Drivers License

Olivia Rodrigo's debut single "Drivers License" arrived on January 8, 2021, and within days it was everywhere. A piano-driven power ballad that shifts from a whispered, almost fragile verse into a soaring, cathartic chorus, the song captures the specific ache of heartbreak with startling detail. Rodrigo co-wrote it with Dan Nigro, who also produced the track, and its sparse arrangement, just piano, soft percussion, and layered vocals, lets her voice and the lyrics take center stage.

The song's narrative follows a newly licensed driver cruising through familiar suburban streets, replaying memories of a lost relationship. Lines like "I guess you didn't mean what you wrote in that song about me" fueled immediate online speculation about its inspiration, with fans connecting it to Rodrigo's personal life and her relationship with co-star Joshua Bassett. That speculation turned the song into a cultural event, dominating TikTok, Twitter, and every streaming platform. It debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for eight weeks, becoming one of the longest-running number-one debuts by a female artist.

Critics praised the song's emotional maturity and stripped-back production, with many calling it one of the best pop singles of the year. It won Best Pop Solo Performance at the 2022 Grammy Awards and Song of the Year at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards. The music video, directed by Matthew Dillon Cohen, shows Rodrigo driving around a quiet neighborhood, crying in her car, and wandering empty streets, visuals that match the song's lonely, reflective mood. As of 2025, it has over 400 million views on YouTube.[edit]