Talking Heads frontman David Byrne and Olivia Rodrigo perform a live rendition of “Burning Down the House.” Photo from thismustbetalkingheads/Instagram
Filipino American pop superstar Olivia Rodrigo continues to attract admiration from industry veterans, with none other than Talking Heads frontman David Byrne offering warm words about her artistry.
During a recent appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” Byrne talked about Olivia Rodrigo, confessing that “I’m a fan.”
At Governors Ball in New York this summer, Byrne joined Rodrigo onstage to perform a live rendition of “Burning Down the House,” one of Byrne’s timeless hits from the Talking Heads era.
Byrne, whose career spans five decades, also had great things to say about Rodrigo as he reflected on their surprise collaboration during an interview for Stereogum’s “We’ve Got A File On You” series.
Byrne recalled that when Rodrigo reached out, he immediately wondered if choreography or movement would be part of the plan. “Do we have time?” he said with a laugh.
Fortunately, both artists managed to rehearse before the big day. “It was fun,” he added, describing the preparation as smooth and enjoyable.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer admitted he was already familiar with Rodrigo’s discography. “Yeah, maybe not every single song,” he said, “but I knew quite a few of them.”
When asked which track stood out to him the most, Byrne pointed to “Obsessed,” a song from the deluxe edition of Rodrigo’s sophomore album “GUTS.” He called it “kind of real, but also very funny,” even quoting the chorus: “Obsessed with your ex.”
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Meeting her backstage left a strong impression as well during her GUTS World Tour stop at Madison Square Garden in 2024. Byrne noted that despite growing up in the spotlight, Rodrigo struck him as genuine, “a real person” who has navigated fame remarkably well.
For her part, Rodrigo recently closed out the “GUTS” era with an Instagram message to fans. She wrote, “GUTS has been such a special chapter for me & I can’t thank u enough for being part of it,” adding that she put together a commemorative tour book to preserve memories of the journey. “Miss y’all already,” the pop star signed off.
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