Olivia Rodrigo officially releases politically-charged new song ‘Serena Joy’ on streaming

Olivia Rodrigo has officially released her politically-charged new song ‘Serena Joy’ on streaming platforms – listen below.

The song was first made available on a limited run of just 500 CDs, all sold exclusively at Analog Record Shop in Tustin, California on Friday (August 21), a store just miles from Rodrigo’s upcoming Daisy Chain Fields festival. All 500 copies sold out that day.

Now, Rodrigo has confirmed that the song has been added to major streaming platforms, writing on Instagram earlier today (August 24): “Surprise!!! Serena Joy out on streaming platforms now. A portion of all net proceeds go to Daisy Chain Fields Fund. I love this song so much!!!!”

The track takes its name from Serena Joy Waterford, a central character in Margaret Atwood’s 1985 dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale. Serena helps establish the patriarchal and authoritarian regime of Gilead, only to find herself stripped of rights and freedoms by the system she promoted.

The song also takes on cruel, oppressive systems and the people who benefit from them, with Rodrigo singing: “Come a little bit closer, sing along, sing along / What they tell you to do / Comin’ around the corner / If they do it to them, they’ll do it to you“.

Check it out here:

Rodrigo recorded the song during the sessions for her third album ‘You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love’, which was released in June, but it did not make the final record’s tracklist.

NME gave the new album a four-and-a-half-star review, writing: “More than any other Rodrigo album, you feel emotionally spent by the end of ‘You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love’, but in the best way possible. This must be the most fully realised journey Rodrigo’s taken us on – an impressive feat, considering how quickly she had to rewrite songs here in light of her break-up.”

“Here is a major popstar who is not afraid to get weirder and more wonderful, to give even more of themselves over in their art. ‘You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love’ is undeniable evidence of Rodrigo’s growth: as a songwriter, composer, and as a human being.”

Daisy Chain Fields will feature performances from Chappell Roan, Doechii, Mitski, Bikini Kill, Garbage, The Breeders, KATSEYE, Santigold and more, and Rodrigo will close the event with a set featuring special guests.

The schedule contains no overlapping performances, and proceeds will support organisations advocating for women and girls.

Rodrigo will also begin her ‘Unraveled’ world tour in North America next month, before arriving in the UK and Europe in 2027. Ticketmaster recently cancelled tickets acquired by suspected touts for the shows, making them available to fans again at face value.