Ever since Olivia Rodrigo rose to fame, she has asserted herself as part of a long history of celebrity activism. Among her generation, she joins the likes of Billie Eilish and Rachel Zegler as part of an informal collective that uses their platform to speak out against issues such as the Trump Administration’s immigration policies, the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and the US-backed genocide in Palestine.
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Just yesterday, Rodrigo dropped “Serena Joy” on streaming platforms, after previously releasing the song days prior on an exclusive CD limited to only 500 copies. The “Driver’s License” singer deliberately released the song ahead of her all-women music festival “Daisy Chain Fields,” announcing via Instagram that a portion of all net proceeds goes to feminist charities.
“Serena Joy” is not her first overtly political project, as earlier this year, she released a music video for her cover of “The Book of Love,” filmed by children in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, and Yemen.
Who is “Serena Joy”?
Though Serena Joy isn’t mentioned in the lyrics of the song itself, the title is a nod to what the track is about. Fans of Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” will immediately pick up on the message, as Serena Joy is a central character in the novel and television adaptation.
Serena Joy Waterford is the wife of Commander Fred Waterford. As a cultural activist who promoted conservative values, she became the architect of her own oppression. Her narrative arc revolved around her trials with infertility as she desperately strived to uphold traditional gender roles.
Her severe and calculating personality also made her a compelling embodiment of internalized misogyny.
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In the song’s chorus, Rodrigo sings explicitly about people who support oppressive regimes, emphasizing how all citizens are implicated in the subjugation of particular classes or groups of people. “If they do it to them/Thеy’ll do it to you/If they do it to them/They’re gonna do it to you,” goes the chorus.
What is “Daisy Chain Fields”?
Olivia Rodrigo announced “Daisy Chain Fields” last June, a women-only music festival to take place on Aug. 29 in California. In an Instagram post, she shares that the festival was a longtime dream of hers. Even better? All proceeds from the festival will go to charities supporting women’s rights.
Included in the impressive lineup are musicians such as Chappell Roan, Doechii, Mitski, and Katseye, with even Stevie Nicks set to make an appearance as a special guest.
“The lineup is truly insane and full of my heroes and friends,” Rodrigo shares on Instagram. “I firmly believe that joy, community, and music can be the drivers of meaningful change and I’m hopeful this festival will be just that.”
