From TikTok star to multi-platinum and world touring pop superstar, Tate McRae's smooth vocals and emotionally-compelling lyricism have continued to shift the music industry. Her career began on the popular internet site, Youtube, where she posted original songs with nothing but her keyboard and passion for music. In a few short years, she’s released three debut albums, signed with RCA Records, and is currently touring for her latest album "Think Later".
Tate McRae | Rolling Stone | Larisha Paul | Conor Cunningham
The new hit album, released towards the end 2023 was initially teased in the summertime on her main social channels with snippet audios of the first single "Greedy". Fans were quick to deduce the energy for this new body of work, which revolved around her private relationship with hockey player, Cole Sillinger.
The album’s first teaser single calls out her ex plain & simply all whilst boasting herself up and delivering a myriad of self-confident elements. The accompanying music video confirms fans’ suspicions that her new piece of work was an ode to the messy fallout of her recent relationship. The visual is centered in a hockey rink, which further confirms the song's storyline. The track reached viral status & hit #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 Chart.
In addition to "Greedy", McRae dropped "Exes", which also contained elements of early 2000s nostalgic themes and artistry as well as furthers the album's theme with an additional fun breakup anthem. This is the second track to receive a visual experience with yet another elaborate dance number. Fans pointed out correlations between the music video with other nostalgic pop music videos from the early 2000s, such as Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and more.
Although the singer has continued to remain on the private side of the spectrum when it comes to her personal life and relationship status, she’s used this album to tell her story and give us a glimpse into her heartbreak timeline.
The official studio album released in in December of 2023 and features 14 original songs with no collaborations from other artists. Despite Tate’s prior album "I Used To Think I Could Fly" gaining massive appeal globally, specifically with the songs "She's All I Wanna Be" & "Chaotic", this new drop may be her most confident and self-accepting work to date.
"Think Later"
The leading single of her debut album, "Think Later", is the ideal pop-centric track to kick off the heartbreak tracklist. As she describes the first night she met him, she repeats the mantra "live now, think later", in which she acknowledges how easily she fell for him, enamored by anything he did and instead of shifting right back into reality, she was obsessed with the fantasy world he provided. The video teaser features Tate seen through a peep hole, turned to the side, signifying the indifference she feels as though feeling angry whilst desiring entry [to him] and acceptance that she's drawn to his presence.
“Plastic Palm Trees”
Tate describes her personal experience with heartbreak where it felt as though her partner was feigning these feelings for the entire duration of their relationship whilst acting as though they were an ideal match. She even musters up real-life scenarios where he pretended as though things between them were perfect. As she reflects on the entirety of their relationship, she realizes he was never honest and better yet, she was never truly happy, it was all simply a false perspective, similar to having rose colored lenses.
“Calgary”
Titled after her hometown where she was desperate to leave and start a new life, Tate soon realizes that the things she was running away from followed her through the success she's had, the places she's traveled, and will continue to haunt her. She admits to pushing things aside in hopes that her struggles will resolve themselves and even winds up reverting back to old habits she can't shake.
“Want that too”
In addition to calling out her ex, preaching self-worth, and moving on, she also taps into the reality of the music industry and the mistreatment she's experienced. In addition to being a talented female, beginning her stardom as a teen, and trusting too much far too quickly, she acknowledges how she frequently felt blindsided by those she mindlessly gave her trust to.
“Cut my hair”
As we continue through the stages of heartbreak, Tate taps into another side of these heavy emotions, from the ever-changing sadness to the heartache & pain, to the ever-present anger, specifically in this single. As the singer understands their partner is no longer with them, she toys with the idea of completing changing her physical appearance, similar to shedding her old self and welcoming a new individual. One can not only feel it radiate from the lyrics but the way in which she speaks them, almost as though she’s yelling them right through the screen.
“We’re not alike”
The song openly airs the idea of a fallout between a girlfriend of McRae's, spilling the subtext that she had a private friendship-breakup due to their backstabbing habits. Although the name or relation to the individual remains hidden, the storyline discusses a close-knit female who betrayed her, specifically when it came to the then boyfriend in Tate's life.
“Guilty conscience”
On the flip side to the complete breakup album, Tate also feels as though she would devote her whole life to them, even if it came down to acting recklessly or illegally. In between the lyrics does she further detail other females secretly involving themselves in his life, however, the singer doesn't care at this point and desires him regardless.
“Grave”
The masterpiece of “grave” mends together the emotionally chilling lyricism of self-doubt with the realistic experiences of walking away from something you fought tirelessly for. The artists explains the continuous cycle of trying and failing as it quickly became a detrimental and tolling experience for her. The visual for this song shows Tate seated right outside the door with her feet dangling into a pit, marking the moment in which she stops the cycle of falling into this continuous trap.
"Stay Done”
In the midst of accepting the final straw of the relationship and to step aside from the self-confident preaching tracks, Tate chooses to deliver bits of sadness throughout the album. The single “Stay Done” does just that as she admits to still loving him and still seeking the good parts of the relationship despite the bitter feelings she's all too familiar with. The simple visual that accompanies the track is a loop of her walking solemnly towards nothing, similarly to her feelings for him as she feels like she’s getting closer to him but in actuality, she’s walking to no end destination.
"Messier"
Listed as one of the more slow & somber tracks of the album, "Messier"describes the difficult position she's feels her ex had control over her emotions and she can't seem to untangle herself from him. Furthermore she continues to let things he's done or said slide despite how much pain he's caused.
"Hurt My Feelings"
With similar themes touched on previously, such as the knowledge that she's addicted to something yet she can't seem to stop, Tate uses her partner as figure to depend on. Although the singer knows the atrocities he's done and the danger of it all, she's addicted to the thrill and presence of this individual. She understands she's reliant on him and the attention he gives her, however, she can't seem to quit him
"Run For The Hills"
As Tate is stuck in the thick of the push & pull of her relationship, she's addicted to the sense of impeding danger from being with them and keeps falling back to him every time. Even though the singer understands the pain he's put her through and better yet knows she should tear herself away from him, she can't seem to shake him off from her heart.
Tate’s brand new album may be the revival of pop music as she taps into more nostalgic factors of the music industry, specifically from some of the most iconic pop artists. As she hands us a glimpses into her personal life, brings us alongside the bumpy journey of heartbreak, and relishes in that fire burning anger, she’s brought us some new music to keep at full volume at all times.
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