In only a few days, former Bizaardvark and current High School Musical: The Musical: The Series star Olivia Rodrigo has reached #1 on the charts of multiple major streaming services with her debut solo single, “drivers license”. Three days after its January 9, 2021, release, the gut-wrenching heartbreak ballad had topped the overall top songs chart on Apple Music and Amazon Music, as well as Spotify’s U.S. Hit Chart.
Having demonstrated her songwriting abilities in the past, specifically on “All I Want”, a track released through Disney+’s High School Musical spinoff series of which she plays the role of “Nini”, Rodrigo unveils a new layer of her capabilities with “drivers license”. Co-written and produced by Daniel Nigro, who has collaborated in the past with pop stars like Lewis Capaldi and Carly Rae Jepsen, “drivers license” shows the popstar ability Olivia Rodrigo is capable of.
For a track based around teenage heartbreak, the chart-topping single possesses a certain level of maturity within Rodrigo’s songwriting. “drivers license” is a track in which the 17-year-old opens up about finally getting her driver’s license and driving herself past her former love’s house. Pairing impressive songwriting that is seemingly beyond Olivia Rodrigo’s years with Nigro’s ear for pop production, “drivers license” shows the true star potential of Rodrigo.
Before taking over the #1 spot on Apple Music’s top songs chart on January 9th, it was in competition with a couple tracks from a new album by one of the biggest pop stars in history: Taylor Swift. Taken aback by this accolade, Rodrigo was quick to mention the gratefulness and excitement she was experiencing in this moment on Instagram. Seemingly eager to dole out praise, the Grammy-winning Swift commented on the post with, “I say that’s my baby and I’m really proud,” along with a smattering of applause emojis.
With the stamp of approval from one of the 21st Century’s most renowned songwriters, Olivia Rodrigo is set to release her first solo EP later in 2021 through Geffen Records, to whom she was recently signed.
Watch the music video for “drivers license” below.
