Fans attending the Friday night of the Lollapalooza festival knew they had a night to remember ahead of them as The Smashing Pumpkins were billed to headline, playing out the day’s amazing lineup with their own legendary hits. There was an extra special surprise in store for fans, however. Despite not appearing anywhere on that year’s lineup, halfway through The Smashing Pumpkins’ set, Olivia Rodrigo walked out on stage to perform a cover of ‘33’ with them.
Any Music Man readers who have doubts about how well Olivia might have fitted in with the band will change their minds as soon as they hear her sing. It is amazing how well Olivia’s voice suited the song, giving the melancholy number a smooth and delicate feel that made for a unique version of the song. People couldn’t deny how well her version worked, even if it was something they had never expected from her. As one viewer said, “Olivia Rodrigo continues to be full of surprises.”
One of the best parts of the performance for me was seeing the connection between Olivia and The Smashing Pumpkins lead singer Billy Corgan as they played together. As he played his guitar towards her and she turned to sing to him, it was clear that they were both truly enjoying the opportunity to perform together. It is amazing to see one of the pop stars at the helm of the current mainstream music scene fit in so easily with her predecessors and musicians from different musical genres.
This is not the first time Olivia has made a surprise appearance with a legendary musician who influenced the sound of alternative music. Music Man readers who love Olivia Rodrigo have likely already seen her surprise collaboration with The Cure frontman Robert Smith at Glastonbury Festival 2025. For those who haven’t seen it, it is not one you want to miss, as her excitement about performing with one of her favorite musicians is heartwarmingly palpable.
Often, fans of music styles and bands who are no longer in the pop mainstream can become worried that the world will move on and forget all about their favorite artists. It makes sense; who wants something they love to be forgotten? Luckily, these collaborations by Olivia Rodrigo are proving that there is nothing to worry about. As one of the biggest names in pop, Olivia is sure to be bringing music by bands like The Cure and The Smashing Pumpkins to a broader, younger fanbase. I challenge any young person who wasn’t in the know before to listen to any of these performances and not immediately want to check out the rest of the legendary bands’ discographies.