How Olivia Rodrigo’s “Drivers License” broke the internet

By Ally Uhlendorf, Editor in Chief

Disney star Olivia Rodrigo released her debut single “Drivers License” on Jan 8, 2021. The song, which focuses on heartbreak and young love, has stayed at No. 1 on the iTunes and Billboard charts, has over 200 million global streams, and is the hottest topic in pop culture right now. The song has taken over multiple social media platforms, such as TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter. The public is obsessed with Rodrigo’s lyrical way of explaining her heartbreak. 

At only 17 years old, Rodrigo has made history. Although she was already in the spotlight from the hit Disney show “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series”, this song catapulted her music career. According to Billboard, the song gained 76.1 million streams and sold over 38,000 downloads in the first week of its release. “Drivers License” broke the record for the most single-day streams for a non-holiday song on the Spotify charts. 

“It’s been the absolute craziest week of my life,” Rodrigo told New York Times. “My entire life just, like, shifted in an instant.” 

Aside from climbing the charts, Rodrigo’s single became the biggest topic on social media overnight. From Tiktok trends using the song to the drama buzz on Twitter, the single completely broke the internet. 

“Drivers License” truly created a cinematic universe for the listeners. It is easily relatable, especially for teens going through any type of heartbreak. The song’s captivating bridge brings you into a whole new world, and that’s what people love about it so much.

For being so young, Rodrigo’s lyrics impressed and touched so many people, and this is only the beginning.