Behind Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Sour Prom’ Launch
With live streamed concerts popping up left, right and centre since the beginning of the pandemic, you’d be forgiven for thinking that concert films were a thing of the past. But one release is challenging that perception - Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Sour Prom’.
Olivia Rodrgio brought her debut album to the stage with the ‘Sour Prom’ concert film earlier this month. As the name suggests, the film was prom themed, and saw Rodrigo perform tracks from her chart-topping album ‘Sour’, in pre-recorded glory.
After missing out on her own prom, because of her album release, Rodrigo invited a group of fans to a premiere event - even visiting some in person to deliver their invitations.
On the day of the premiere, Rodrigo was joined by her guests on a rooftop, which was decked out with a drive through photobooth, prom decorations and a stage, from which the singer performed her tracks ‘Traitor’ and ‘Good For You’ live. Fans were able to take photos with Olivia and were treated to a bag of gifts to take home, and of course, got to view ‘Sour Prom’ on release.
The film itself is a 27 minute performance of tracks from the ‘Sour’ album, and it’s now available to stream for free, worldwide. The cinematic piece sees Rodrigo perform live in various settings, with limos, punch bowls and slow dancing all making an appearance.
Unlike the more traditional concert film, ‘Sour Prom’ was filmed without a live audience, and could be compared to an extended music video, spread across multiple tracks. We often see concert documentaries, utilised behind the scenes looks and interviews to give fans further insight into the world of touring in their films. Rodrigo, however, cut straight to the point and provided just under half an hour of footage to supplement a lack of concert experiences for fans worldwide. Good for you, Olivia Rodrigo!
So what can artists take away from films like ‘Sour Prom’? A prom-themed extravaganza might not be in reach for all musicians, but we’re reminded that any live performance should be treated like a gold mine. A live set might only reach the people, but a filmed live set can be used to reach fans both new and old, across the world online.
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