All the Joshua Basset References Fans Think Are in Olivia Rodrigo’s Album “Sour

Carolyn Twersky
·6 min read
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In less than six months, Olivia Rodrigo's career has skyrocketed and it's easy to forget that it all started from a song released in January about Olivia getting her drivers license. While she has proven she is more than the love triangle that reportedly influenced her first single, fans are still convinced that her breakup with Joshua Bassett provided major inspiration throughout her debut album and looking through the lyrics of the 12 tracks, they may have a point. So, let's pull out every line fans think is about Joshua and try to find out if their assumptions are true.

Traitor

"Traitor" starts right away with lyrics that fans think reference Olivia's breakup with Joshua and his quick rebound with singer Sabrina Carpenter.

And ain't it funny how you ran to her
The second that we called it quits?
And ain't it funny how you said you were friends?
Now it sure as hell don't look like it

Drivers License

Does it even have to be said that fans are convinced this entire song is about Joshua? Still, let's dive in because it has been awhile.

I got my driver's license last week
Just like we always talked about
'Cause you were so excited for me
To finally drive up to your house
But today I drove through the suburbs
Crying 'cause you weren't around

According to People, Olivia said she practiced driving for the first time with Joshua. "We went to In-N-Out, and I couldn't drive actually. I was 16, but I didn't have my permit," Olivia said. "And so, he took me in his car, and we drove around the In-N-Out parking lot, and that was my first time driving."

And you're probably with that blonde girl
Who always made me doubt
She's so much older than me
She's everything I'm insecure about

It is believed that Olivia and Joshua dated in 2019 while filming High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, but they eventually broke up in early 2020. Then, in June 2020, Joshua and Sabrina Carpenter were spotted out together for the first time. Because of that, most fans assume "that blonde girl" is Sabrina. In the original version of the song, the lyric was reportedly, "that brunette girl," so fans think the change is significant.

Guess you didn't mean what you wrote in that song about me
'Cause you said forever, now I drive alone past your street

Fans believe this is referencing Joshua's song, "Anyone Else," which is assumed to be about Olivia. Joshua wrote the song while filming season one of HSM:TM:TS. "'Anyone Else' came about after the sudden realization that I was hopelessly falling in love with a close friend...who was in a relationship with someone else," he said, according to Broadway World. When the series first began production in June 2019, Olivia was dating her former Bizaardvark co-star, Ethan Wacker.

I still see your face in the white cars, front yards

Yup, Joshua drives a white Honda.

Deja Vu

Following the release of Olivia's second single, she told American Songwriter that the story behind the lyrics is "completely made up."

"I get deja vu all the time," she said. "I thought it’d be interesting to write a song, using deja vu, about how sometimes when somebody moves on in a relationship and they get with a new partner, you watch it and you’re like, 'oh my gosh, that was all of the stuff that I did.' I think that’s a really relatable, universal thing."

Despite that, fans were still convinced this one was chockfull of Joshua references as well.

Car rides to Malibu

After "Drivers License" fans think every reference to driving is about Joshua.

Do you call her, almost say my name?
’Cause let's be honest, we kinda do sound the same
Another actress
I hate to think that I was just your type

Sabrina, the girl Joshua was rumored to have dated after Olivia, is also an actress and singer. She is most known for her role Girl Meets World.

And I bet that she knows Billy Joel
’Cause you played her "Uptown Girl"

Joshua told MTV earlier this year that Billy Joel is one of his biggest musical inspirations. He also covered Billy Joel's song, "Vienna," back in 2019.

Good 4 U

It didn't take long for "Good 4 U" to become the breakup anthem of 2021 and because of that, many assume Olivia's split with Joshua heavily inspired the track.

Well, good for you, I guess you moved on really easily
You found a new girl and it only took a couple weeks

Fans believe that Olivia was upset with Joshua after he seemingly moved on with Sabrina very quickly, possibly only in a matter of weeks.

You bought a new car and your career's really takin' off (Ah)

Again, car/driving references always seem like a reference to Joshua. Plus, in the past year, Joshua has been putting out new music, including his first EP.

Happier

We broke up a month ago
Your friends are mine, you know, I know
You've moved on, found someone new
One more girl who brings out the better in you
And I thought my heart was detached
From all the sunlight of our past
But she's so sweet, she's so pretty
Does she mean you forgot about me?

The opening to "Happier" plays off a lot of the same themes from other songs on Sour. Fans believe this is once again about Joshua, their breakup, and his subsequent relationship with Sabrina.

And do you tell her she's the most beautiful girl you've ever seen?
An eternal love bullshit you know you'll never mean
Remember when I believed
You meant it when you said it first to me?

This verse is reminiscent of some lines in both "Deja Vu" and "Drivers License." Again, Olivia is saying that her ex (assumed to be Joshua) is saying and doing the same things with his new girlfriend that he previously did with her.

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