Olivia Rodrigo has released a new song titled “Serena Joy” named after a character from “The Handmaid’s Tale.” The track was initially available as a highly limited physical release, with only 500 CDs pressed and sold exclusively at Analog Music Shop in Tustin, California, on Friday. According to the retailer, all copies sold through on their first day of availability. The artist has plans to distribute the song widely to digital platforms on Monday, making it available globally.
The existence of “Serena Joy” had been previously known to fans, who spotted the title in a studio photograph shared by Rodrigo in June that listed songs considered for her album “You Look Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love.” When asked about the track in a video interview two months ago, Rodrigo indicated that while she enjoyed the song, it did not align with the thematic direction of her album, which focused on chronicling a romantic relationship from beginning to end. She expressed hope that the track would be released as part of something else in the future.
The limited CD release was coordinated as a show of support for Daisy Chain Fields, an all-female music festival that Rodrigo is organizing in Orange County. The record store positioned the exclusive release as a way to support both the artist’s feminist initiative and the local music retail community. Rodrigo has previously demonstrated support for independent record stores through similar initiatives.
Lyrically, “Serena Joy” addresses themes of complicity and systemic oppression without directly referencing the television series or novel. Key passages include lines about building structures for a larger cause and the recurring refrain warning that what happens to one group will eventually affect others. The song’s title and thematic content reference the character’s realization in Margaret Atwood’s novel that those who enable oppressive systems ultimately become victims of them as well. Online reactions from fans indicated general approval of Rodrigo exploring more overtly political songwriting.
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