Olivia Rodrigo performs ‘Sour’ hits at NPR’s ‘Tiny Desk Concert’
Her performance location? The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), where she got her driver’s license.
It has been an eventful year for Fil-Am pop star Olivia Rodrigo, from smashing streaming charts with her hit heartbreak anthem Drivers License in January, speaking at the White House to encourage the youth to get vaccinated, to receiving countless nods and winning music awards for her debut album “Sour.”
And now, Rodrigo is ending the year with a bang with the announcement of her 40-city North America and Europe tour in 2022.
But before the 18-year-old singer-actress gets ready to embark on her much-awaited tour, she first treated fans to a stripped-down performance of her hits at NPR’s “Tiny Desk (Home) Concert.”
Pre-pandemic, Tiny Desk Concert hosted live mini-concerts at NPR’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., in the literal desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Bollen. As the pandemic raged on, performances continued albeit remotely.
So for Rodrigo’s performance, it was aptly held at an office of the DMV (think Philippines’ Land Transportation Office), where people have their vehicles registered and get their driver’s license—a reference to the singer’s breakout hit.
“Welcome to my NPR Tiny Desk. I’m so honored to be here. I watch these all the time, they’re so cool and right now, we are at a real life DMV, which definitely has some interesting vibes to it. Gonna sing a few songs for you guys here, so thanks for coming,” she said.
In a fuzzy purple sweater and black-and-white printed skirt, Rodrigo performed a four-song set list, which started with Good 4 U where she played the guitar together with an all-female band.
The 17-minute performance also featured songs like Traitor and Drivers License, which Rodrigo played in the piano.
She ended the set with her second single, Déjà vu, a song that addresses an ex who’s moved on with someone new, which many believed to be for Rodrigo’s rumored ex, Joshua Bassett, her co-star in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.
Throughout 2021, Rodrigo has performed in major awards shows, including the BRIT Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, and recently at the American Music Awards.
She is currently nominated for a whopping seven Grammy Awards for its 2022 edition, including for Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best New Artist.
Watch Olivia Rodrigo’s “Tiny Desk (Home) Concert” below: