Often dubbed “the next Britney Spears,” Canadian pop star Tate McRae has been dominating the charts. With a background in professional dancing and her impressive vocals, no wonder she is compared to one of the most famous pop stars out there. McRae is known for incorporating complicated choreography into her performances and this gains as much attention as her music. Her flexibility and ability to execute these complex routines—such as dancing in high heels or performing a straddle into a split—continue to amaze her fans. If you need proof, check out her music videos for “It’s ok I’m ok” and “Revolving door.” Her talent is truly astonishing.
On Friday, Feb. 21, McRae released her third studio album. Fans had been eagerly waiting for this release since she first teased it back in November 2024. Despite the setback of someone leaking her whole album nearly a month before its official release, she was able to take back control leading up to the launch. She did this by switching out some songs and re-releasing the album just a few days later with a new album cover.
The album originally featured 15 tracks, but physical copies, like vinyls and CDs, include two exclusive bonus songs, “Call my bluff” and “Better than I was.” Then, on Feb. 24, McRae surprised her fans by releasing an additional bonus song, “Siren sounds.” This song was an unreleased track from her second studio album, “THINK LATER.” She also announced that day that an exclusive 18-track edition was available for purchase that included all the original songs plus the three bonus tracks. This sale was for a limited time only and ended on Feb. 27, but they are all over YouTube and you can still listen to them on there.
While the full album is packed with amazing and stand-out songs, there are a few that have quickly gained popularity since the release.
“Miss possessive”
This song is all about being possessive over a man. As we grow and enter new relationships, it is natural to develop a sense of protectiveness over the people we choose to love, and I feel like this song does a perfect job capturing that feeling.
This song opens with a spoken line by “Euphoria” actress Sydney Sweeney, who bluntly states, “No seriously, get your hands off my man.” With an opening like that, it pulls listeners in, including myself and sets the tone for the track.
As the album’s opener, this song does a great job of showing the feelings of love and jealousy we all go through in a relationship. It also shows the emotional challenges that come with growing up and stepping into womanhood, making it a powerful and relatable start to the record.
“Purple lace bra”
While the song is presented in a relationship-style format—where McRae sings directly to another person and asks them questions—she revealed in a podcast interview with Jake Shane, a popular comedic influencer, that her inspiration came from the public and media’s reaction to her “It’s ok I’m ok” music video: “Did my purple lace bra catch your attention?”
She explained that the song was actually about the backlash she received for wearing a revealing purple lace bra in the video. If you are interested in watching the rest of this podcast, Jake Shane has it posted on his channel labeled “Session 58: Tate McRae returns | Therapuss with Jake Shane.”
Personally, this is my favorite song on the album. I love the subtle “ah ah” ad-libs at the end of her chorus. They add a satisfying touch that just scratches my brain in the best way. While I can see the media-driven meaning behind the song, I also relate to it in a relational context, as it resonates with emotions I have felt in past situationships. If you enjoyed “Diet Pepsi” by Addison Rae, you will likely love this track too as it shares a similar melody and overall musical style.
“Signs”
As women, and young adults in general, we often expect our partners to pick up on what we want based on the subtle signs we give them. But when they do not, it can be frustrating and even infuriating. That struggle is exactly what this song captures: the feeling of “you should just know” without having to spell it out.
McRae is able to express this feeling through lyrics like: “I know you’re intelligent / Just no rocket scientist / So take all my silences / And do your damn best to figure it out.” She is able to capture the mix of frustration and expectation that comes with unspoken communication in relationships.
The chorus further emphasizes this feeling: “You should / Know me better / See the signs / Shouldn’t have to tell you / Or whatever, read my mind.” With its relatable message and clever lyrics, this track captures the universal struggle of wanting to be understood without having to explain yourself.
“Nostalgia”
If you miss the “old Tate”—the era of slow, emotional songs—then this song is for you. This track captures the nostalgia and reflection that comes after a breakup, not just with a partner but with her younger self. McRae paints a picture of looking at herself in the mirror and reminiscing about her family and how they have all changed.
Lyrics like: “Oh, where did the time go? / You never really know / ‘Til you’re standing in the bathroom mirror like, ‘No,’” perfectly capture that realization of time slipping away.
As the final song on the album, “Nostalgia” serves as a fitting conclusion to the record. It reflects on the emotional highs and lows of womanhood, reinforcing the journey McRae takes listeners on throughout the album. Titling the song “Nostalgia” and making it a slow, sad track was a clever choice as this not only aligns with the song’s theme, but also to the sound that many longtime fans associate her with. She captures this with the line: “Funny thing about nostalgia / Didn’t show up till I lost ya, ooh.”
And I think this is something we all feel while growing up. The realization that life was once simpler, and as we grow, we begin to understand both our emotions and those of others on a deeper level. With its heartfelt lyrics and nostalgic tone, this track was the perfect way to close the album.
In Shane’s podcast, McRae revealed that when her album was leaked she felt devastated. She explained that some of the songs had not gone through their final revisions, and she did not feel they were truly finished. To regain some control over the project, she made last-minute changes, swapping out certain tracks that were originally a part of the album. One thing she changed was switching her song with her boyfriend, The Kid LAROI, with another one they did together: “I know love.” This decision allowed her to take back ownership of the album’s final sound and message.
This album is a reflection of Tate McRae’s journey into womanhood. Now at 21, she uses this project to express the emotions she experienced while growing up and how she coped with them. Tate McRae showcases not only her growth as an artist but also as a young woman going through the complexities of adulthood. Through her album, she delivers deeply personal and relatable messages despite the challenges she faced leading up to its release. McRae took control of her music and created an album that resonates with both longtime fans and new listeners alike. She is not just “the next Britney Spears,” but is carving out her own legacy.
