Ladies and gentlemen, the pop star of the year has arrived, and she’s not messing around. Tate McRae’s highly anticipated third studio album, “So Close To What,” released Feb. 21, featuring 15 songs, including her singles “2 hands,” “Sports car,” and “It’s ok I’m ok.” All of which created so much buzz and social media attention around what this final product would look like.
It currently sits as the number one global album on Apple Music’s charts and ties Taylor Swift’s record for most songs charting simultaneously on US Pop Radio by a female artist. To me, it’s nothing short of iconic, especially the way she incorporates Dance Pop, R&B, and Alternative music styles.
There was much controversy before this album officially dropped because many of its promotions were tainted by people leaking songs online. McRae revealed in an interview Q&A with influencer and comedian, Jake Shane that because of the leaks, she returned to the studio and wrote a couple more songs in response, such as “Like I do.” McRae wasn’t about to let some keyboard warriors ruin the experience for her fans (Tater Tots). Between the launch parties and album release performance by McRae at the Kia Forum in California, she’s made it clear she does things on her own terms.
The album packs one hell of a punch right from the first track, “Miss possessive.” Along with the backing track, the first thing you hear is actress Sydney Sweeney’s voice saying, “No seriously, get your hands off my man.” This song is utter confidence and sets the tone for the rest of the album with its confident female experience.
She sings, “Look at the floor or ceilin’/Or anyone else you’re feelin’/Take home whoever walks in/Just keep your eyes off him/Yes, I’m Miss Possessive/Pretty girl, gon’ learn your lesson/Some fights you’re never gonna win/Just keep your eyes off him.” It’s clear McRae’s alter-ego, Tatiana, wrote 90% of the songs on this album. The fiery lyrics explore irrational female emotions like jealousy, making it raw and human.
The next song, “Revolving Door,” is a glimpse into McRae’s “bad habits” and self-sabotaging ways. McRae released a music video to accompany the song, highlighting her abilities as a dancer. She’s known for her insane choreography, and this video has so much to unpack. Especially considering she does a “scorpion” in heels; talk about impressive.
My favorite part is that many of her motions are played forwards and in reverse as if she’s being pulled in directions emotionally and physically. Much like the lyrics, “Baby, I tried to call you off like a bad habit/Tried to call you off like a bad habit/But I keep comin’ back like a revolvin’ door/Say I couldn’t want you less, but I just want you more.” Along with the lyrics and beat, the song is a testament to her artistry and ability to stay true to herself by taking time to process. As she sings in the song, “Supposed to be an adult, but fuck it, I need a minute.” And don’t we all?
Tatiana makes another appearance with these next two songs, “Dear god” and “Purple lace bra.” Without a doubt, these are two are in my top five. There’s nothing like a confident, unapologetically provocative song to make a woman feel feminine. McRae explained in a Billboard interview that these tracks were inspired by how she’s been perceived by the media and how she deals with those emotions as a 21-year-old woman. For me, these tracks are the ones you raise the volume in the car for or wake up at 2 AM to dance to in front of the mirror. Screaming this one in a stadium with McRae will be life-changing.
“Signs” is one of my absolute favorites on the album written by McRae and the incredibly talented, Amy Allen. Allen recently won a Grammy for “Songwriter of the Year” and has worked on hits like “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter and “Adore You” by Harry Styles.
“Signs” tackles the emotions that go into a relationship and how things get miscommunicated. It explores how girls say they’re “fine” when really they mean something else. It’s an entirely irrational emotion in theory but one that she explains perfectly. She sings, “I wanna touch on you all day/Instead, I’m pushin’ you away/So classic, assumin’ you telepathic/Okay, it might make me batshit/Just doin’ it outta habit, oh no.” It’s not something that can be explained but felt, and when you feel it, you know.
“I know love (feat. The Kid LAROI)” is a real not-so-hidden gem. I call it that because even though it’s present on the album it’s still very much underrated currently. With McRae and LAROI’s relationship on public display, their ability to let us into their world is super commendable. They effectively tell the story of the human experience of love, which is why this track is one I won’t spoil for you.
And last but certainly not least is the slower ballad on the album, “Nostalgia.” McRae’s inspiration for this song was a conversation she had with her father about what his biggest regrets were in life. She explained to Billboard that she was raised to not miss out on her passions and not let life pass you by. She sings, “Lately, I wake up feelin’ like, ‘oh/Where does the time go? You never really know’/…Funny thing about nostalgia, it didn’t show up ‘til I lost ya.”
Somehow McRae manages to make these topics not only relatable for the listener, but one hell of a vocal composition. This album is truly a piece of art about feeling feminine, owning your own baggage, managing relationships, and life experiences. Watch out for this pop star as she takes the stage for her “Miss Possessive Tour” in the upcoming months.
