David Byrne – “Drivers License” (Olivia Rodrigo Cover)

Five years ago today, Olivia Rodrigo got her "Drivers License" last week. That song became a #1 hit and made Rodrigo an instant star, so much so that she spent last festival season sharing stages with the likes of Weezer, Robert Smith, and David Byrne, covering those legends' respective hits. Now Byrne is returning the favor with a studio cover of "Drivers License."

I love David Byrne's music. I love Olivia Rodrigo's music. I, unfortunately, do not love this cover. Byrne can often pull off being a little bit corny, but "Drivers License" is not meant to be a corny song, and trying to put a new wave spin on it feels painfully forced. I do kind of like when the percussion picks up during the bridge, though. The best part of this cover, however, is the possibility that Byrne, a famed bike-as-transport advocate, actually did get just his driver's license last week.

According to a press release, Byrne's take on "Drivers License" is "just the first in a series of covers tied to the fifth anniversary of Sour," Rodrigo's debut album. (Talking Heads, incidentally, did a similar project back in 2024.) We don't know anything else about those covers just yet, but for now, you can peruse Rodrigo's new Sour-themed capsule merch collection, which includes a 7-inch of Byrne's "Drivers License" b/w a live version of Byrne and Rodrigo doing "Burning Down The House" together at Governors Ball last summer. I like that cover much better.