| “ | I had this single picked out in September [2020] … so it sort of took the pressure off for me of following up “drivers license” since we planned this so far in advance. But it’s definitely not like “drivers license” at all, which I’m really happy about. I didn’t want to pigeonhole myself into this category of “sad ballad girl” thing. It’s definitely a little different, and sort of weird. I really hope that people like it, and even if they don’t, that’s cool too though, because I loved making it. | ” |
– Rodrigo on Deja Vu | ||
"Deja Vu" (stylized in all lowercase) is the second single and fifth track from Olivia Rodrigo's debut studio album, SOUR. It was released on April 1, 2021 through Geffen Records.
Audio[]
Background[]
On March 26, Olivia deleted all posts on her Instagram but left a video with no audio or caption. The teaser consisted of a vintage television with the screen playing a time-lapse video of ice cream melting in its cone.[1]
On March 27, Olivia left another video with neither audio nor caption. This teaser had the same vintage tv as the previous video but the screen now played a video which showed a car's rear-view mirror that had Olivia blinking in and out of view. The next scene consisted of a car's front view where it was driving down a road and then waves crashing into rocks.[2]
On March 28, came another soundless video, with the vintage TV format this time showing Olivia walking in an empty swimming pool with cloud prints, holding an ice cream.[3]
On March 29, Olivia finally officially announced on her website and across all her social media that her new single would be released on April 1st: "[...] I promise it's not an April Fool's joke though. I wrote this song with my friend Dan Nigro last fall and I'm so stoked to finally share it with you all. It's a lot different than Drivers License lyrically, musically and melodically which is super exciting to me."[4]
On March 31, Olivia uploaded a snippet of "deja vu" on TikTok as well as an official final teaser for the music video on her Instagram.
On the live premiere of the music video for "deja vu", Olivia revealed that the song is the second single for her debut studio album.
4 demos have been confirmed with snippets being leaked.
Track listing[]
Streaming[]
- Deja Vu
Theme[]
In an interview for American Songwriter, Olivia described her songwriting process for the track:
"I get deja vu all the time[...] I thought it’d be interesting to write a song, using deja vu, about how sometimes when somebody moves on in a relationship and they get with a new partner, you watch it and you’re like, ‘oh my gosh, that was all of the stuff that I did.’ I think that’s a really relatable, universal thing."[5]
Olivia also mentioned that the song wasn't written about any specific thing that she went though, and was a "completely made up" concept.
Critical Reception[]
Olivia's second single was met with much anticipation from fans, and received universally positive reviews from professional critics. Variety commented on the track's "fuzzy guitars and saturated drums breaks through following the pre-chorus, giving the song an alternative edge that sets it apart from the ballad-like nature of 'Drivers License'" and highlighted the "smooth production by Dan Nigro beg for the song to be listened to in the car with the windows rolled down, in true break-up anthem fashion."[6]
Los Angeles Times acclaimed the song, mentioning that Rodrigo knew exactly what worked on "Drivers Licence" and utilized that perfectly on the new track.[7] Pitchfork headlined their review saying that Olivia proved that she is not just a hit wonder, and said the song "nods towards Lorde’s offbeat melodrama and, eventually, Florence and the Machine’s grandiosity."[8] Stereogum said in their review the track was a great follow-up to her debut single, describing it as "a giddy, stomping pop banger with a euphoric-singalong chorus."[9]
Music Video[]
The video opens with Rodrigo driving on the coast of Malibu, California until she arrives at a breath-taking locale where she spots the new girl — played by actress Talia Ryder — trying on a green gown, and looking happy as can be. That's when Rodrigo drives off to her own home where she tries on the same green dress and looks in the mirror, highlighting the similarities between the two girls.
As the video progresses, Rodrigo begins to realize how shockingly similar the new relationship is to hers (through vintage television sets which mirror Rodrigo's memories as well as Talia's similarities to each memory), as the new girl mirrors her almost every move. Soon, the two women start interchanging places in each scene, with identical outfits, making the similarities brutally obvious. Towards the end of the video, Rodrigo, being sick of the comparison, breaks the television screens, a metaphorical way of moving on from the relationship. The video ends with Talia driving down Malibu, a scene that is almost identical to the video's opening scene.
Behind The Scenes[]
Offical Version[]
- Album version - 3:36
- Guitar based demo - Unknown
- Demo version 1 - Unknown
- Demo version 2 - Unknown
- Demo version 3 - Unknown
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
Car rides to Malibu
Strawberry ice cream, one spoon for two
And tradin' jackets
Laughin’ 'bout how small it looks on you
(Ha-ha-ha-ha, ha-ha-ha-ha-ha, ha-ha-ha-ha)
Watching reruns of Glee
Bein' annoying, singin’ in harmony
I bet she's braggin' to all her friends, sayin' you're so unique, hm
[Pre-Chorus]
So when you gonna tell her that we did that, too?
She thinks it's special, but it's all reused
That was our place, I found it first
I made the jokes you tell to her when she's with you
[Chorus]
Do you get déjà vu when she’s with you?
Do you get déjà vu (Ah), hmm
Do you get déjà vu? Huh
[Verse 2]
Do you call her, almost say my name?
’Cause let's be honest, we kinda do sound the same
Another actress
I hate to think that I was just your type
And I bet that she knows Billy Joel
’Cause you played her "Uptown Girl"
You're singin' it together
Now I bet you even tell her how you love her
In between the chorus and the verse (Ooh)
[Pre-Chorus]
So when you gonna tell her that we did that, too?
She thinks it's special, but it’s all reused
That was the show we talked about
Played you the songs she's singing now when she's with you
[Chorus]
Do you get déjà vu when she's with you?
Do you get déjà vu? (Oh-oh)
Do you get déjà vu?
[Bridge]
Strawberry ice cream in Malibu
Don't act like we didn't do that shit, too
You're tradin' jackets like we used to do
(Yeah, everything is all reused)
Play her piano, but she doesn't know (Oh, oh)
That I was the one who taught you Billy Joel (Oh)
A different girl now, but there's nothing new
[Outro]
I know you get déjà vu
I know you get déjà vu
I know you get déjà vu
Promotion[]
Aside from the social media teasers between March 26th and 31st, Olivia teamed up with Spotify to tease snippets of the lyrics to the song all over their social media and also on billboards in real life, and also surprise fans using the hashtag #SpotifyXOlivia.[10][11] As part of this partnership Olivia did a contest with for fans and sent exclusive lyrics, necklesses and a handwritten letter to her 10 top listeners on Spotify.[12]
On Mexico, Universal Music distributed free ice cream and hand sanitizer on the streets to promote the song on April 13th. The bottles came with a QR code that redirects to Olivia's Spotify profile page.[13]
Charts[]
"Deja Vu" debuted at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the chart week of April 17, 2021. It also peaked at #3 and Rodrigo became the first artist in history to have their first two singles debut in the top ten.
| Chart (2021) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 13 |
| Belgium (Ultratip Flanders) | 18 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100) | 9 |
| Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100) | 58 |
| Germany (Official German Charts) | 73 |
| Global 200 (Billboard) | 8 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 9 |
| Lithuania (AGATA) | 24 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 43 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 10 |
| Norway (VG-lista) | 34 |
| Singapore (RIAS) | 9 |
| Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100) | 27 |
| Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan) | 2 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 47 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 27 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 8 |
| US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard) | 25 |
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- In an interview, Olivia said that the verse "Watching re-runs of Glee" was thought of when she and her producer Dan Nigro were watching the show.[14]
- In the song’s clean version, “Don’t act like we didn’t do that shit too” is changed to “Don’t act like we didn’t do all that too”.
Chords[]
References[]
- ↑ https://mobile.twitter.com/DailyRodrigo/status/1375531696234360832
- ↑ https://mobile.twitter.com/oliviarodnation/status/1375909643290050570
- ↑ https://mobile.twitter.com/oliviarodnation/status/1376250745373274112
- ↑ https://mobile.twitter.com/DailyRodrigo/status/1376621892874997761
- ↑ Every Detail Counts in Olivia Rodrigo’s “Deja Vu”
- ↑ Olivia Rodrigo Drops Reflective New Single ‘Deja Vu’ and Reveals Debut Album Release Date
- ↑ Olivia Rodrigo knows exactly what works in her new single, ‘Deja Vu’
- ↑ Olivia Rodrigo - “deja vu”
- ↑ Olivia Rodrigo – “deja vu”
- ↑ https://mobile.twitter.com/DailyRodrigo/status/1376700476134191104
- ↑ https://mobile.twitter.com/DailyRodrigo/status/1376689824971767809
- ↑ https://mobile.twitter.com/DailyRodrigo/status/1377008109198184456/photo/1
- ↑ https://twitter.com/UMusicMexico/status/1382068695179128836
- ↑ https://mobile.twitter.com/oliviarodnation/status/1377704792487776265
v • e  | |
|---|---|
| Featured Tracks | brutal • traitor • drivers license • 1 step forward, 3 steps back • deja vu • good 4 u • enough for you • happier • jealousy, jealousy • favorite crime • hope ur ok |
| Scrapped Tracks | 21st Century Girls • Apocalyptic Crush • Astronaut • Baby is You • Best Friend • Can't Move On • Crazy • Do Better • Differently • Fantasy • Favor • Forget Our Love • Freedom • Gross • Hate Me • I Can't Wait To Fall In Love Again • I Hate You, I Miss You • Miss You • Mom I Quit • Pay Grade • Prison For Life • Sober • Strange • Strangers Again • Teenage Dream • The Ones I Love • White Flowers • Wish You Cheated |
| Related tracks | Creature of Habit • Just Because • L-O-V-E • Miss This • Never Be Like Her • Teenage Drama Queen • Twilight Song • Victim |
| Producers | Olivia Rodrigo • Daniel Nigro • Alexander 23 • Jam City |
| Tour | Sour Tour |
| Extras | Merchandise • Driving Home 2 U |