David Byrne Covers Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Drivers License’ for Song’s Fifth Anniversary, With Other Artists’ ‘Sour’ Salutes to Follow

To mark the fifth anniversary of Olivia Rodrigo's record-breaking debut single "Drivers License," a new cover version by David Byrne has been released. This track is the inaugural offering in a planned series of reinterpretations of songs from her first album, "Sour," with more artist covers expected in the coming months. The digital release is available now on all major streaming platforms.

Physical collectors have two distinct vinyl options for Byrne's take on the hit. A standard 7-inch translucent ruby vinyl pairs the cover with a live duet of "Burning Down the House," performed by Byrne and Rodrigo at last year's Governors Ball festival, as its B-side. Separately, Target is offering an exclusive 4-inch "fruit punch vinyl" as part of its "Tiny Vinyl" series, which features Rodrigo's original recording on the flip side. Pre-orders are live, though fans will need patience; the 7-inch ships April 3, while the Target edition arrives April 30.

The announcement, hinted at by Rodrigo with a "Drivers License"-themed graphic, tempered fan hopes for immediate news about "OR3," her highly anticipated third studio album with producer Dan Nigro. This extended campaign of anniversary covers suggests new original music may not be imminent. The full "Sour" album was released on May 21, 2021, making it likely the tribute rollout will continue until that date. Rodrigo certainly has the commercial pedigree to justify revisiting her catalog: her label's announcement notes that "Sour" holds a unique Spotify record as the first and only album to have four songs each surpass two billion streams.

The landmark single "Drivers License," which catapulted Rodrigo to global fame, now boasts approximately 4.7 billion global streams across all platforms and is certified six-times platinum by the RIAA. Industry analyst Maria Chen of SoundScan Insights notes, "Rodrigo's debut reshaped pop's commercial landscape in 2021. A curated covers project like this is a strategic way to maintain cultural relevance and engage fans during an album cycle hiatus, while celebrating an undeniable milestone."

While Rodrigo is on a break from touring after her massive "Guts" world tour, David Byrne remains actively on the road. His recent "Who Is the Sky?" album and tour have garnered critical acclaim, with Variety naming his Los Angeles concert the best of 2025. The iconic former Talking Heads frontman will resume touring this winter and spring. Concurrently, his Broadway musical "Here Lies Love" is scheduled to begin a Los Angeles engagement at the prestigious Mark Taper Forum in February.