14 February 29 - March 6, 2024 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | music | cafe | culture | Night+Day | News | letters | coNteNts | miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | It’s Brutal Out Here A look at Olivia Rodrigo’s most scathing lyrics. BY CELIA ALMEIDA T he 21st Century is proving to be a golden age for confessional singer-songwriters at a level un- seen in the mainstream since perhaps the 1970s. And much like Carole King and Joni Mitchell did before them, young women are leading the charge. Among the movement’s newest revelations is Olivia Rodrigo, who at 17 became an over- night phenomenon with the success of her de- but single, “Drivers License,” the first single off her debut album, 2021’s Sour. Its heart- wrenching songs, written in the aftermath of Rodrigo’s first major heartbreak, signaled the makings of a distinctive songwriting talent. Her latest album, 2023’s Guts, proved Sour’s ability to connect wasn’t just begin- ner’s luck, with Rodrigo writing just as viv- idly about her foray into fame and the awkwardness, insecurities, and bad decisions young women face in their late teens and early twenties — whether or not the entire world is watching. Ahead of Olivia Rodrigo’s sold-out show at the Kaseya Center in downtown Miami on Wednesday, March 6, here are some of her most brutal lyrics. “Drivers License” “I still hear your voice in the traffic, we’re laughing/Over all the noise.” Rodrigo’s debut single expertly captures one of the most tragic moments of any breakup: hitting a milestone that you always envisioned celebrating with your partner. The example she uses is so hyper-specific that it risks alienating anyone above the age of 16. Instead, the song tapped into a universal truth about missed opportunities and stolen potential in relationships. The song’s bridge — almost immediately lauded as a standout of the decade — drove home the longing. No matter your age, it can take a long time to quiet the distant echo of an ex’s voice and laughter in your mind. “Logical” “Brought up the girls you could have instead/ Said I was too young, I was too soft/Can’t take a joke, can’t get you off.” A recurring — and often troubling — topic on Rodrigo’s sophomore album, Guts, is her dalliance with at least one older man. In “Vampire,” she calls him a “bloodsucker” and “fame fucker” who “went for me, and not her/’cause girls your age know better.” In “Logical,” she writes of a “master manipula- tor” who can get her to believe anything, il- logical as it may be. And when he wants to drive the knife, he aims for her greatest inse- curities: her youth and inexperience. “The Grudge” “You have everything, and you still want more.” Most of these lyrics are taken from Rodri- go’s song bridges, and for good reason: she is perhaps the most successful graduate of the Taylor Swift School of Bridge Building. Swift, Rodrigo’s longtime inspiration and onetime mentor, has kept song bridges going strong at a time when they appear to be disappearing, and Rodrigo has faithfully followed that tradition. This makes it all the more shocking that Rodrigo appears to have used the skill set she gleaned from Swift in a scathing track widely rumored to be directed at her in the wake of a reported falling out. In the song, Rodrigo writes of a person who “built [her] up to watch [her] fall.” Her fury builds and peaks as she wails about an adversary who has every- thing but still wants more. It’s certainly plau- sible the line could apply to the woman who became a billionaire in 2023, has the highest- grossing concert tour of all time, became the first artist to win “Album of the Year” at the Grammys four times, and then watched her boyfriend win the Super Bowl in the same week, yet still managed to fight Rodrigo for writing credit on the song “Deja Vu,” which Rodrigo admitted was inspired by Swift’s song “Cruel Summer.” The two women, once a fixture on each others’ social media ac- counts, have never been seen together again. “Good 4 U” “And good for you, I guess that you’ve been working on yourself/I guess that therapist I found for you, she really helped.” Much like “Drivers License” captured the longing for missed opportunities with an ex, “Good 4 U” tells of another tragedy of imagination: when your partner be- comes the new-and- improved version of themselves you al- ways envisioned, but not for you — for their next partner. It’s a song about the sting of your ex, tak- ing everything they learned from (and with) you and watching them become a better person for someone else. You do the work; they reap the benefits. Doesn’t seem fair, does it? “Get Him Back!” “But I am my father’s daughter, so maybe I could fix him.” Rodrigo toys with dualities quite a bit on Guts, from her song “Lacy,” on which the pro- tagonist is the object of both her jealousy and desire, to “The Grudge,” on which the person who wronged her is “still everything to me.” But her juxtapositions are most skillful on “Get Him Back!,” on which she fantasizes about both getting back with her ex-boyfriend and getting back at her ex-boyfriend. The lyric, “I wanna meet his mom/just to tell her her son sucks,” deserves an honorable men- tion. Still, the mention of her dad wins out be- cause of a background detail that makes the line even funnier: Rodrigo’s dad is a family therapist. Olivia Rodrigo. With Chappell Roan. 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 6, at Kaseya Center, 601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 786-777-1000; kas- eyacenter.com. Sold out.
[email protected] Olivia Rodrigo’s sold-out show at the Kaseya Center arrives on March 6. Photo by Larissa Hofmann ON GUTS, RODRIGO PROVED SOUR’S ABILITY TO CONNECT WASN’T JUST BEGINNER’S LUCK. | CROSSFADE | t Music MONTH XX–MONTH XX, 2008 THIS WEEK THURSDAY, FEB. 29 Alko and Josie: 10 p.m., $18.19-$30.31. Do Not Sit on the Furniture, 423 16th St., Miami Beach, 510-550-5067, donotsitonthefur- niture.com. Bawrut and Richie Hell: With Generous B., 11 p.m., $16-$21. Floyd Miami, 34 NE 11th St., Miami, 786-618-9447, floydmiami.com. Eden Hason: 8 p.m., $94.50-$204.50. The Fillmore Miami Beach, 1700 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, 305-673-7300, fillmoremb.com. Gianni Blu: 8 p.m., $20-$30. E11even Miami, 29 NE 11th St., Miami, 305-829-2911, 11miami.com. Goetia: With Devalued, Amenorrhea, and Ignis Diaboli., 8:30 p.m., $12-$15. The Auld Dubliner Irish Pub & Kitchen, 91 NW First St., Miami, 786-353-2339, theaulddubliner.com. Hiss Golden Messenger: With Color Green, 8 p.m., $31. Gramps, 176 NW 24th St., Miami, 855-732-8992, gramps.com. Monroller, Martial Taktiks, and Rivibes: 9 p.m., Free-$20. No- where, 204 SW Second St., Fort Lauderdale, instagram.com/ nowhereloungeftl. Perna: 10 p.m., Free. Over Under, 151 E. Flagler St., Miami, 786-247- 9851, overundermiami.com. Sam Binga: With Hyroglifics, Sinistarr, Saturnsarii, Topher the Alien, DJ Tamsom, and D.B. Cooper., 10 p.m., $16. The Ground Miami, 34 NE 11th St., Miami, 305-375-0001, thegroundmiami.com. Sirsy: 9 p.m., Free. Lagniappe, 3425 NE Second Ave., Miami, 305- 576-0108, lagniappehouse.com. FRIDAY, MARCH 1 Bob Dylan: 8 p.m., $59.50-$704.50. Broward Center for the Per- forming Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale, 954-462-0222, browardcenter.org. Bodeler: With Octa Digio, Nataler, and others., 10 p.m., Free-$24.25. Mode, 2 S. Miami Ave., Miami, mode.miami. Carl Craig: 10 p.m., $15. Jolene Sound Room, 200 E. Flagler St., Miami, jolenesoundroom.com. Celtic Woman: 7:30 p.m., $50-$145. The Parker, 707 NE Eighth St., Fort Lauderdale, 954-761-5374, parkerplayhouse.com. Darell: 10 p.m., $30. Daer Nightclub & Dayclub, 1 Seminole Way, Hollywood, 954-779-4750, hardrocknightlife.com. Eagles: 7:30 p.m., $206-$756. Hard Rock Live, 1 Seminole Way, Hollywood, 954-797-5531, myhrl.com. Fish Narc: With Horse Head and Zubin., 8 p.m., $25-$28. Gramps, 176 NW 24th St., Miami, 855-732-8992, gramps.com. Héctor Oaks and Adeil: With Haumea., 11 p.m., $21-$27. The Ground Miami, 34 NE 11th St., Miami, 305-375-0001, thegroundmiami.com. Historias de un Flamenco: With Antonio Rey and Irene “La Chiqui” Lozano., 7:30 p.m., $55. Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, 305-949-6722, arshtcenter.org. Joshwa: 10 p.m., $18.52. Green Room, 835 NE Third Ave., Fort Lauderdale, 954-257-0026, greenroomftl.com. Los Mirlos: 8 p.m., Free-$40. ZeyZey, 353 NE 61st St., Miami, zeyzeymiami.com. Marie Vaunt: 10 p.m., Free-$21.48. Kemistry, 307 SW Second St., Fort Lauderdale, kemistrynightclub.com. Motown Meets the Sounds of the Sixties: 7:30 p.m., $46.73-$56.07. Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center, 3100 Ray Ferrero Jr. Blvd., Davie, 954-462-0222, miniacipac.com. Music On: With Marco Carola, Franky Rizardo, East End Dubs, and Ms. Mada., 11 p.m., $21-$50. Club Space, 34 NE 11th St., Miami, 786-616-6742, clubspace.com. Nu Zau and KY William: With Danyelino., 11 p.m., $16-$21. Floyd Miami, 34 NE 11th St., Miami, 786-618-9447, floydmiami.com. Peekaboo: With Lyny., 9 p.m., $35-$75. Mad Live, 55 NE 24th St., Miami, 786-843-7021, madclubwynwood.com/mad-live. RBX: 10 p.m., $18.19-$24.25. Domicile, 6391 NW Second Ave., Miami, instagram.com/domicile.miami. Regal: With Boston 168, Selective Response, and Allan Gallego., 10 p.m., $20-$35. Salamander, 702 NW Fifth Ave., Miami. Sammy Rae & the Friends: 8 p.m., $36.05. Miami Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305-672-5202, miamibeach- bandshell.com. Sean Doron: With Surreal Flight., 10 p.m., $30.31-$36.37. Do Not Sit on the Furniture, 423 16th St., Miami Beach, 510-550-5067, donotsitonthefurniture.com. Soulja Boy: 11 p.m., $50. LIV, 4441 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305- 674-4680, livnightclub.com. Swae Lee: 8 p.m., $50-$75. E11even Miami, 29 NE 11th St., Miami, 305-829-2911, 11miami.com. TMD and Calvacca: 10 p.m. The Anderson, 709 NE 79th St., Miami, 786-401-6330, theandersonmiami.com. SATURDAY, MARCH 2 Amtrac: With Mary Jane and Nikita Green., 11 p.m., $16-$21. Floyd Miami, 34 NE 11th St., Miami, 786-618-9447, floydmiami.com. Bob Dylan: 8 p.m., $59.50-$704.50. Broward Center for the Per- forming Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale, 954-462-0222, browardcenter.org. | CONCERTS & CLUBS | ▼ Music Club and concert listings are free and rotate in print. Find more at miaminewtimes.com/music and browardpalmbeach.com/music. To list your act, email
[email protected].
