Movies

Why “So Close to What” is Tate McRae’s best album to date

BBG News

Last month, Tate McRae was conspicuously absent from the 2025 Grammy Awards, yet her steady rise in the pop music scene over the past few years is undeniable. It seems only a matter of time before she receives the recognition that truly reflects her talent, as her latest music continues to skyrocket in popularity.

Tate’s exceptional abilities have been honed over the years, captivating audiences even before she gained recognition in the pop music scene. She graced our screens with her dance performances prior to becoming widely known. Some milestones from her early career include: dancing on Justin Bieber’s Purpose World Tour, appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and finishing third in season 13 of So You Think You Can Dance, among numerous other achievements. In 2017, she stepped into the spotlight as a singer/songwriter by debuting her original music through the Create with Tate series on YouTube. This marked the beginning of her journey, which led to signing with RCA Records and embarking on her transformation into a pop star.

As an established artist, Tate’s track “Greedy” marked her debut in the Billboard top ten singles chart and signaled a change in her musical direction from melancholic pop to uplifting dance tunes. With the launch of her third studio album, “So Close to What”, Tate delivers flawless pop music, blending her emotive lyrics with catchy electro synths that echo the carefree club beats of the early 2000s, showcasing a more mature sound.

Prior to the February 21st release of “So Close to What”, Tate previewed the album with three singles: “It’s ok I’m ok”, “2 hands”, and “Sports car”. These songs not only demonstrate Tate’s artistic growth, but also reveal her as a self-assured and unabashed young woman. Through thematic exploration of love, heartbreak, and sexuality, she presents herself in a bold and empowered light.

Album Highlights

The song “Sports car” is a lively pop tune with soft whispers that evokes the fluttery sensation in your stomach when you’re falling in love for the first time, or speeding down the highway. In an interview with Variety, Tate explains composing “Sports car” as an analogy between the thrill of driving fast and the excitement of youth, romance, and self-discovery. The song is bold, sensual, playful, flirtatious, and unabashed. Drawing inspiration from “Wait (The Whisper Song)” by the Ying Yang Twins from 2005, the hit single incorporates a completely whispered chorus, marking new sonic ground for Tate. It appears that the gamble has paid off, as the song has climbed to become her number 1 track on Spotify.

In the “Sports Car” music video, Tate delves deeper into her journey of self-discovery and defining her musical identity. She’s captivating in an array of ensembles, each reflecting different aspects of herself much like high-end cars in a showroom. Her charisma radiates throughout the song and video, embodying a woman who is confident and comfortable with who she is. The upbeat, sexy, and fun vibe of the track, combined with its infectious rhythm, makes it a memorable addition to the album, reminiscent of songs you’d find on a Britney Spears record.

In a way that resonates personally, I’d rephrase it like this: “Both ‘I’m Alright’ and ‘Two Hands’ share a similar vibe, each with their own captivating rhythms. While ‘Two Hands’ brings back the exhilarating sports car imagery we loved from the ‘Sports Car’ music video, ‘I’m Alright’ showcases Tate’s exceptional street dancing skills in New York City. They’re tunes that inspire you to dance, which align perfectly with her dance-oriented background, making ‘So Close to What’ sound more distinctively ‘Tate’ compared to previous albums.

One noteworthy track from the album is “Revolving Door,” which blends dance rhythms while maintaining Tate’s authentic songwriting style centered around heartache. The accompanying video opens with Tate performing a standing split, concluding with her shedding tears on the floor, prepared to start over again. This seems to symbolize the weariness of a cyclical relationship and perhaps her struggle with the duality of being a musician, loving her craft but finding it taxing to constantly prove herself and her dedication in the media.

In essence, Tate’s song “Purple Lace Bra” underscores that women can embody beauty and intellectual depth simultaneously. This track continues this theme, starting with a captivating string introduction. It tackles the stereotype that women in music must be attractive to sell, yet when they express their own sexuality, they are objectified. Tate boldly addresses this unfair dual standard in “Purple Lace Bra” and works towards eliminating such prejudice by showcasing her multifaceted nature across her album, taking on various viewpoints to challenge these expectations.

In an Interview for Apple Music, she discusses this concept even more.

She expresses, “I’ve never penned pieces from the standpoint of understanding both the positive and negative emotions associated with being a woman prior to this. I believe it’s because I was simply too young before to comprehend those feelings. However, it was strange. It felt like I became 21 this year, and suddenly I started feeling more at ease in my own skin, becoming sexier, confident, and empowered. But then I also experienced the consequences of expressing that confidence online, such as media scrutiny. This song truly resonated with me as if it was a dialogue between me and the media, implying they’re not hearing my voice.

Songs like “Miss Possessive”, “Nostalgia”, and “Dear God” from the album also warrant recognition due to their memorable melodies and sincere lyrics.

Read More

2025-03-11 02:02

Previous post Kym Marsh’s Terrifying Phone Mugging Horror
Next post Simon Fisher-Becker, British actor known for ‘Doctor Who’ and ‘Harry Potter,’ dies at 63