![Olivia Rodrigo and Robert Smith Bond Over Surprise Collaboration “What’s Wrong With Me””]](https://i0.wp.com/lede-admin.stereogum.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/64/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-08-at-4.28.17-PM.png?ssl=1 "Olivia Rodrigo and Robert Smith Bond Over Surprise Collaboration “What’s Wrong With Me””]")
Olivia Rodrigo and Robert Smith Bond Over Surprise Collaboration “What’s Wrong With Me””]
Olivia Rodrigo left fans stunned over the weekend when she brought Robert Smith onstage during her surprise set at Primavera Festival to debut their collaborative track “what’s wrong with me.” The unexpected performance marked the first live rendition of the song, featuring Rodrigo alongside the Cure frontman.
In a recent appearance on BBC Radio 6 Music, Smith lavished praise on his young collaborator, saying, “She’s so good. I mean, she is genuinely fantastic as a songwriter and as a singer, as a performer. And the band, everything about it, I genuinely love what she does.”
The veteran musician expressed amazement at Rodrigo’s effortless creativity, contrasting it with his own meticulous songwriting process. “When I write songs, I’m writing them for a very specific reason. When I’m writing them, I agonize over them, to be honest, a lot of the time in later life,” Smith shared. “And she’s kind of like just banging it out and saying, ‘What do you think of this?’ And I’m like ‘It’s great!’ And then, ‘You know, I’m not really sure about this one.’ It took me 16 years to get to that sound!”
I’ve been insanely excited to tell you guys about this song & its been so hard to keep it a secret! Last night at Primavera I got to sing “Whats Wrong With Me” for the first time. Its the first feature Ive ever done on an album and I actually cannot believe I got to do it with Robert Smith! Somebody pinch me!!! Robert has been soundtracking my life for as long as I can remember. He has written some of my favorite songs of all time. His music moves me & inspires me to a degree that is hard to put into words. Ive also been lucky enough to spend time with him over the last year & experience first hand his generosity & graciousness. I am in disbelief that this song exists and I cannot wait for it to come out officially! The album comes out on Friday what the hell!!!!
During an appearance on the Popcast, Rodrigo reflected on their previous collaborations, including a memorable performance at Glastonbury last year. “Robert is an extraordinary, extraordinary person,” she said. “I obviously wrote to him a bunch before Glastonbury. I was so shocked that he said yes. He’s everything to me. I was just so nervous to even make the ask. But I was so delighted when he said that he wanted to and that night at Glastonbury was like the best night of my life. It was so special. There was just something in the air.”
The unlikely pairing came together after Smith invited Rodrigo to his studio, where they spent time together and even shared a pint of Guinness.