There are many similarities between Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo, but does she deserve to be dubbed the “Taylor Swift of Gen Z”?
The Olivia Rodrigo craze
In 2022, the Nashville Songwriters Awards presented the “Songwriter of the Decade” award to a woman for the first time. That honor belonged to Taylor Swift.
This is an extremely high standard for anyone, not just Olivia Rodrigo. The 2003-born singer had a different start compared to Taylor Swift, as she starred in a TV show before launching her own music career.
Olivia Rodrigo became a “Disney princess” of the new generation at 17. Many fans knew her through her romantic relationship with co-star Joshua Bassett, who is also the subject of Rodrigo’s hit song “Driver’s License.”
The song immediately gained immense popularity on TikTok. “Driver’s License” dominated the charts immediately after its release. Olivia Rodrigo then released one hit after another. Both “Deja Vu” and “Good 4 U” reached the Top 100 charts and went viral on social media platforms.
Rodrigo’s songwriting talent has been demonstrated through her songs. Honest lyrics have become an integral part of her music ever since. She doesn’t shy away from addressing past relationships, friendships, and the pressures of fame at such a young age, with thoughts that are remarkably mature for her age.
The story behind “Good 4 U” became a topic of discussion. The lyrics “You found a new girl, and it only took a couple weeks” were believed to be about her ex-boyfriend Joshua Bassett. Needless to say, fans sided with Olivia Rodrigo and launched an all-out attack on Joshua Bassett, without needing to know the full story.
Olivia reminds listeners of Taylor
Taylor Swift’s fans always look for hints hidden in her lyrics, so just a small clue is enough for them to go after any guy who has hurt Taylor before. When she re-released the album “Red (Taylor’s Version),” Jake Gyllenhaal received widespread criticism from the media for his emotionally manipulative behavior when the two were dating. Now, Olivia Rodrigo has successfully built a brand as the “sad and vulnerable girl” that was previously exclusive to Taylor.
However, Olivia’s songwriting skills have received mixed opinions. Music fans were surprised to see overly generous reviews of “SOUR” in The New York Times and Pitchfork. Many argue that Olivia doesn’t have the catchy and “timeless” songwriting prowess of Taylor. For a newcomer, the album’s quality gives a sense of rushing to meet the release date following the immense success of the previous three singles.
Olivia has previously shared that the artist who inspired her the most is Taylor Swift. It’s hard not to think of Taylor when immersed in the confessional nature of “SOUR”. Olivia is often referred to as the “Taylor Swift of Gen Z” or the “next Taylor Swift” by the media. But just because Olivia is influenced by Taylor doesn’t mean she will replace Taylor in the music scene. Both are unique and amazing artists in their own ways.
The Gen Z generation deserves a female songwriter who uplifts the voice of young people and empowers women without relying on sexual elements to build their reputation. Taylor Swift is a hero for many Millennials, and it is hoped that Olivia Rodrigo will be the same for the next generation.
Olivia Rodrigo recently released a new single, “Vampire,” on June 30th.
Source: K14
