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1. The start of 2021 had been relatively sluggish before the “License” craze hit the country last week. Do you drive Olivia Rodrigo’s train, are you a passenger, cautiously drag behind, or hang on the top for life?
Lyndsey Havens: I wouldn’t mind driving the bandwagon, but I’m sure I’m driving a passenger so I can try and lean out the window while my hair blows in the suburban breeze like Olivia does in her clip for this hit . I know a few people who aren’t even in the car, but I’m sure they’ll want to get in soon enough.
Jason lipshutz: I am very happy behind the wheel of Olivia Rodrigo’s bandwagon, honking at the rhythm of each hand. There are plenty of reasons “Drivers License” became one of the few Hot 100 No.1 non-superstar debuts, but that’s mostly because the song is absolutely compelling both as a storyteller. incisive pop and vocal showcase. If Rodrigo can keep releasing songs that are half as good as “Drivers License,” she is going to have a long and successful career.
My Nazarene: I am driving a shotgun and banging my head with Olivia as she sings, “I still love you, baby!” – even though I’m in the healthiest adult relationship of my life, lol. But that’s the magic of the song: No matter what the state of your relationship, the track has a way of bringing you back to that time in your life when your biggest problem was that your crush didn’t love you back ( that was a big deal back then, okay ?!). And at 27, I love songs that remind me of my life before responsibilities, and that’s why I play them on repeat while working on my adult job.
Andrew Unterberger: I’m hanging on to the top for my dear life – right now the speed of this thing is still too out of control for me to feel any other way. But I hope I can get into the passenger seat if and when it slows down a bit.
Denise warner: When I first heard it, I would say I was following carefully. But after a few more laps (and an explanation of the alleged drama behind the song), I was totally hooked and am now firmly in the passenger seat. The mix of lyrics from Taylor Swiftian, the sound of Lorde with a hint of Grey’s Anatomy-the melancholy of the soundtrack carries me directly.
2. Without referring to any of the real-life drama, what does “Driver’s License” do exceptionally well as a song that could have contributed to its success?
Lyndsey Havens: It’s an incredibly well-crafted power pop ballad. From the revving of the engine (of his mother’s car) to the fiery and emotional chorus, underscored by the syncopated handclaps, to the raw, relatable lyrics (if you haven’t been crying in your car driving through the suburbs , you miss out) this song plays on all cylinders. And by the time we get to the bridge, oof. Hearing him admit and admit “I still love you f – king” offers a new breakup tale – one (largely) without bitterness or blame.
Jason lipshutz: The more I listen to “Driver’s License” the more I realize how crucial this bridge is – the moment Rodrigo’s voice is joined by a torn chorus, anger and pain give way to feelings of love persistent, and the single turns into a full-fledged anthem. Such a mid-song transformation is extremely difficult to achieve while still preserving the emotional stakes of its narrative, but the way “Driver’s License” naturally intensifies in its crescendo is a major key to its success.
my Nazarene: The song does a really good job of picking out an artifact – in this case, a driver’s license – from our teenage years that meant everything to us as 16-year-olds. Olivia is so specific with her grief when she mentions her new love’s blonde hair and drives alone past her street. With these details, we also remember our first love and the girl he abandoned us for. Ouchhhh. Let’s say I don’t feel that way every time I hear “Mood” from 24kGoldn. (No shade though.)
Andrew Unterberger: The bridge is the top, but the cascading cry “You didn’t mean what you wrote in that song about me” in the chorus is the anchor. It’s a significant enough moment that you draw attention to each chorus – although not so big that you feel exhausted by the end of the song – and it adds that much needed extra layer of meta that has made it countless. Exponentially more intriguing celebrity hymns in the half-century since “You’re So Vain” first invented the tactic.
Denise warner: Much like Swift, Rodrigo touches a nerve with his writing that can span generations. Young fans will yearn nostalgically for their own failed first loves. Even the youngest teens will recognize the sadness that will likely come to them in their life. And with the older ones, the song evokes a sense of bittersweet nostalgia.
3. But speaking of real-life drama – Joshua Bassett, Rodrigo’s HSM co-star and ex-rumor, posted “Lie Lie Lie” last Thursday, which many see at least in part as a response to “Drivers License” “. Do you think the song will have legs of its own or will it end up being just a footnote to the “Driver’s License” story?
Lyndsey Havens: A footnote, of course. The strategically scheduled release of “Lie Lie Lie” was surely enough to provoke speculation, although the song has been said to be in the works long before the arrival of “Drivers License”; Moreover, they do not seem to be two sides of the same coin. On the contrary, the stories told in each seem to come from different books – which is good for me, because it gives “License” even more room to take off.
Jason lipshutz: I mean … smart money is on “footnote”, right? “Lie Lie Lie” has grown on me the last few days, but even though Bassett has scored his own success, it’s highly unlikely that he’ll sniff the unprecedented heights of “Drivers License,” simply because most songs don’t. do not. ! Bassett could very well become a star in his own right, but “Lie Lie Lie” will inevitably be measured against “Driver’s License” in terms of business value, and that’s a tall order.
My Nazarene: Footnote!!! I’m willing to bet you probably heard “Lie Lie Lie” because you were curious to hear Joshua’s alleged clapback, then you quickly went back to “Drivers License” and forgot that Bassett released a song first. location. If you want to release a song because your ex wrote a hit single about you, I would let it cool before releasing a mediocre song. Take inspiration from John Mayer (allegedly).
Andrew Unterberger: Footnote, probably – the song is already slipping hastily enough on the daily streaming charts, where “Drivers License” was skyrocketing again this time last week. But a lot of people are certainly familiar with Bassett’s name and music who didn’t know it two weeks ago, so in that sense it’s still a pretty solid foundation for him no matter how successful he ends up being. be.
Denise warner: Even if Bassett’s song follows Rodrigo’s, it was written long before “Drivers License”. I guess “Lie Lie Lie” will capitalize on Olivia’s success a bit, but ultimately be a footnote, left in the dust.
4. In the great tradition of the industry, there will now undoubtedly be a mad race to locate the next Olivia Rodrigo and / or “Driver’s License”. What advice would you give to the brass label in their pursuit?
Lyndsey Havens: For me Olivia is a special case – as is the case with most smash hits and future superstars. When she landed her role on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, a partial draw was his songwriting background; it’s not like the music is an afterthought for her. So I guess my advice would be to combine talent with such roots.
Jason Lipshutz: In reporting the release of “Drivers License”, I discovered that the key to her deal with Geffen Records was how impressed the label’s A&R team were with her writing, especially as the only writer on it. High school music ballad “All I want”. The authenticity of the “Driver’s License”, which Rodrigo co-wrote with Dan Nigro, is one of its strongest aspects, with its colorful perspective in every detail; for any label or company looking for the next Olivia Rodrigo, this type of songwriting panache should be greatly appreciated.
My Nazarene: I would say stay in touch with youth culture in an authentic way. The name of the game is Gen Z: They’re not just like us! We saw just how influential 14-year-olds are by looking at recent chart highs that started on TikTok. In Olivia’s case, her fanbase seems to have been carried over from the High school music restart – and then when they got old, downloaded TikTok. Now they are setting the trends.
Andrew Unterberger: I would say if you’re looking for the next teen pop sensation, look for the kid who eats, sleeps, and breathes music. It was certainly Taylor Swift 15 years ago, and it is Olivia Rodrigo today – two absolutely voracious consumers and students of pop music in all its forms, who are as invested in uncovering its secrets as the rest. of us, and with the talent and work ethic to do it. It’s almost always better to bet long term on these kinds of artists than young sensations who only see music as another form of content.
Denise warner: Support young talent but don’t try to force it. This is the authenticity, the voice and the voice of Rodrigo High school music The fan base that is behind this success – and no amount of marketing will make up for the lack of these features.
5. Call it now: How many weeks do you think the “driver’s license” will end up being # 1?
Lyndsey Havens: I’m leaving with seven weeks, because that’s my lucky number and I feel good. However, Billie Eilish and Rosalía’s new track looks threatening to possibly dethrone “Drivers License” over time … and if we get a clip from Ariana, Meg and Doja for the “34 + 35” remix, this could be a game changer too.
Jason Lipshutz: Let’s go with 10 – the song is enough of a phenomenon to hit double digits. Now we only have 10 months left to ask how many Grammy nominations is this going to get?
My Nazarene: Eight weeks! Unless BTS releases another “Dynamite” type song, I can see “Drivers License” staying on top for a while. Crossed fingers!
Andrew Unterberger: If the radio and streaming worlds remain as sleepy as they were before the ‘driver’s license’ went off like a wake-up call, it could probably be No.1 during the summer without too many challenges. But there are too many big names that need to make a comeback for this to be the case for too too long; I had placed the plus / minus current for Olivia’s first run at # 1 at nine weeks.
Denise warner: I have to go big or go home – I’ll say 20 weeks, a new record.
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