing and the fan engagement to sustain a level of global stardom comparable to Taylor Swift’s. Rodrigo is not only a defining voice of her generation but also an artist whose next move is globally anticipated, with eager audiences awaiting the release of her upcoming album and a tour that is sure to meet with unwavering success.