Olivia Rodrigo: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

The Tiny Desk is working from home for the foreseeable future. Introducing NPR Music's Tiny Desk (home) concerts, bringing you performances from across the country and the world. It's the same spirit — stripped-down sets, an intimate setting — just a different space.

Sofie Hernandez-Simeonidis | December 7, 2021
Stepping into a DMV when you're about to take your first driver's test, while nerve wracking, is something of a milestone. And Olivia Rodrigo has been hitting milestones with frequency this year: her first album SOUR debuted at the top of the charts in May after the success of three previously released singles, most notably the viral "drivers license" (hence the DMV locale and its "interesting vibes.") Her pop stardom may seem sudden, but Rodrigo has been entranced by music and songwriting for the majority of her 18 years, as if she's been observing the right moves from the backseat of the car until it was time for her to get behind the wheel.

Rodrigo and her band take on the Tiny Desk mentality as they experiment with arrangements throughout this performance, embracing new sounds for her songs. The set begins with an acoustic version of the pop-punk-ish single "good 4 u," and a similar setup continues with the addition of an echoey, electric guitar in "traitor." "drivers license" features only Rodrigo and her keyboard, a shift from the recorded version well-known for Dan Nigro's production and the ever-present beeping of a car door sensor. "deja vu" starts softly with just an acoustic guitar until the chorus ramps up to a full band after she exclaims, "Do you get deja vu, huh?"

SOUR tells the story of a first heartbreak, one that inspires an intense anguish most accessible when you're a teenager. That open wound, empty-chest feeling of a breakup, especially when you're as young as Rodrigo, is difficult to shake. The album allowed listeners to bask in Rodrigo's heartache as if it were their own, but as she dances around an empty DMV and laughs along to a song about betrayal, she proves that time heals all wounds.

SET LIST
"good 4 u"
"traitor"
"drivers license"
"deja vu"

MUSICIANS
Olivia Rodrigo – vocals, guitar, keys
Heather Baker - guitars
Hayley Brownell - drums, guitars
Arianna Powell - guitars
Moa Munoz - bass, guitar

CREDITS
Video: David Clair, Joe McGarry
Audio: Paul Hager
AP: Derek Griesbach
Director of Photography: Matthias Schubert
Camera Operator: Stephen St. Peter
Gaffer: Joe Escandell
Color: Henry Santos

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Bob Boilen
Video Producer: Maia Stern
Audio Mastering: Josh Rogosin
Tiny Production Team: Bobby Carter, Kara Frame, Sofie Hernandez-Simeonidis
Executive Producer: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

#nprmusic #tinydesk #oliviarodrigo

[nprmusic]

WIN A TRIP TO SEE A TINY DESK CONCERT!
(enter before 3/28/24 at 11:59pm PT!)

Now the fun fine print stuff...
No purchase or donation required for entry. Void where otherwise restricted or prohibited by law. Must be 18 years or older and a resident of the 50 us states, D.C. or Canada (excluding Quebec)) to enter. Entry deadline is March 28, 2024 at 11:59:59pm pt. Odds depend on the number of entries received. ARV of total prize: $2, 300. Max. 10, 000 entries per person. Official rules, including an alternative free method of entry, can be found at

[iamryanharris]

The audio engineering crew killed it. This is really well recorded. The sound is gorgeous.
The best a DMV has ever sounded.

[MundaneBacklot]

Bro I'm a 31 year old man and this album makes me feel like a heartbroken 17 year old girl. Like a nostalgic catharsis of a time I never actually experienced. 10/10 would Sour again.

[OliviaRicardo]

I am not Olivia Rodrigo's target demographic but TALENT is talent, and this young lady is as talented as they come. I hope she has a long and prolific career!

[sixty-nine]

I'm a 17 year old heartbroken girl and this song makes me feel like 34 year old man having a nostalgic trip in his past

[LLusion]

she couldn’t have done this at a more perfect time. ending the year performing all of these insane hits that all happened in just ONE YEAR!

[aryabanerjee]

EVERY SINGLE LIVE PERFORMANCE JUST GETS BETTER AND BETTER OMG

[charlottepegrum]

She is just unbelievably talented. The control she has of her voice is incredible.

[SydBodeker]

I'm a 137 year old man and honestly I really like this. Music isn't what it used to be in the 1800's when I was young but there's still a lot of talent out there and this video proves that

[markedrome]

This Drivers License version is so stripped down and raw that makes the song even more painful, honest and pure

[comicgeniousfan]

Can we just appreciate and talk about how they had 5 guitars playing all at once and they were so friggin harmonious together?!?? Ive never seen that before

[marvelntuk]

officially jealous of those going to the tour 😭

[alfredade]

I think the fact that she’s performing at a DMV is a nice touch

[gracie.merc.]

i forget that she’s an actress, and can easily play any emotion she’d like for every song she performs.

[solarsatori]

The grl pwr. The sweaters. The 90's influence. She's got an amazing voice and an adorable demeanor that is relatable and nostalgic. I just can't get enough of this album.

[adamkail]

This girl is ridiculously talented - lyrics, songs, voice, poise. Very rare at this age. Not cheesy. Dead. On. Point. Relatable to many of us.

[craigharkins]

as a 1000 year old elf. This music made me feel like a young 67 year old again. Ah good old times

[dimitrisk]

Honestly, this is actually A LOT better than the studio version. She puts so much more emotion in it and the vocals have become a lot more complex without being overwhelming or showoff-y. Plus the sound quality is too notch.

[hundertwasserhaus]

this is actually the best performance of her i’ve seen. she seems to enjoy how everything sounds, her outfit is very very sweet, she just feels the vibe and the background girls are so talented. her voice sounds so good and warm

[michaeldillman]

She's seriously the best. I'm hoping an acoustic version of Sour will be available at some point