A new Ticketmaster war is upon us, and it features the one and only Lizzy McAlpine. Returning after two years, McAlpine has just released dates for her upcoming tour, showcasing music from Angel (2026), her fourth studio album. Taking a different path from her past album, Older, this album focuses more on musical-theater elements and folk tones, offering an ode to her time on Broadway.
Although I watched countless seats vanish before my eyes in that queue, I’ll be sharing the preparation I would’ve gone through had I been lucky enough to score tickets to The Over Country Tour. Get ready to sing your heart out!
- “Over country”
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Starting with the obvious and the name behind the tour, “Over country” is definitely a song to know. McAlpine wanted to focus on how deeply love can be felt, even from far away. Many fans quickly made it a TikTok trend, using the song to post about their significant others, friends, and family. Its popularity among fans makes it a shoo-in for a live performance.
Other than giving the tour its name, “Over country” also represents that this tour will literally be all over the country, unlike some of her other tours that have just hit a couple of major cities. - “The light in the painting”
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The first single that McAlpine released to tease her album was “The light in the painting.” This song perfectly represents the lovestruck vibe of her new music. Because of this, I think she’s very likely to play it on tour to represent the shift in her songwriting.
McAlpine is also more likely to play newer songs. Both the representation of her shift in her musical composition and the popularity of the song since its release as a single give it a high chance of being included in the show lineup. - “ceilings”
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A McAlpine staple we all know and love, “ceilings” is a must-listen! The song that kickstarted her career and popularity, “ceilings” is the voice of a very famous TikTok trend. We all remember creators chasing after moving cars, lip-syncing the lyrics, and performing their hearts out.
Capturing the feeling of romanticizing a past relationship, this ballad tells the story of longing to return to what you once had. “ceilings” flourishes in all the right spots, emphasizing the emotion and making it a great tune to sing along to.
- “Spring Into Summer”
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“Spring Into Summer” is another popular McAlpine hit. Although it’s from Older (2024), I think she’ll bring it back to this setlist. “Spring Into Summer” was one of the few songs on her third studio album that had a more upbeat tune, reflecting on the cycle of relationships and the strong pull to go back to someone you used to care about.
Since the song is more cheerful and she’s singing about returning to whoever she is missing, I think it matches the romantic emotions she poured into Angel. It was also a crowd favorite on her last tour, which might influence her decision to bring it back to the track list this year. - “Ugly things”
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Moving back to Angel, “Ugly things” gained quick popularity as another early single. Following the pain of a breakup, “Ugly things” paints a picture in listeners’ minds as we watch her ex do unkind things to her. McAlpine then ends the song by wishing his actions would make her want to move on or love him less, but her feelings remain just as strong.
I find this song relatable, and since it’s barely been performed live, I think it’ll be a hit with the audience. Others out there have definitely been in similar, heartbreaking relationships and can unfortunately relate. The emotion and yearning of this song’s lyrics will have crowds screaming along.
- “I Guess”
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This song is more of a random suggestion since it’s not in her top-listened songs. However, I think “I Guess” maintains the vibe McAlpine seems to be going for on this new tour. It uses acoustic guitar, horns, and strings to build a perfect climax towards the end of the song.
The ballad encompasses longing and romantic confusion, leaving her unsure of the relationship and what she wants. I think the overall meaning of the song fits into some of the tropes of her newer music, similar to “Ugly things,” in a way. The lyrical meaning and swell of the melody make it a perfect fit for the tour setlist.
- “orange show speedway”
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“orange show speedway” comes from five seconds flat (2022) and finishes out the album. In this ballad, she compares her young love to the recklessness of a racetrack and reflects on how she feels upon returning to the spot years later without her former lover. It surrounds these lyrics with a contrasting upbeat tempo, a rarity for McAlpine.
I think this difference from her other songs will actually give it a better chance of being picked for the setlist. The themes are the same as the other songs on this list: missing someone but not knowing how to feel about it. However, the fast-paced nature of the song and eccentric percussion work could make “orange show speedway” a great energy boost if played live.
- “a car wash and a new pair of pants”
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Another new track, “A car wash and a new pair of pants,” focuses on how her past relationship only wanted to use her for the fame that came with dating her. The ballad has a folk vibe, using acoustic guitar and strong flourishes to convey emotion.
Besides being a song from her new album, which gives it a better chance of being played, I think the track is something personal to McAlpine. Playing it live could demonstrate how she’s overcome that past relationship and found someone who truly loves her, something she’s always wanted.
- “Pancakes for Dinner”
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The only song I’ll be pulling from her first-ever album, Give Me A Minute (2020), is “Pancakes for Dinner,” a beautiful song about young love and wondering what would happen if she were to confess. She states that she wants to do simple things with the person she’s in love with, like eating “pancakes for dinner.”
I think the feeling of anxiety and lovesickness ties in perfectly with some of her newer tracks. It would also mean she would be playing songs from all four of her albums live, which would be amazing to witness.
- “I have a friend”
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Wrapping up my list, I included “I have a friend,” another new song. I wanted to be sure to include just a simple love song, which “I have a friend” fully encompasses. McAlpine sings about how she feels her lover is also one of her closest friends and that she could spend a lifetime with them.
I think this song is important to include because it shows how McAlpine is transitioning into a time in her life filled with love rather than heartbreak. I could see the quiet melody of the song wrapping up the tour before the encore, demonstrating the new era in her life.
Regardless of whether McAlpine actually plays these songs or not, I think the variety of the music included can help introduce you to how she writes and prepare you for the heartbreak you will feel from hearing her devastating lyrics live. Any song she decides to play will be a good one, and I’m so beyond jealous yet excited for those of you who came out successful from the Ticketmaster war!
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