deja vu

SOUR (Olivia Rodrigo Album) | 2021

“deja vu” (stylized in all lowercase) is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo. It was released on April 1, 2021, through Geffen and Interscope Records, as the second single from Rodrigo’s debut studio album, SOUR (2021). The song uses an interpolation of “Cruel Summer” which Taylor, Jack Antonoff and St. Vincent co-wrote for Taylor’s seventh studio album, Lover (2019).
Table of Contents

Background

Olivia Rodrigo has been open about how much Taylor’s “Cruel Summer” influenced her hit single “deja vu.” In July 2021, she made the connection official by adding Taylor, Jack Antonoff, and St. Vincent as co-writers on the track. After releasing “deja vu” as the second single off her debut album, SOUR (2021), in April, Olivia told Rolling Stone that the yelling on the bridge of the song was inspired by the fan-favorite Lover track.

«I wanted the bridge to be really high energy ‘cause the rest of the song is serene and eerily calm. But I wanted the bridge to kind of go crazy and I love ‘Cruel Summer’, it’s one of my favorite songs ever. I love the harmonized yells that she does. I feel like they’re super electric and moving. And so I wanted to do something like that.»

Taylor Inspirations on SOUR

“deja vu” is the second SOUR track to feature a Swift-Antonoff interpolation and writing credit, with “1 step forward, 3 steps back,” borrowing from the reputation (2017) ballad “New Year’s Day.”

Taylor the Idol

Olivia is notably a huge fan of Taylor’s and has been an active member of the Swiftie fandom for years. She’s called Taylor one of her “biggest inspirations.” Although the pair have yet to actually link up in a studio or for a performance, Taylor and Olivia have been orbiting around each other over the course of the year. Olivia and friend/fellow famous Swiftie Conan Gray were part of the Fearless (Taylor’s Version) rollout in April 2021 and made TikToks set to songs off the re-recorded take on Taylor’s sophomore LP. Taylor also gave Olivia a copy of a ring she wore while recording her fourth album RED in 2012. They officially met at the 2021 Brit Awards, where they exchanged handwritten letters.

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Car rides to Malibu
Strawberry ice cream
One spoon for two
And trading jackets
Laughing ’bout how small it looks on you (Ha-ha-ha-ha, ha-ha-ha-ha-ha, ha-ha-ha-ha)
Watching reruns of Glee
Being annoying
Singing in harmony
I bet she’s bragging to all her friends
Saying you’re so unique

[Pre-Chorus 1]
So when you gonna tell her that we did that, too?
She thinks it’s special
But it’s all reused
That was our place
I found it first
I made the jokes you tell to her when she’s with you

[Chorus]
Do you get déjà vu when she’s with you?
Do you get déjà vu? (Ah)
Do you get déjà vu?

[Verse 2]
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
And I bet that she knows Billy Joel
’Cause you played her “Uptown Girl”
You’re singing it together
Now I bet you even tell her how you love her
In between the chorus and the verse (I love you)

[Pre-Chorus 2]
So when you gonna tell her that we did that, too?
She thinks it’s special
But it’s all reused
That was the show we talked about
Played you the songs she’s singing now when she’s with you

[Chorus]
Do you get déjà vu when she’s with you?
Do you get déjà vu? (Oh oh)
Do you get déjà vu?

[Bridge]
Strawberry ice cream in Malibu
Don’t act like we didn’t do that shit, too
You’re trading jackets like we used to do (Yeah, everything is all reused)
Play her piano, but she doesn’t know (Oh oh)
That I was the one who taught you Billy Joel (Oh)
A different girl now
But there’s nothing new

[Outro]
I know you get déjà vu
I know you get déjà vu
I know you get déjà vu

General Information
ArtistOlivia Rodrigo
AlbumSOUR
ReleasedApril 1, 2021
Recorded2020-2021
GenrePsychedelic Pop
Length3:35
LabelGeffen Records
SongwritersOlivia Rodrigo
Dan Nigro
Taylor Swift
Jack Antonoff
St. Vincent
ProducerDan Nigro
InterpolationCruel Summer
Single Certification
"4x Platinum" certification by the Recording Industry Association of America. Signifying 4,000,000 units sold.
Taylor & Olivia
Music Video
Live Performance
Lyric Video
Official Audio
Related Content

Cruel Summer

1 step forward, 3 steps back