Olivia Rodrigo

the POWERSouR of

Text by ANDY ROBINSON and DOMINIQUE LASHLEY

Art by NAOMI TAN OLIVIA RODRIGO’S RISE TO TEEN STARDOM

IT WAS JUST ANOTHER PRESS briefing at the White House. Crowds of reporters huddled around the podium, where Press Secretary Jen Psaki ago,” junior Grace He said. “So when I first came across her ‘Driver’s License’ song on YouTube, I was like, ‘Oh my God, it’s her.’” In January, the release of the hit single used her songs for a while,” He said. “They [TikToks] make small creators become realwas introducing a special guest. Perhaps “Driver’s License” propelled Rodrigo into ly famous.” one might have expected a medical profes- the global limelight, racking up 21 million Rodrigo has undoubtedly sional or national security advisor. streams within the first three days after its created a unique presence in the current But on July 14, onto the podium stepped none other than 18-year-old singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo. In“It’s super cool that knowing her music is a shared experience for release. It soon became clear that pop ballads were not the only tunes in Rodrigo’s arsenal; the 2021 release of her fullmusic scene, but many question whether her fame is oversaturating this space. “I get so many Spotify ads for her, she’s just portrayed as the up-and-coming, rising ‘it’ girl, someone who’s just broken into the industry and is new in town,” junior Anna vited to promote COVID-19 vaccia large portion of our length album “SOUR” featured songs dabbling Thieman said. “I think they’re pushing her image.” nations, generation.” in alternative, acoustic Rodrigo and rock genres. Teen More than just a case of “Deja Vu”? sat down — SAMANTHA YAMASHITA, senior insecurities, anxieties In many ways, Rodrigo’s rise to promfor a Q&A and, of course, heart- inence mimics her Disney-to-pop star prewith An- break, are shamelessly decessors of the early 2000s. Icons such as thony Fau- explored by Rodrigo, drawing many fans Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Demi ci, director to the vulnerability and universality of her Lovato and Miley Cyrus built their careers of the National lyrics. by supporting — and Institute of Allergy and Infectious “I love jamming out to ‘SOUR’ in the later subverting Diseases, and even had a photo op with car with my friends and have a lot of — the Disney President Joe Biden. happy memories associated with machine with

“I am beyond honored to be here to- those songs,” senior Samantha rebellious songs to day to help spread the message,” Rodrigo Yamashita said. “I think it’s super wipe away their “good

said as she spoke to the press. cool that know“ girl” images. This curious episode is perhaps the best encapsulation of Rodrigo’s recent stardom. ing her music is a shared experience It’ll be interesting to But in the age of the internet, Rodrigo stands A young woman who was largely unknown for a large portion see if she can keep up out. Fresh off her Disney to the general American public outside of a few shows on Disney Channel now had of our genera tion.” the hype or if she’s debut, Rodrigo has no qualms about exploring an album perched atop the Billboard Hot 100. In only a few short months, Rodrigo Over the past few months, Rosort of one of those gritty, uncensored subject matter in her music. Rohad established herself as a ubiquitous icon drigo’s influence one-hit wonder drigo (and her producer, of Gen Z. has expanded beyond the music people.” Dan Nigro) seem to understand that authenticity Rodrigo reactions scene, with her — ANNA THIEMAN, junior in the online era is more

Rodrigo first broke into mainstream retro-inspired aes- appealing to fans than Hollywood on Disney Channel’s “Bizaard- thetic becoming a squeaky-clean image. vark” before landing a role in the Disney+ an iconic presence in fashion and lifestyle, Rodrigo isn’t an unreachable idol or a teen show “High School Musical: The Musical: particularly on social media platforms. tragedy; she’s just a girl in her bedroom The Series.” Rodrigo showcased her vo- “Her fashion to me is very Y2K, which writing songs about how she feels. cal talents through the show’s soundtrack, I know that people really like right now and Ultimately, many believe that Rodrigo catching the attention of the nation everyone’s saying that [that style of] fashion is undoubtedly a talented and influential and many Palo Alto High School stu- is coming back,” junior Sofia Wong said. artist, but it remains to be seen whether she dents. Wong said she believes a consid- can remain a chart-topper.

“The first erable amount of Rodrigo’s in- “It’ll be interesting to see if Olivia time I heard of her creased influence has come Rodrigo can keep up the hype,” Thieman was not [through] from her songs’ popularity said. “Or if she’s sort of one of those one-hit her music, it was on the social media plat- wonder people who just release an album, it when she was on Disney form TikTok. goes crazy and then dies down, and no one Channel … many years “People on TikTok, they all cares about her anymore.” v