Billy Corgan on his respect for Olivia Rodrigo: “She’s not afraid”
Billy Corgan praised Olivia Rodrigo’s songwriting on The New York Times’ Popcast, calling her smart, savvy and unafraid to draw on varied influences or leave imperfections in a song. He argued that pop stars should be as authentic as rock musicians, and his comments add to a growing list of established artists publicly supporting Rodrigo.
Corgan brought Rodrigo on stage at Lollapalooza in August, where they performed the Smashing Pumpkins’ “Thirty-Three” together. The article also notes praise for Rodrigo from Mick Jagger, Jack White and Robert Smith, and says she recently worked with Chappell Roan on a remix of “Expectations” as she promotes her third album.
In short
- Billy Corgan praised Rodrigo’s free and authentic songwriting.
- They performed “Thirty-Three” together at Lollapalooza.
- Other veteran musicians have also voiced support for Rodrigo.
Explained simply
Billy Corgan is the singer and guitarist of the Smashing Pumpkins, a rock band formed in Chicago in the late 1980s. Olivia Rodrigo is a singer-songwriter who became widely known with her debut album, SOUR, and is part of a younger generation of pop artists whose work draws on rock as well as pop.
The boundaries between pop and rock have long been debated, including whether pop performers are seen as having the same artistic control and honesty associated with rock musicians. Established artists’ comments about Rodrigo add to discussion of how her songwriting and influences are received across generations and genres.