deja vu

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Lore & Background

Rodrigo and Nigro wrote "Deja Vu" over the course of one day in August 2020, a month after "Drivers License" was written. The song was inspired by a lyric idea she had stored in the notes application on her phone: "When she was with you do you get deja vu?". Rodrigo elaborated on its concept: "I get déjà vu all the time. So I thought it would be a cool play on words to use déjà vu as a metaphor for this very universal thing that happens when you break up with someone and they get with somebody else, and see them living the life that you lived". The recording of "Deja Vu" went on over several months as she rerecorded her vocals and brainstormed new melodies. The song's bridge was influenced by Taylor Swift's 2019 song "Cruel Summer". Rodrigo and Nigro considered introducing electronic dance music-influenced vocal chops into its post-chorus, but opted for a synthesizer riff instead as Rodrigo thought the former were "too poppy".

In Their Own Story

Throughout the song, Rodrigo addresses a past partner who is currently pursuing a different relationship and recalls how they are repeating things he did with Rodrigo, like driving up the California coast, eating strawberry ice cream, trading jackets, watching reruns of Glee, and listening to Billy Joel's 1983 single "Uptown Girl". She expresses anguish about him recycling jokes she told. Over its hook, Rodrigo sarcastically wonders if he ever accidentally addresses his new girlfriend by her name. By the conclusion of "Deja Vu", she begins contemplating that the experiences she shared with him, perhaps, were not original to begin with: "I hate to think that I was just your type."

Reader's Guide

The music video for "Deja Vu" was directed by Allie Avital and filmed in Malibu, California, which was referenced in the song. It shows how the place she is at the moment can be nostalgic and remind her of previous relationships, played by Talia Ryder. Rodrigo performed the song on shows such as MTV Push and Billboard Women in Music, and included it on the set lists for her 2022 Sour concert tour, the Glastonbury Festival, and the 2024 Guts World Tour. "Deja Vu" received acclaim from music critics, many of whom considered it a strong follow-up to "Drivers License" (2021) and praised its lyrics. In the United States, the song debuted at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and made Rodrigo the first artist to debut their first two singles in the chart's top 10. It eventually peaked at number three. "Deja Vu" reached the top 10 in Ireland, Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, Latvia, the United Kingdom, Portugal, and the Czech Republic.

Did You Know?

• The song's bridge was influenced by Taylor Swift's 2019 song "Cruel Summer", which led to Swift, Jack Antonoff, and St. Vincent receiving writing credits on "Deja Vu" in July 2021.
• Rodrigo and Nigro wrote "Deja Vu" over the course of one day in August 2020, a month after "Drivers License" was written.
• The song debuted at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, making Rodrigo the first artist to debut their first two singles in the chart's top 10.
• The music video was directed by Allie Avital and filmed in Malibu, California, with Talia Ryder playing the new girlfriend.
• Rodrigo considered introducing EDM-influenced vocal chops into the post-chorus but opted for a synthesizer riff instead, thinking the former were "too poppy".