Olivia Rodrigo Officially Releases New Song “serena joy” on Streaming

On Friday, 500 fortunate Olivia Rodrigo devotees were granted the opportunity to listen to the pop sensation's latest track, "Serena Joy," at Analog Music Shop in Tustin, California. This exclusive event marked the release of the song as a limited-edition CD single. For those who couldn't be present, the song is now available for streaming.

The title of "Serena Joy" is derived from a character in The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel depicting a future United States with restricted women's reproductive rights under a religious extremist regime. The character Serena Joy (played by Yvonne Strahovski in the Hulu adaptation) is the wife of a high-ranking commander in the totalitarian patriarchy of Gilead.

As the story unfolds, she grapples with a moral crisis and ultimately assists June in eliminating the leadership of Gilead. Rodrigo sings in the opening lines of "Serena Joy," "Yeah it's all for the cause, for the good of us all," "and if you close your eyes, then it can't be your fault." While the song's bass line, reminiscent of Peter Hook, remains a consistent element throughout her new album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, the theme evolves from a concentrated examination of a relationship to broader issues concerning societal ignorance and complicity.

The release of "Serena Joy" on streaming platforms occurs a week prior to the inaugural edition of Rodrigo's Daisy Chain Fields festival, with the proceeds benefiting organizations such as Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights. Scheduled for August 29, the Irvine event features a lineup consisting of Bikini Kill, Stevie Nicks, Chappell Roan, Santigold, and more.

Following the festival, Rodrigo will embark on the Unraveled Tour later this year, performing her narrative of romantic devotion leading to devastation across the globe, accompanied by openers Grace Ives, Wolf Alice, Devon Again, the Last Dinner Party, and Die Spitz.