Good 4 U is Good for Everyone

A long week has passed after your boyfriend of nine months tells you he doesn’t think it’s working anymore. This is the first time you’re leaving your house and the only thing comforting you is the soothing sound of your car starting. You’re reminded of an artist and former Disney star who wrote a song about going through something similar. Your fingers reach for the stereo and gravitate to the SOUR album. “Driver’s License” begins playing and you’re again comforted by the same sound that filled the car when you first started it. Olivia makes you feel less alone for the first time in this long week.

This seems to be a universal experience for many young teens navigating a breakup as it was streamed more than 750 million times on Spotify and was one of the best-selling albums of 2021. Rodrigo’s storytelling ability sets her apart from other artists and has been the common denominator in helping others heal. Her album centers on adolescence failed romance and heartbreak. This album empowers the teenage mind to not only move past the heartbreak but focus on finding yourself amongst the darkness. Lily McComsey says in an interview “the fact that it was written by a teenager separates it because we are all her age and can relate to the lyrics, whereas if it were written by someone in their twenties, we wouldn’t be able to relate as much”. Although Rodrigo’s songs are relatable to the typical teenager, her accomplishments as a new, young artist are not as relatable.

SOUR is the first debut album in history to spawn two number-one debuts on the chart. These consisted of “Drivers License” and “Good 4 U”. Her music made Rodrigo the first artist in history to debut their first three singles in the top 10 of the Hot 100, which includes “Deja Vu”. This includes Rodrigo breaking the global Spotify record for the biggest opening week for an album by a female artist. After these accomplishments, she was then nominated for Album of the Year and Best Vocal Pop Album for the 2022 Grammys. She then won Apple Music Album of the Year and the People’s Choice Awards Album of the Year.

Now months after the release, fans are doing everything they can to get as close as possible to their favorite new artist. Olivia is set to begin her first tour on April 5, 2022, across North America and Europe to perform the album, starting in Portland and ending in London. Tickets went on sale on December 10 and sold out minutes after. Tickets are now going on second-hand sites and being sold for around $1,500 each. As Taylor Swift’s protegee, she’s definitely living up to the title. Listeners are finding the same support from the SOUR album as they did when Taylor Swift’s, Red album was released. Both of these breakup albums have touched people’s hearts and given these artists relatable reputations. Although Rodrigo quickly became the pinnacle of up-and-coming artists, she surely isn’t stopping here.