By Gaby Maldonado
On May 21, 19-year-old singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo celebrated the one-year anniversary of her iconic debut album, SOUR, via Instagram. She writes, “My first album SOUR came out a year ago today. It is impossible for me to sum up in words how much this album means to me and how grateful I am to have gotten the privilege to make it and watch it exist in the world.” She also included a series of clips and pictures that were taken throughout the album's creation and all the success that came after. From having two No.1 songs on the Hot 100: “Driver's License” and “Good 4 U," to winning three awards at the 2022 Grammy Awards and releasing a film on Disney +, Olivia Rodrigo's rise to stardom has been astonishing.
Rodrigo posted an Instagram Reel of videos from her Sour Tour concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York City and reflected on the year that's passed since the album's release. I had the honor of attending her first night at Radio City and the show was spectacular.
The talented British singer-songwriter, Holly Humberstone, opened the night with a guitar, a keyboard, and her captivating vocals. She performed emotionally beautiful songs like "The Walls Are Way Too Thin” and “Scarlett” and left the entire venue in awe. She even performed a song that she had not yet released titled “Sleep Tight.” Her honest acoustic tone left me adding many of her songs to my playlist.
Rodrigo’s set opened with One Direction’s “Olivia," to which the audience sang along, anticipating Rodrigo’s arrival. Most people who attended followed the prom theme and wore fun and extravagant dresses. When Rodrigo came out, she wore a green-and-blue plaid outfit with black fishnet stockings and sleeves, and tall black boots. She then started the show by performing “Brutal.”
Rodrigo performed all the songs on her album, including the song she wrote for the series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series titled “All I Want” and Avril Lavigne’s 2003 hit “Complicated.” The audience sang and danced all night and even yelled out “I love you” when Rodrigo performed her hit single “Deja Vu” and sang, “Now I bet you even tell her how you love her in between the chorus and the verse.” She finished the night with her iconic song “Good 4 U” and confetti spread around the entire venue.
This concert was one of my favorites that I've ever been to, and my voice was gone by the end of the night. Rodrigo delivered an incredible show, and I can't wait to see what she does next!