We’ve seen Taylor Swift do it: write out her feelings in a song. Now, it’s Sabrina Carpenter‘s turn. The former Disney starlet released her newest track, “Skin” on Friday, and it’s already got people talking – namely about the drama with Olivia Rodrigo. So, is “Skin” by Sabrina Carpenter a response to Olivia’s single “driver’s license?” Get all the details below.
What’s Sabrina’s song “Skin” about?
Sabrina Carpenter announced the release of her new song on Instagram, and posted teasers to her account too. After the song’s premiere on Friday, fans were already speculating as to if “Skin” was a response to High School Musical: The Musical: The Series star Olivia Rodrigo’s track, “driver’s license.”
There are a few select lyrics that really caught everyone by surprise. One such line being: “Maybe you didn’t mean it, maybe blonde was the only rhyme.” If you recall, Olivia’s original version of “driver’s license” had “brunette girl” as the lyric, but it was changed to “blonde girl” prior to its official release.
Another lyric that people were curious about was: “You can try to get under my skin, while he’s on mine” because they took it to mean Sabrina’s dating Olivia’s HSMTMTS co-star Joshua Bassett. For the record, neither Sabrina or Joshua have confirmed reports of a relationship. Although, he did post his congrats to Sabrina on her song’s release, according to ET.
Eagle-eyed fans wondered if the line: “Don’t drive yourself insane, it won’t always be this way,” was a nod to Olivia’s song title “driver’s license,” but that hasn’t been confirmed.
Sabrina Carpenter speaks out: “[It’s not] a diss track”
The Girl Meets World alum took to Instagram to clear up some of the gossip surrounding her song, especially the meaning of those lyrics. She wrote: “i wasn’t bothered by a few lines in a (magnificent) song and wrote a diss track about it. i was at a tipping point in my life for countless reasons. so i was inspired to do what i usually do to cope, write something that i wish i could have told myself in the past.”
While she did say that “some lines address a specific situation,” she also wrote that others address everything else she’s been dealing with this past year. She ended her lengthy IG post with a message of kindness to her followers, telling them not to use “this as an opportunity to send more hate anyone’s way.” It’s assumed that’s in regards to the online hate both she and Olivia have been getting this month.
Speaking of both women, Sabrina even had an implied message for Olivia, which many fans have glossed over in favor of the more risqué lyrics. She sings in the bridge of “Skin”: “I just hope that one day we both can laugh about it…when it’s not in our face, won’t have to dance around it.”
If you listen carefully, that seems to come full circle, as in the beginning of the song, Carpenter expresses that maybe they could have been friends if they’d met in a different way (aka: before all the drama began).
Perhaps one day, that can be true. But for now, both women have done what they do best: express their feelings through their art. If you want to keep up with Sabrina and Olivia, be sure you’re following them on Instagram.
MORE SABRINA CARPENTER, OLIVIA RODRIGO, AND JOSHUA BASSETT NEWS
“Driver’s License” by Olivia Rodrigo: Is It About Joshua Bassett & Sabrina Carpenter?
Are High School Musical‘s Olivia Rodrigo & Joshua Bassett Dating?
Olivia Rodrigo Celebrates at the DMV During Quarantine
Kari Highman is a Beauty and Fashion Blogger at Feeling the Vibe Magazine. Otterbein Alum (2017) – English & Psychology. Always learning & creating. Avid fan of mid 2000’s TV & pop music. Comments or tips, email [email protected]
