Arts and Entertainment
By Giulia Gutzwiller, Staff Writer
Canadian singer-songwriter and dancer Tate McRae released her third studio album, “So Close To What,” on Feb. 21. From debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard charts to trending across social media platforms, “So Close To What” has cemented itself as an impactful album for fans and critics alike.
McRae announced “So Close To What” and the album’s second single, “2 hands,” on Nov. 14 following the release of the album’s first single, “It’s ok I’m ok” on Sept. 12. These songs were well-received upon their releases and charted at No. 41 and No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. One week after its release, “So Close To What” charted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts in the United States, marking McRae’s first No. 1 album.
“So Close To What” has garnered mostly positive reviews from critics. The album currently has a rating of 74 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 10 critics’ reviews. Rolling Stone described the album as “a sleek, fast-moving collection of darkly hued pop confections.”
The 15-track album contains dance-pop elements and electronic beats combined with emotional lyrics and serious themes, demonstrating McRae’s versatility and talent.
McRae’s music and performance style has been compared to 2000s pop icons like Britney Spears. Her energetic stage presence, extensive dance training and unique singing voice set her apart from other popular artists.
“I have been a fan of Tate McRae since her YouTube piano cover days, so I have seen her grow so much as a person,” first-year marketing major Corinne Gosky said.
“This album overall lived up to my expectations. I honestly am a fan of her newer music, but I love her older sad songs just as much,” Gosky said. “I loved this album a ton, and I’m very happy that most of her songs on this album represent her being happy.”
Additionally, “So Close To What” has received significant attention on social media platforms like TikTok, as most of the songs are upbeat and have catchy lyrics.
After McRae began performing “It’s ok I’m ok” on her Think Later World Tour, many TikTok users posted videos of themselves recreating the fierce and sultry choreography. More recently, online users have been posting videos attempting the difficult dance tricks that McRae flawlessly executes in her “Revolving door” music video.
Tate McRae has seen massive growth, partly due to her success with songs on Tiktok.
“My two favorite songs from the album are ‘Sports car’ and ‘No I’m not in love’ because they’re upbeat,” senior business analytics and information systems major Emma DiStefano said. “I love the dance trend to ‘Sports car.’”
On March 1, McRae was the featured musical guest on Saturday Night Live where she performed “Sports car” and “Dear god.” Later this month, her first arena tour, the Miss Possessive Tour, will begin in Mexico City.
As McRae experiments with her signature sound and writes songs that explore deeper themes, she will continue to create memorable projects that resonate with audiences.
