We Can't Let People Treat Olivia Rodrigo The Same Way They Treated Taylor Swift

You've heard of singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, and by now you've probably heard of actress and singer-songwriter, Olivia Rodrigo. Both women are known for writing honest, confessional lyrics and being themselves, unashamedly.

Some people would know Olivia from starring as Nini Salazar-Roberts in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (a spin-off of the ultra-successful High School Musical trilogy). But most would know her because of her hit song "drivers license" which went viral on social media platform TikTok. It also managed to break a Spotify record twice – the most daily streams ever for a non-holiday song. The song served as the lead single for Rodrigo's debut album Sour, which is set to be released on May 21st. Two more singles have also been put out before the album's release – "deva ju" and "good 4 u." All three songs have met with mostly positive reviews, with people praising Olivia's versatility and songwriting skills. Each single sounds completely different from the last, proving that Olivia is a force to be reckoned with within the music industry! It's pretty safe to say that you'll be hearing the name Olivia Rodrigo a lot in the future.

For a long time Olivia has said that her biggest and main inspiration is none other than chart-topping, record-breaking superstar, Taylor Swift. She's been very open about her love and adoration for the singer, constantly posting herself singing along to Swift's songs. She's even posed in a homemade shirt that featured a picture of Taylor and Lorde – another one of Rodrigo's inspirations. The two songstresses – who recently met for the first time at the 2021 Brit Awards in London – have a bit in common, especially when it comes to the way they're often treated. Swift has experienced her fair share of unfair criticism and hate from the media as well as the general public – most of which stems from misogyny or sexism. Olivia has experiences sexism and misoygny too, though not quite to the extent Taylor has, which is why we can't let people treat Olivia the exact same way it has treated Taylor for years!

After Olivia's first single (drivers license) was released people were quick to say that she "only writes about boys and breakups." Which is an absolutely ridiculous take considering that 'drivers license' was her first official single that was not a part of a HSM: The Musical: The Series soundtrack. (Olivia's other two songs ("deva ju" and "good 4 u") also happen to be about a relationship, but lets remember that Olivia is 18, and when you're 18 relationships are a huge part of your life. So it makes total sense that she would be writing songs about relationships, love and breakups. But that's not a bad thing in any way, shape or form! Basically everyone can relate to songs about relationships – it is why most songs are about them! Every artist writes about love and relationships, though it seems to only be the women who get hated on for that. We need to let women write about their relationships without making some sexist comment about how they "only write about love," because lets be honest, it gets old and boring hearing that all the damn time!

Just like her idol Taylor, Olivia came onto the music scene as a teenager. Both women had their breakout singles skyrocket up the charts at around the same age. Swift's "Love Story" is often regarded as her breakout single and that was released when she was 19. Drivers License is Rodrigo's breakout single and she was 17 when it was released. Both ladies know what's like to be in the spotlight at a young age. Olivia has the perfect opportunity to have Taylor as some kind of mentor within the music industry. Now that the two have a sort of friendship, Olivia can receive support and advice from Taylor since she's been through what Olivia has. Swift has gone so far as to send a handwritten letter and give a gift to the younger singer. From what we know the letter talks about how Olivia should make her own luck and be good to people. Which honestly, is advice that I think all of us could do with hearing. Another thing that Olivia and Taylor have in common is how people love to dissect the lyrics of their songs to try to figure out who they're writing about – as if that even matters! (Hint: The subject of the song should not matter. Like, at all!) All throughout Taylor's career people have looked at the lyrics of her songs with a huge magnifying glass, looking for any possible clues that might hint towards who the song is about. People are doing that with Olivia's songs too and they often spend more time talking who the lyrics are referring to, rather than just enjoying the music. Hopefully one day we can simply just enjoy the songs that musicians put out, without feeling the need to try to figure out who the lyrics have been written about.