This sophomore single of Olivia Rodrigo is very much a sequel to driver’s license, the heartbreak anthem that shocked all the radios and malls last January (lol). The 18 year-old got her rising-role as the lead in Disney+’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Not that I have no life or anything, but I was digging through Twitter and apparently/allegedly/interestingly… driver’s license is about Rodrigo’s HSM co-star Joshua Bassett. He traded her in for another Disney star… but we won’t drop any names here, Sabri- just kidding, mates!
In comparison to driver’s license’s eager yearning, deja vu takes a turn to the anger stage of grief. It discusses the post-relationship blues of seeing your ‘once-was’ living your same relationship but with another person. Hence, “do you get déjà vu when she’s with you?”. The most striking thing about the song is how much Rodrigo’s logic and intent in her practice has evolved, considering it’s only the second song. Her writing style is inseparable from her production! It’s a disguised daydream; it starts off with a gentle piano looped in the background and Rodrigo’s clean voice at the center. As the heavy drops accompany a ringing electric guitar, the vivid bleakness grows apparent. There are several backing vocals that come from all directions. They blare and scream, and the sounds are linear to the pain that surrounds the words. There’s so much manipulation and madness in the poetry, and it just makes you go “damn who hurt her?” (she’s a pisces) but honestly, well fucking played, Olivia.
“10/10 go you Olivia! Leave that useless J*shua behind!”
