Olivia Rodrigo surprised Dublin fans by performing a stripped-back cover of Irish-rock band Fontaines D.C.’s “I Love You” at Marlay Park. To a crowd of over 35,000 she opened with only her voice and the guitar, allowing the raw and emotional lyrics to ring out loud. The full band gradually rose to build up to the climactic chorus. Dublin fans, many familiar with the Irish band, sang along at full volume, joining in Rodrigo’s celebration of the local group.
“The reason why I love Dublin so much is because you guys have really amazing music here,” Rodrigo said. “Lately I’ve been really obsessed with this band Fontaines D.C. from here. I’m playing this song, like, alone in my room for fun, and I was wondering if it would be cool if I, like, played it for you guys.”
“I Love You” is from Fontaines D.C.’s third album Skinty Fia released in 2022. This thoughtful performance of the song showcased the rock influence that shines through in Rodrigo’s music. The cover has been met with rave reviews, including praise from Irish news outlets for her performance of “the gall of Fine Gael and the fail of Fianna Fáil,” a lyric that could’ve easily tripped up someone not familiar with the Irish language. With her headline performance at Glastonbury just days later, the Gen-Z rock icon already showcased how music can bridge cultures and generations.
