Tate McRae released her second studio album “Think Later” on Friday.
The professional-dancer-turned-pop star rose to internet fame this year with her breakout single “greedy.” The song has been used in over two million videos on TikTok.
The track is confident and danceable, a perfect choice for a lead pop single.
The lyrics poke fun at her admirers and haters but also establish narrative dominance.
“I see you eyeinʼ me down, but youʼll never know much past my name/ Or how Iʼm runninʼ this room around and that Iʼm still half your age,” McRae sings on the track.
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“greedy” and the rest of her album were executive produced by Ryan Tedder, known for his work with big names like Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and U2.
“I’m working beside people that I really admire, and people that really respect me as a young woman, and that feels very satisfying,” McRae said in an interview with Billboard.
Her second single, “exes,” is a sarcastic pop banger, unique in its sound.
While “greedy” could, in theory, be sung by another artist, “exes” feels uniquely Tate McRae. Her confidence and nonchalance seem authentic, capturing the perfect single girl’s anthem.
She gives her exes and onlookers faux apologies, singing “Oh, Iʼm sorry, sorry that you love me (Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha)/ Changed my mind up like itʼs origami.”
McRae develops an ode to unrequited love and 20-something angst with the remainder of the album.
Her lyrics are wistful and earnest, whether she’s admitting delusion on “grave” or hoping to be chosen on “cut my hair.”
She also addresses jealousy and competition with other women in “cut my hair.”
“Just wanna show you whatever she does, I can do it better,” McRae sings.
The theme of competition continues in “hurt my feelings” as McRae sings “She wears your number, but I got what you like/ Sheʼs got you right now, but Iʼm still on your mind.”
McRae develops melancholy pop anthems with “we’re not alike,” “guilty conscience” and “hurt my feelings.”
The tracks elicit dancing, yet contain some of her lowest emotions.
“guilty conscience” features heavy drums and a catchy chorus, but lyrically shows a girl who is losing her identity.
“All my morals shot, evеn that donʼt faze me/ Lovinʼ you batshit crazy,” McRae sings.
With “THINK LATER,” Tate’s messaging and emotions are spelled out directly through her lyrics.
She has bypassed figurative language, and dives headfirst into the confrontation of her feelings.
On “stay done,” she admits her inability to stay away from a love interest.
“Yeah, I know we should break up/ But I just can’t stay done with you, you,” McRae sings.
There is no getting lost in metaphors on this album, because McRae is going to paint the picture exactly as it happened.
The title track “think later” is a loud confessional in which McRae owns her impulsivity.
“Live now, think later, I do it so well/ Fall hard, heartbreaker, I want him, oh, well,” she sings.
The album is riddled with “make up/break up” and other cliches, but McRae’s storytelling is powerful in its relatability and honesty.
