Olivia Rodrigo's 'Driver's License' Is 2021's First Breakout Hit

by Starlene Portillo / Jan 13, 2021 03:51 AM EST

Seventeen-year-old Olivia Rodrigo's single "Driver's License" is already making waves as it debuted at Number 1 across several streaming platforms.

The singer released the hit song last January 8, and it has since gained traction on social media platforms such as Twitter and TikTok.

Furthermore, a day after its release, "Driver's License" has ascended to the top spot on the US iTunes sales charts. The emotionally-charged ballad has also hit Number 1 on Spotify's US Chart as well as both Apple Music and Amazon Music's Overall Top Songs Chart.

"Driver's License" is already being tipped off as an early contender for 2021's song of the year, in addition to a probable debut at Number 1 on the US Billboard Charts. As of this week (January 16), "Mood" by 24kGoldn featuring iann dior occupies the Hot 100 top spot.

Actress, singer, and songwriter Olivia Rodrigo is best known for her lead portrayal of Nini Salazar-Roberts on Disney+'s "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (HSMTMTS)."

Moreover, Rodrigo formerly made a short appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 after hitting Number 90 last January 2020 for the HSMTMTS song "All I Want," which the star both wrote and sang.

The track has also become a viral TikTok sound. Users worldwide were impressed, being previously unaware that the heartbreak song was part of a Disney production.

On the other hand, "Driver's License" has also reached fame on the international video-sharing site, as fans have speculated that the song is about Rodrigo's relationship with her ex-boyfriend and "HSMTMTS" co-star Joshua Bassett.

Bassett, who plays Rodrigo's love interest in the series, is now rumored to be in a relationship with former Disney star Sabrina Carpenter. Fans were quick to point out allusions and potential easter eggs that support this theory.

Other than these floating speculations, the bittersweet song's virality on Twitter also stems from comparison to the melodic works of New Zealand singer Lorde coupled with lyrics similar to that of Taylor Swift's. Consequently, Swift has expressed her support for Rodrigo and the breakout hit.