Over the past few weeks, singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo has been promoting her new album, titled you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love, by leaving clues—also known as “Easter eggs”—for fans to piece together. This will be Rodrigo’s third studio album and was announced by Rodrigo on April 2 via Instagram.
On March 30, prior to the album’s name being announced, a Hoboken resident reported the sighting of a pastel pink, heart-shaped lock on Pier C with the word “drop” written on the side in a font associated with the album release through other Easter eggs, such as a mural located in Los Angeles (L.A.). This lock is not the only one connected to the album promotion. Three other locks were found in L.A., Paris, and London. When the messages on each of the locks are put together, they reveal the phrase “april 17th drop dead,” leaving fans to correctly conclude that the first single of her album will be titled “drop dead” and will be released on April 17.
On April 6, Rodrigo posted a video to her Instagram of her placing the lock herself, with Hoboken tagged as the post’s location, confirming the validity of the clue. Of course, this has caused excitement among the Hoboken community, with videos and pictures of the lock flooding social media. However, fans are also wondering why the lock was placed in Hoboken, with a view of New York City behind it, rather than directly in the city. After all, the other three locations are on par with NYC as major cities. At this time, the connection between the four cities and what they could mean during this album cycle is unclear.
A possible explanation is that Hoboken has a rich musical heritage. This city “has been a haven for musicians, and music has played an important role in the cultural life of the city.” Similarly, the other cities involved in the lock puzzle each have their own musical significance, which could be what all four have in common. Additionally, these locations could be foreshadowing that songs on the album may be influenced by major musicians from these locations, or these locations could be of significance to Rodrigo for other reasons.
Unfortunately, the lock no longer appears to be in Hoboken amidst rumors that the lock was taken. Upon further investigation by The Stute, there is indeed no sign of the lock at Pier C. A controversial TikTok account has popped up, showing that the creator took the lock from Pier C and is keeping it for themself. Fans are outraged, with comments on all of the videos telling the creator that they were disrespectful and in the wrong for taking the lock.
Time will tell if Hoboken will play a bigger role in Rodrigo’s new album. Although the lock is now gone, we can all appreciate being an official part of the Olivia Rodrigo universe and can enjoy the first single of you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love.
