The song that had Californian fans clamouring to their local record store, Analog, for the chance of one of 500 CD copies is now out on streaming for all the world to hear. This track defines Olivia Rodrigo as not only one of the most accomplished pop stars of her generation, but one with grit and no fear in standing up for what she believes is right. ‘you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love’ was released a little over two months ago, on June 12th, and has had an indescribable impact on Rodrigo’s career, drawing in an even larger audience than before by creating a project driven by every emotion under the sun. Within the record, we are taken on a journey of dream-like love to deceitful heartbreak; it truly is her most honest work to date. Now, we get a taste of what’s still to come with the brand new single, ‘Serena Joy’.
A misogynistic criticism that is voiced time and time again about Rodrigo and female pop artists of similar fame is the narrative of only writing about men, love, and breakups, etc, but this track really cements this falsity as Rodrigo sings of oppressive systems and those who abuse them.
The title, ‘Serena Joy’, is named after a protagonist in The Handmaid’s Tale, a character created by Margaret Atwood to exemplify the hypocrisy of women who use their positions of power to oppress other women. Although she is not mentioned in the song, the lyrics criticise those who hold the same traditional values as her. Rodrigo writes in the chorus, “Sing along, Sing along / What they tell you to do”, accompanied by a deceitfully bubbly sound, as she frustratedly mocks individuals who aren’t willing to fight for change or acknowledge an issue. The lyric that hits the hardest, however, would be the final few, the repetition of “Everything is just fine”. This spiralling sense of sarcasm truly represents the neglectful attitude of the ignorant before everything comes crumbling down, much like the character of Serena Joy.
This track goes hand in hand with the themes of Rodrigo’s very own female-only festival, Daisy Chain Fields, on August 29th. In a statement by Rodrigo on the festival’s website, she writes: “Net proceeds from the festival are directed toward nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing and advocating for women and girls. Beyond its philanthropic impact”. This festival’s core purpose is to uplift female artists and to raise money for women who have been let down by the patriarchy and put in compromising positions.
This track is confrontational and shows a side to Rodrigo that truly defines how extraordinary she is as a woman in the spotlight.
Amy Porter
Image: ‘you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love’ Official Album Cover