Olivia Rodrigo released her new song “Drivers License” last week, and it has taken every streaming and social media platform by storm. She is number 1 on Spotify’s US and Global top 50 playlist, number 1 on Apple Music, and is predicted to break into the Billboard Top 100 by next week. On social media, especially on TikTok, her song’s influence is even stronger. There are countless videos reacting to the song, theorizing about the meaning behind the song, and speculating about her relationship with her High School Musical: The Musical: The Series co-star Joshua Bassett. But I’m not here to talk about teen relationship drama, I’m here to talk about how much I love her song and sad girl music in general.
This is exactly the song I needed when I was 17 going through my first heartbreak. I feel like a lot of people can agree that when you’re a teen approaching adulthood, you feel compelled to date people who are older than you to prove your maturity, and you often get your heart broken and left behind as your older partner moves on with their adult life. Olivia captures this perfectly by highlighting her insecurity about being young and how intense love feels when it’s your first relationship through her lyricism. If you love “Drivers License,” beautiful music, and songs that remind you of your first heartbreak, here are some other songs you will love.
- “Francis Forever” by Mitski
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If you enjoy a more indie sound over pop music, Mitski is the perfect artist for you. A good friend of mine showed me “Francis Forever” a couple of years ago, and I have been obsessed ever since. I love the combination of indie rock and grunge tones, and the way the song builds and builds until the end, it makes it the perfect song to headbang to, to release any anger and negative energy you have towards anyone who hurt you. She so perfectly conveys the feeling of being lost when you’re single for the first time in a long time and figuring out who you are as an individual again.
- “Blame” by Andy Leon
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If I had to use one word to describe Andy Leon’s music, it would be “vulnerable.” Her song “Blame” is composed of only her voice and a guitar, and it is an absolutely beautiful, stripped-down love song. This song is one of 6 in an album entirely about Andy’s first heartbreak, and all the lyrics feel authentic and representative of everybody’s first heartbreak. This song is about the aftermath of a breakup when you finally take off the rose-colored glasses and see your former partner with all the toxic traits that had been there the whole time.
- “So Sad, So Sad” by Varsity
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The band Varsity has a dreamy, indie-pop sound that almost makes you forget you’re listening to a song about being brokenhearted. Don’t be fooled by the fact that “So Sad, So Sad” is an incredibly catchy song. The lyrics are packed with all the feelings of the aches and pains that a breakup brings. The lead singer talks about feeling overwhelmed, devastated, and weak for continuing to love someone after they hurt you.