"While the petty lyrics are aimed at a certain someone who calls Taylor "Boring Barbie," the song sounds directly from Olivia Rodrigo's guts. Wait, is that feud still a thing? Swift digs deeper on "Father Figure," a song that posthumously doles out writing credits to George Michael, propping herself up as inspiration and guidance to "a younger version of me." "I saw potential," she sings on the outro."
"When Olivia Rodrigo emerged from her Disney+ cocoon with "drivers license," her identity as a devout Swiftie was well documented. She caught the attention of Swift, they mutually posted loving photos together when they finally met at the BRIT Awards, and Rodrigo quickly became a meaningful part of the first "Taylor's Version" rollout. Rodrigo even intentionally interpolated the piano chords of "New Year's Day" on her Sour track "1 step forward, 2 steps back.""
Taylor Swift's new album contains a track perceived as a response and several songs that gesture toward interpersonal drama. One song credits George Michael posthumously and positions Swift as a mentor figure to a younger self. Olivia Rodrigo's rise included visible Swift fandom, public meetings, and deliberate musical interpolations of Swift's work. A retroactive songwriting credit on Rodrigo's hit cost her significant royalties. Fans have since connected lyrical breadcrumbs across both artists' catalogs, interpreting multiple lines and releases as indications of a strained relationship and competitive narrative between two diaristic pop songwriters.
Read at Vulture
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