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I remember where I was when I first heard “drivers license” by Olivia Rodrigo. I was sitting on my bed in my room when the song came up randomly on my Spotify playlist. 

I was moved. She instantly became one of my favorite artists, and that fact has not changed for five years now. 

Rodrigo is an artist fitting into the pop and pop-rock genres. Not only is she a phenomenal vocalist, but she is also an excellent songwriter. In addition, Rodrigo effortlessly articulates specific emotions through song. 

I, as well as many others, am patiently awaiting her new album to be released. In the meantime, I have developed a list of some of my favorite songs by Rodrigo.

This list includes “deja vu,” “good 4 u,” “ballad of a homeschooled girl,” “get him back!,” and “so american.”

Starting with “deja vu,” this is featured as the second track on her 2021 album “SOUR.” “deja vu” does a great job of setting up a scene and making the listener feel what she feels. Rodrigo’s soft cadence expertly conveys the intense emotion she feels and makes it all the more relatable.

Ryan Luke, a fan of the song, agrees with such. “I feel like it is very representative of different things in life and how we go through the same experiences with different people,” Luke said. 

My favorite line from “deja vu” by Rodrigo is “You’re trading jackets like we used to do, yeah, everything is all reused.” 

Next on the list is “good 4 u.” This song, in comparison to “deja vu” is more fast-paced and heavy in terms of the beat. It’s fitting for the tense emotion that Rodrigo is expressing. 

In “good 4 u,” Rodrigo sings about how her ex is living this suddenly great life after they’d broken up. Her hurt and rage are clearly represented in both the vocals and lyrics. It’s one of those songs that makes you want to scream along to the words. 

My favorite line from “good 4 u” by Rodrigo is “Maybe I’m too emotional, your apathy is like a wound in salt.” 

Similar to “good 4 u,” “ballad of a homeschooled girl” is fast-paced with emphasis on the electric guitar and drums. The vocals are passionate and energetic, making the song extremely catchy. This song leans a lot more into the pop-rock genre, which fits the overall theme. 

“Ballad of a homeschooled girl” has lyrics that follow Rodrigo’s stream of consciousness. The song itself is about the frustration of dealing with anxiety. I love this song because I understand the feeling of doing everything wrong. 

My favorite lines from “ballad of a homeschooled girl” by Rodrigo are “Everythin’ I do is tragic (oh), every guy I like is gay (oh). The mornin’ after I panic (oh), oh, god, what did I say?” 

“Get him back!” is absolutely one of my favorite songs from her discography. The beat centers around loud drums, distorted electric guitar, and a heavy bass. The vocals stray away from being melodic, sounding similar to regular talking. This adds a nice laissez-faire tone to the track. 

The theme of “get him back!” is going back and forth between wanting someone and hating them at the same time. The expression of both sides makes the lyrics engaging. It’s hard not to dance when hearing this track. 

My favorite lines from “get him back!” by Rodrigo are “Do I love him? Do I hate him? I guess it’s up and down. If I had to choose, I would say right now, I wanna get him back.”

Last on the list is “so american.” “Get him back!” and “so american” are tied for my number one spot. “So american” is Rodrigo’s first true love song, having a very bright and poppy energy. While the topic of the song is soft, Rodrigo has great, dramatic vocals. It makes the emotion conveyed all the more passionate.

“So american” is about realizing you might be in love with someone. I am a sucker for a love song, so the notion instantly pulled me in. This song, as well as “ballad of a homeschooled girl,” expertly show off Rodrigo’s versatility in theme. 

My favorite line from “so american” by Rodrigo is “He’s like a poem I wish I wrote.” 

Olivia Rodrigo is an amazing pop artist who knows how to relate to the masses. I am excited to hear what she comes up with next. 

Rodrigo’s upcoming album, “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love,” releases June 12. 2026. 

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