Grammy winning pop-rock star Olivia Rodrigo sat down for a conversation for Interview magazine, and subtly appeared to squash rumors of a feud with fellow acclaimed songstress Taylor Swift.
Rumors of a feud between the two powerful musicians first materialized when fans of the singers suspected Rodrigo’s single “vampire” was about Swift. The pair of singer-songwriters appeared to forge a friendship in 2021 upon the release of Rodrigo’s debut single, and even met up at the 2021 BRIT Awards. Shortly following a number of sweet social media interactions, the pair abruptly stopped mentioning one another amid an alleged writing credits dispute.
Interview connects musicians, actors, and other entertainers with their peers for Q & A conversations, often revolving around artists that appeal to similar demographics. Rodrigo was paired with alt rock star Phoebe Bridgers, who has made a name for herself as a solo artist and as one third of indie supergroup boygenius. Bridgers metaphorical lyricism layered with emotions ranging from melancholia to rage have rapidly cemented her as a mainstay in the music world, and a beacon of understanding for young women.
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Rodrigo, who began her career as an actress on Disney Channel’s “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” and “Bizaardvark” broke the mainstream with her angsty heartbreak ballad “drivers license” in 2021. The singer’s combined pop and 90s grunge influences layered over her biting lyrics about girlhood made Rodrigo and Bridgers an intriguing pair to converse for the popular magazine.
Bridgers spoke to Rodrigo about the release of her single “vampire”, their favorite “Twilight” films, and her feelings surrounding the release of her upcoming sophomore album, “GUTS.” In Los Angeles, Bridgers relented that she was attempting to figure out how to structure her days after returning home from two back to back tours. When referencing Swift’s “The Eras Tour,” on which Bridgers played as an opener for several dates across the U.S., Rodrigo called it “the tour of all tours.”
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“The Eras Tour” encompasses material from all 10 of Swift’s studio albums, complete with costume changes and intricate set designs to match each.
Vampiregate
Rodrigo’s debut album, “SOUR”, sparked a discussion on the difference between interpolations and samples in music. Samples require the original artist’s consent for use, and royalties are owed to the original artist as well. However, interpolations are fresh instrumental recordings of similar chord progressions, and do not require permission. Nonetheless, Rodrigo gave writing credits to Paramore and Swift after listeners found sonic similarities between two of their songs with Rodrigo’s.
While neither of the credits went to court, some fans of Rodrigo and Swift suspect that the situation resulted in a feud between them. Swift notably invites young women artists to collaborate with her on music and open for her live tours, and Rodrigo has not been present for these opportunities. The singer previously covered Swift’s track “Cruel Summer” on an Instagram live.
Additionally, at the inception of the singer’s music career, rumors alleged a feud between herself and Sabrina Carpenter. “drivers license” famously is suspected to reference actor and musician Joshua Bassett pursuing Carpenter romantically shortly after allegedly ending things with Rodrigo.
Carpenter was asked to open for “The Eras Tour” in Mexico and Latin America. Some suspect that Rodrigo could have felt betrayed with this decision, though both Rodrigo and Carpenter have vaguely spoken out on their desire to move on from the situation and appeared to clarify in song that they each held no ill will towards one another.
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At the last season premiere of Disney+’s “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series”, in which Rodrigo starred alongside Bassett, the pair even posed for photos on the carpet together.
Fan Reactions
Fans of Swift, Rodrigo, and Bridgers celebrate the possibility that the feud never even happened. Many fans of all three artists assert that the industry and fans need to stop pitting powerful women against one another, and that “vampire” references an opportunistic ex boyfriend instead of Swift.
Queen embracing another queen!! We love you Taylor and Olivia!!
— Anne ???????? (@AnneLuvTheReUp) September 5, 2023
Hope now yall will calm down and leave my big and lil sister alone.
— Mona (@RealMona_) September 5, 2023
Neither Rodrigo nor Swift have commented further on the situation at this time. Rodrigo’s “GUTS” hits streaming on September 8.
