If you want to know what it looks like to be a 20 year old girl, listen to Tate McRae’s new album “THINK LATER”. She covers all of the topics of girlhood- toxic love, fake friends, and finding yourself. McRae truly has a unique vibe and way to storytell, and it is certainly not one to miss with this album.
TRACK LIST
cut my hair
greedy
run for the hills
hurt my feelings
grave
stay done
exes
we're not alike
calgary
messier
think later
guilty conscience
want that too
plastic palm trees
Tate McRae is a 20 year old singer songwriter from Calgary. She was first discovered at age 13, as a finalist in the television show So You Think You Can Dance. She also went viral on YouTube and TikTok in 2017 with her song “One Day”, which truly kickstarted her songwriting career. She released her hit album ‘i used to think i could fly’ in 2022, which is personally where I fell in love with her music. She is in the top 40 Spotify artists, and she was listed in Forbes 30 Under 30 list for musicians. She is simply so real, and I love the unique way she incorporates different genres into her music. She has almost reached 56 million monthly Spotify listeners, and is currently riding her high off of this album. She announced her world tour in November, which kicks off in April in Ireland.
cut my hair
McRae opens this album with the dark pop anthem that is “cut my hair”. The sound is melodic and a clear indication of McRae’s unique vibe. She talks about all of the things she wants to do to make this boy jealous and want her more than everyone else- cut her hair, wear a little black dress, and make him sweat. The lyrics are so real and something that every girl can identify with, the frustration of not being noticed and the thirst for that attention, along with noting what you have to do to get it.
greedy
Personally, “greedy” was one of my most anticipated tracks on this album. It was first teased on TikTok, and then released in mid-September as a lead single to get fans excited for the rest of the drop. I feel that it directly shows McRae’s sass and personality as she proclaims her self love and confidence over the necessity to be wanted by someone else. Her playful tone suggests a vibe of “of course he wants me, I’m me!” It is a self love anthem full of cheeky comebacks and an engaging soundscape that ebbs and flows with the dynamics of the lyrics.
run for the hills
The third track on this album brings in another dark element of a toxic relationship. McRae knows that she really should be running for the hills with how poorly he treats her, but the love is too fierce and intoxicating to just let it go. My favorite lyric on this track is right at the end of the first verse when she sings, “maybe the danger’s covered by the thrill”. This is simply such a real statement, and McRae does not fail to bring to light the negative parts of love and relationships. Along with the other tracks, the soundscape is full of pop and trap beats, which seem to add to the angst she sings about.
hurt my feelings
This track is consistent with the electronic pop vibes seen in the other songs, but still finds ways to stand out. McRae’s voice stands out in this with background vocals and harmonies scattered throughout and a back and forth dynamic that demonstrates her technique. The song talks about wanting someone who is already taken, and knowing they feel the same. The secret shared looks and unspoken knowledge, along with the guilt being overpowered by lust is all too evident, and McRae is not afraid to sing about things that might be seen as immoral.
grave
The upbeat and energetic soundscapes of the rest of this album takes a short break for the beginning of “grave”, as McRae takes a ballad-esque approach to this song. Her vocals shine as she sings about how hard she tried to fix their relationship and save each other, when all he did was dig a grave and shove both of them down into it. The beat is brought back after the first chorus, but not in the same way. The other songs, while they may be discussing upsetting topics, can still be viewed as upbeat and energetic. Even when her style is incorporated, this song is still an emotional track. The beats add to the overall perspective of tense and depressing realizations.
stay done
The ballad vibes continue into this song, which has quickly become my favorite. She is simply so honest, even about her own faults, which is truly something to admire about a young artist. The point of this song is for McRae to pour her heart out and reveal how much she truly wants this love, while also acknowledging that it is definitely not the best thing for them. She simply cannot stay done with this relationship, and keeps coming back even when she knows it is harmful. Her voices get a chance to shine because of the toned down background, and the instruments simply being a guitar and some swelling drums. She flips into a delicate head voice, and her conversational and sarcastic tone has slipped away, leaving a girl who is hurt and disappointed.
exes
And just like that, we are back to the dynamic and sarcastic McRae that has been seen in the first couple of tracks. This is a hip-hop song, and gives nods to McRae’s dance background with the viral dance that is currently going around TikTok. Similar to “greedy”, McRae knows that she is a catch and has made it her personal mission to make sure all of her exes and nexts know this. Her personality shines through in a truly relatable song for any teenage girl.
we're not alike
This next song drifts away from breakups and into the differences of girls. McRae references the term ‘girls girl’ throughout this song, which basically means a girl that puts other girls first and is supportive and kind, instead of putting them down and making them look bad (especially in front of boys). McRae is calling out a non-girls girl, and she details her negative actions. She lies, she stabs in the back, and she steals the boys other girls have called dibs on. With less hip-hop beats and more simplistic pop, McRae emphasizes how different they are, and that she is without a doubt a girl's girl (unlike the unnamed antagonist).
calgary
This song is an ode to the city of Calgary, McRae’s hometown, and truly how much it sucks to be back in your hometown. She sings about the feeling of reverting all of your progress the second you get back to the place you used to be stuck in, a feeling that I think everyone can relate to (I know I can). My favorite lyric is scattered throughout the chorus, as she sings “I thought that I was gettin’ better / No, I got better at pretending”. She feels like the same kid she was when she first went through all of these struggles, and the lack of upbeat background really drives the sadness in her tone home.
messier
A similar vibe to “stay done” and “grave”, McRae has definitely been through it with this song. The two of them are a complete mess and bring out the worst in each other, but it is simply addicting. She can’t get enough despite how much he frustrates her and how many times they have called it quits. She questions if it's even love, but knows that the feelings they have for each other are too intertwined and obsessive to ever really get over. An even mix of delicate vocals and upbeat backgrounds, this song one that will climb right into your head and stick there.
think later
This track brings us right back to the hip-hop sound that McRae does so well. The premise is to “live now, think later”, and truly enjoy your youth. Sometimes it is okay to make poor decisions, especially if they give you masterpieces like this song. In the spirit of New Years, so many people have the mindset of bettering themselves and cutting off the feral parts of themselves, but McRae calls for the absolute opposite. I mean, really what is more fun, a chill night in with an early bedtime, or being “at the Ritz with the door locked”, if you know what she means. This song being the title track makes so much sense, as it is a call to action for a change of mindset between her and her listeners.
guilty conscience
Another track of McRae’s hip-hip, she sings about a messy situation and low morals, but deciding to simply “live with a guilty conscience”. Another song about the toxicity she has experienced, she knows staying involved with him will be putting her against what her friends want for her and what she knows is best, but she simply cannot get away from this man. She puts them over doing what is best for her, and decides to simply deal with the consequences later. Oops! She’s just a girl.
want that too
“Want that too” is a song about realizing how much you have given away to someone who truly does not deserve it, and seems to suck the life right out of you. McRae realizes she has been used and didn’t even realize that she was “too young to be treated like that”. She has finally realized the turmoil that she has been put through, and makes a promise to distance herself. Even with this acknowledgement, she knows this person will find their way back into her life the second that she appears happier. She can see this coming though, and knows she has pulled herself together enough to be strong when this time comes.
plastic palm trees
The final song on this hit of an album is something that people who have made it big will say time and time again- that it is lonely at the top. She sings a song that seems to be pleading with her audience to listen to her when she says that it is not all that it seems. Celebrities can appear to be happy and serene, but could truly be dying on the inside. The world is full of fake friends and boys who will hurt you, as well as the disappointment once you realize these things. The ‘plastic palm trees’ seems to be a snarky dig at the fact that everything you see is fake, and just put there for the picture. She reminisces that this is not always how her life has been, and seems to be questioning if she likes her life more now or before.
McRae truly has covered all of the bases with this album. In my opinion, it is a comprehensive look on what it is to be a teenage girl / in your 20s. She sings about making bad decisions, dealing with toxic relationships and fake friends, and the mental health issues that come along with all of this. She has a very unique vibe of the electronic hip-hop and ballad-esque tone, which doesn’t seem like it should work but she makes it look easy and like a common pairing. McRae truly is an artist to watch, and has accomplished so much in her 20 years of life. Make sure to follow the social medias below to stay tuned for more from her.
Written By Tessa Maddaloni
*copyright not intended. Fair use act, section 107.
Comentários