Who released the album SOUR in 2021?
Quick answer
SOUR is the debut album by American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo, released on May 21, 2021. It followed her breakout single “drivers license” and also included “deja vu” and “good 4 u”. SOUR debuted at No. 1 in the US and won the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album, while Rodrigo won Best New Artist.
Key facts
- Artist
- Olivia Rodrigo
- Released
- May 21, 2021
- Label
- Geffen Records
- Grammys (2022)
- Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Pop Solo Performance
“drivers license”
Rodrigo released “drivers license” in January 2021, when she was 17. The heartbreak ballad debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for eight weeks. It broke Spotify’s record at the time for the most streams in a single day for a non-holiday song.
Hit singles from SOUR
| Single | Style |
|---|---|
| “drivers license” | Piano ballad |
| “deja vu” | Dreamy pop |
| “good 4 u” | Pop-punk; another US No. 1 |
| “traitor” | Acoustic ballad |
| “brutal” | Rock opener |
All the song titles are written in lowercase, a signature style.
Who is Olivia Rodrigo?
Born in 2003 in California, Rodrigo started as a Disney Channel actress in Bizaardvark and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, where she wrote some of her own songs. She has cited Taylor Swift as a major influence; see who released the album 1989.
After SOUR
| Year | Release |
|---|---|
| 2021 | SOUR |
| 2023 | GUTS, with “vampire” and “bad idea right?” |
| 2024–2025 | GUTS World Tour |
She also released a concert film, OLIVIA RODRIGO: driving home 2 u, in 2022, retracing the Utah road trip where she wrote much of the album.
Why it connected
SOUR captured teenage heartbreak, jealousy and insecurity in a blunt, diary-like style. Critics compared her songwriting to artists from Alanis Morissette to Paramore, and the album helped revive pop-punk for a new generation.
For an earlier breakup album that dominated charts, see who released the album 21.
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