New Album: Sour

Naia Olivier reviews Olivia Rodrigo's new album and dives deeper into the inspiration behind it and into the life of Olivia Rodrigo.

Olivia Rodrigo's New Album SOUR

By Naia Olivier

Music has been one of the biggest forms of expression throughout the world for centuries. Each artist, each album, each musical instrument tells a story. Last year, hundreds of teens around the world sang and cried to Olivia Rodrigo’s first hit song “All I Want” from the Disney+ show, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Then, in January 2021, Rodrigo blessed us with another heart-wrenching original, “Drivers License.”

Image: High School Musical The Musical The Series Show Cover.

Since then, she has been rising to the top of fame as an influencer and fresh voice of teen struggles and failed love attempts. On May 21, 2021, Rodrigo released a whole album. SOUR contains “Drivers License,” plus ten other emotion-filled bops. Most of the songs featured on SOUR are about the ended relationship between her and Joshua Bassett, a co-star of Rodrigo’s in High School Musical.

Rodrigo started off her singing career on Disney Channel when she starred in the young teen show, Bizaardvark. Three years afterward, she started working on High School Musical. An article from Capitol FM explains that Rodrigo met Bassett on set, which led to a friendship that then turned into a romantic relationship. Bassett, however, was also close friends with Sabrina carpenter, a 20- year- old Disney Chanel alumni, which always worried the younger, more self-conscious Rodrigo.

Rodrigo’s suspicions became true after her relationship ended with Bassett. Barely two weeks after the breakup, Bassett started hanging out with Carpenter as if the long relationship with Rodrigo had been nothing. According to Pitchfork news, Rodrigo has always looked up to the well-known heartbroken singer/ songwriter, Taylor Swift. The article says that “like her idol, Rodrigo treats emotional turmoil like jet fuel.”

Her song “Drivers License” is a reflection of the disappointment felt after the breakup. She sings about how sad she is that the future plans they had made are no longer possible and that all the good times they had are gone. Rodrigo admits that the worst part of all is that she knows Bassett is probably enjoying himself “with that blond girl” (Carpenter).

image: Cover of Drivers License single.

All in all, the rising artist Olivia Rodrigo and her new globally top listened-to album SOUR are what teens need right now need. It is perfect for anyone, whether they are going through a breakup or they just need a few great jam songs. SOUR, as well as Rodrigo’s past songs, is available to stream everywhere: AppleMusic, Spotify, AmazonMusic, YouTube, and more!

image: Sour album cover.

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