LIVE REVIEW: OLIVIA RODRIGO AT I-DAYS FESTIVAL, MILAN 15/07/25
Copyright: Nick Walker (Photo)
Olivia Rodrigo is a rockstar.
At only 22 years old, Rodrigo is one of the major selling artists of our generation, having gained stardom whilst she was still in high school with her debut single and massive worldwide hit ‘Drivers License’. But she dominates the stage, casually belting and jumping around and switching from pop rock anthems to emotional ballads as if she were born for this - which, in fairness, she probably was.
And she is, indeed, a rockstar. Having gotten her start as a Disney kid, first on Bizaardvark and then on the High School Musical spin-off High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, it might seem easier to relegate her to another genre, or a simple stereotype. But she made sure to break the mold from the very start, when, after her first pop ballad, she chose the riskier, alt-indie tune of ‘Deja Vu’ for her second single, following it with what soon became her true pop-rock introduction, ‘Good 4 U’.
Her 90s-early 2000s influences are very clear, as is her desire to shine a light and pay tribute to women in music, especially in the more male dominated rock genre. Her pre-show playlist included songs by powerful female vocalists like No Doubt and The Ting Tings, she often covers and performs with famous female singers, and even the openers for this festival follow in this path.
Norwegian singer-songwriter girl in red brought her dream indie pop on the stage first, under a scorching mid-afternoon July sun, which did not stop her from giving a powerful performance to the loyal fans who came early to see her, granting them a request song and even crowd surfing before the end of her set.
She was followed by yet another female fronted artist, English alt rock band Wet Leg, who charmed the audience with their raw and alt-rock sound.
When Olivia Rodrigo finally came running on stage, the crowd erupted in cheers and screams that would last the duration of the show and almost overtake the - also all-female - band at times.
Her repertoire is an incredible mix of Avril Lavigne reminiscent pop-rock, piano ballads and some more indie-pop leaning tracks often played on acoustic guitar. She opened with three songs on the rockier side, with ‘Vampire’ truly lighting up the stage and audience before bringing them to their knees with ‘Drivers Licence’ right after. Miss Rodrigo had the fans sing part of the bridge and the last chorus with her with an excited smile on her face as their voices were almost deafening over her own.
As the show went on, it became more and more obvious how truly iconic most, if not all, of her songs are, not an easy feat, but especially impressive considering she only has two records out currently - although she has been hinting at a third one coming on her socials.
About half way through the concert, Rodrigo decided to surprise her fans with a song she rarely performs live: ‘All I Want’, not exactly her debut single, but the first song she released that she fully wrote herself as part of the HSMTMTS soundtrack, a throwback and a gift to the most loyal ones in the crowd. The song was received with loud enthusiasm, although after, the crowd did start to chant the name of another track, ‘Lacy’, which the singer seemed to have omitted in favour of this change. There was even a fan action where most of the audience held up signs that read “it’s like you’re made of angel dust”, a lyric from ‘Lacy’, as Rodrigo performed.
She appreciated the gesture and took the time to thank everyone, saying she took note of the song request, but the setlist seemed to proceed unchanged. The singer and band gave their absolute everything on every track, but most of all in the last leg with ‘Brutal’, ‘All American Bitch’, ‘Good 4 U’ and ‘Get Him Back!’ being the perfect outlet for their rockier side, and for the audience’s as well, particularly during ‘All American Bitch’ when Rodrigo asked everyone to think of someone or something that truly angers them and then scream their heart out - which they most definitely did.
Before she left the stage, during the last notes of her closing track, she cheekily warned the crowd to “not leave just yet”. The band left, the lights went off, but less than a couple minutes later, there they were again. Rodrigo happily performed ‘Lacy’, added at the last minute for the fans, who sang with her for the last song of the night, as the energetic, emotional, spectacularly fun show finally ended in a roar of cheers and applause.
Words by Bia Vismara.
Full setlist below:
obsessed
ballad of a homeschooled girl
vampire
drivers license
traitor
bad idea right?
love is embarrassing
pretty isn't pretty
happier
All I Want
enough for you
so american
jealousy, jealousy
favorite crime
deja vu
brutal
all-american bitch
good 4 u
get him back!
lacy