Pop artist Olivia Rodrigo has unveiled an unreleased track titled “Serena Joy,” drawing inspiration from the dystopian narrative of “The Handmaid’s Tale.” The song takes its name from a character in the television series who eventually regrets her participation in an oppressive system. This release arrives as Rodrigo continues to champion feminist causes through her upcoming all-female music festival, Daisy Chain Fields, scheduled for Orange County, California next weekend.
The track debuted Friday as an extremely limited physical release, with only 500 CD copies manufactured and sold exclusively through Analog Music Shop in Tustin, California. The retailer reported that all copies sold out by Friday evening. The song will become available to a broader audience through digital platforms on Monday, marking the end of its brief exclusivity window at the independent record store.
Rodrigo had previously acknowledged the song’s existence in June when fans discovered it listed among potential tracks for her album “You Look Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love.” In an interview, she explained that while she valued the song, it did not align with the album’s thematic focus on a complete romantic narrative. The lyrics, printed on the CD’s cover, explore themes of complicity and systemic oppression, with recurring lines warning that injustice affecting others will eventually impact everyone.
Originally reported by Variety →
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