Song Review
'Nostalgia' by Tate McRae
I chose to review this particular song since it just came out today on her brand new album called 'So Close to What’. I have also been a huge fan of Tate McRae for a really long time, so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to give my thoughts. (Photo Source - Euphoria) 'Nostalgia' in particular stands out to me because I had watched a podcast (Jake Shane Podcast - 18:49-20:42) that she had been on, and she explained how this song was inspired by her dad because she had asked him what his biggest regret was and he said, “Not becoming an architect”.
Which then, the very first line of the song says:
"Daddy went to law school and could've been an architect
Now he's turnin' sixty and wonders where the big dream went
Tucker never said a lot, two eyes down, a little luck
Took it to the Ivies and never really knew for what".
When I listened to it for the very first time, I already knew how meaningful this song is to her and the whole story behind combined with the lyrics gave me chills. I feel that many people do go through life wishing that they had just done what they truly wanted to do, so I feel like many people are able to relate to this situation. She really just pours her heart and soul into her craft which is something that I always admire most about many of my favorite artists.
Who is Tate McRae?
Tate is a 21 year old, Canadian pop singer who grew up dancing, singing and songwriting at a young age. She was on season 13 of 'So You Think You Can Dance', and has had many years of professional dance training prior to being on the show. Since she was just 7 years old, Tate has been singing and songwriting and uploading those songs to YouTube. She started a series on YouTube called "Create With Tate" that featured original songs she wrote and recorded. "McRae caught the attention of RCA Records in 2019 after her original song, One Day (2017) went viral on YouTube, subsequently releasing her debut EP: all the things i never said (2020)" (IMDb). So, this led to her getting signed to a record label at the age of 16. In 2020, she became the youngest musician featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list (Forbes). In 2021, her second EP, 'TOO YOUNG TO BE SAD' was also the most streamed female EP on Spotify. Another little fun fact about Tate is that she also has a song with for her new album called 'I know love' that features her boyfriend, and popular artist, The Kid Laroi. (Photo Source - People Magazine)
'So Close To What' Album Style
The 2000s pop style is definitely the backbone of the majority of her discography, but it is seen significantly more in her newest album. Her music style reminds me a lot of Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears. Many people do say that it is possible for her to be "the new Britney Spears", and I can't say that I disagree. All three show off their femininity through their music, music videos, and style. They each have their own unique and recognizable vocal styles, but they do tend to hit similar notes within their songs. However, 'Nostalgia' doesn't sound as similar to Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears songs. This song is a bit slower paced and has a bit less of an upbeat pop tone to it. It resembles a couple of her songs prior called 'want that too' and 'that way'. One thing I will say, is that the actual music itself, in the introduction specifically, does sound very similar to the song 'Enough For You' by Olivia Rodrigo.
Why is This Important?
I think the song 'Nostalgia' is an important song for a variety of adults who may be going through regrets of not pursuing their dreams when they should've because it's a common thing to feel when we get older, and I hope that when people do listen to this song that they aren't so hard on themselves for it. I also hope that people are able to begin living for themselves as much as they can to prevent other regrets from building up. As people, we also just do a lot of reflecting on of ourselves and our lives which is very much a common theme throughout this song. An example of this in the chorus is when Tate says, "Funny thing about nostalgia, didn't show up 'til I lost ya". That line has a lot of power and truth to it because when we're in the moment, we don't think about how much we're going to miss it when it's over. I feel that as a society, we get so caught up in the race of life that we don't get chance to just stop and appreciate what we're doing. A lot of things seem unreachable, and while that may be true at times, it doesn't hurt to try.
Thoughts & Opinions
Overall, I love her music, my friends love her music, and a lot of do as well. I have this album and all of her previous albums downloaded as well. Personally, I do think this song and the whole album is some of Tate's best work because she really showcases her talent and personality through it. Many of her songs have a variety of meanings and hidden meanings behind the lyrics, such as ‘Purple lace bra' which is a dig at the media for only paying attention to her if she does something she hasn't ever done before. Who would've thought? She is very well-liked by many critics stating, "Only, she’s managed to set herself apart from contemporaries on parallel paths: She isn’t Sabrina Carpenter, all bombshell and sarcasm, nor is she Chappell Roan, all theatrics and confessionals. McRae stands alone as a pop allegiant" (Variety). I have to agree with this, she has positively separated her style of pop music from many other pop artists.
Social Media
Tate uses pretty much every social media platform such as Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and X to promote her music and upcoming performances. Her social media team also has an account to promote her work on all of these platforms as well called t8hq. She has 5.6 million followers on Instagram, 11.4 million followers on TikTok, 5.83 million subscribers on YouTube, and 184.6k on X. Her most used platforms are TikTok and Instagram. However, on her YouTube she does post lyric videos, music videos, and the creation process for her songs that aren't all posted on her Instagram, TikTok, or X. She does have a website as well if you are interested in learning more about 'Nostalgia' and her other songs. More information: Tate McRae
Wrap Up
As if I haven't already said enough about Tate's music. I really enjoy listening to her music, and 'Nostalgia' especially. Since I started writing this critique, I definitely have learned a lot more about Tate as an artist and just how much time, effort, and thought goes into each of her songs. I also was able to learn even more about her music history because I first found out who she was through dance. It is honestly crazy how much of an impact she's had on so many people through her art. In addition to that, it was just an enjoyable way for me to learn more about one of my favorite artist's successes and see the growth of her skills. (Photo Source - Billboard)
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