What do Barstow students think of the up-and-coming singer’s newest work?
The return of the “pop princess” is among us, all centered around Canadian singer/dancer Tate McRae and the release of sophomore album, THINK LATER. The album has all of quintessential pop characteristics, with clean production, catchy choruses, and lyrics easily trapped in your head after first listen.
But first, a little bit backstory on the singer: McRae first became famous for her dance career, especially on the hit TV show, “So You Think You Can Dance.” Her transition into singing happened slowly, with the occasional YouTube video. Eventually, her brand transformed to be more music-centered.
Now, McRae has reached high levels of fame for her pop sound. Her debut EP, all the things i never said, was followed up with arguably her most well-known song, “you broke me first,” which quickly became a trending sound on both TikTok and Instagram.
McRae’s newest album has a lot of what she does well: a pop, cursive sound that has a mix of power ballads and chart-toppers. The aesthetic of the album is especially interesting as it uses multiple hockey motifs (the goalie pads on the album cover, the hockey rink scene in the “greedy” music video, etc.). The hockey theme might be an homage to her hometown Calgary, or a silent dig to her now ex-boyfriend, Cole Sillinger, a hockey player on the Washington Capitals.
“The album was amazing. I loved her super pop sound, it was exactly what I needed at this point in my life,” says Izzy Parr ‘24, an avid McRae fan.
The album starts out strong, with “cut my hair,” a song about leaving the “good-girl” persona behind post-breakup. Immediately, McRae follows with another “man-eater anthem” in “greedy,” one of the singles on the album.
“greedy” has become especially popular because of TikTok, where McRae teased the sound. With just a few-second teaser, fans begged for her to release the whole song. The song became popular as the backing track for edits and the “Tube Girl Trend,” a trend created by Sabrina Bahsoon, a British Tiktoker that inspired thousands to dance on their form of public transportation as if no one was watching.
My personal favorite on the album, “run for the hills,” comes next, with a powerful synth-guitar riff as an introduction. The vocals are clear, working in harmony with the heavily produced backing track. The beat drop into the chorus is surprising and catchy, which is probably why I can’t stop listening.
“‘Run for the hills’ might be my favorite song of the year, and by year, I mean 2023! That song is the type of song where you get in your car, crank up the volume, and sing your heart out. Every breath is full of meaning,” continues Parr.
In the middle of the album, McRae includes a bout of ballads, with “grave,” “stay done,” “calgary,” and “messier.” “stay done” and “messier” are my favorites, as they showcase her acoustic strengths in the midst of heavy production. The contrast between each song is definitely a plus, as each has a unique flair.
“exes,” another hit off of the album, also grew in popularity on TikTok, as it became a trending sound. This song was also another single that was released pre-album, creating an important sense of hype around the release. The music video slightly strays from the hockey theme of the album and puts McRae in a boxing ring instead.
In the latter half of the album, I also appreciated “we’re not alike,” “guilty conscience,” and “plastic palm trees.” “we’re not alike” contains some of the best production on the album with the grimy drums and guitar line, while “guilty conscience” definitely has the most catchy intro. “plastic palm trees” again, shows off a more acoustic side of her voice, but the lyrics are definitely the highlight of the song, showcasing a relationship not meant to be, but still dearly missed.
Parr’s top songs on the album include “run for the hills,” “cut my hair,” “greedy,” and “exes,” as she loves “the pop anthem.”
McRae has already announced her THINK LATER World Tour (unfortunately, she is not coming to Kansas City), demonstrating her newfound success when it comes to her music. Her stage presence, as both a dancer and a singer, has already garnered some Britney Spears comparisons, so it’s bound to be a good show.
Overall, THINK LATER has become one of my most listened-to albums of 2024, so far. What did you think of the album? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
