My music taste tends to be all over the place, and one artist that adds to the confusion is Tate McRae. She is a 17-year-old Canadian singer, songwriter and dancer who stepped into the spotlight at age 13. You probably know her hit single “You Broke Me First” which topped the charts upon its release in April 2020. In fact, that was the first song I encountered of hers; since then I have been hooked.
McRae’s most recent release, “Slower” is a prelude to her EP “Too Young to be Sad,” which is rumored to release on March 26. She wrote the first version of this song when she was just 14 and reworked it into what it is today. As I’m writing this, “Slower” has only been out for about 9 hours and is already climbing the charts.
Keep scrolling to read a little, or a lot, about her new hit “Slower”:
Verse One:
Playing cool makes me lose my mind
I can’t be someone I don’t recognize
I’m not the type to say it twice
Or wait for you ‘till the end of the night
The beginning of the song begins rather slowly, and McRae’s airy voice enters just above the notes. McRae has been listed under the “sad pop” genre, and she definitely lives up to it. McRae paints a picture of young love and the imbalance that is often found alongside it. McRae clearly knows where she stands and finds herself running ahead of her lover. She admits that she will not wait for him all night, even if it means losing him. McRae states that she will not choose him over herself, as she painfully sings, “I can’t be someone I don’t recognize.”
Pre-Chorus:
I’ve been falling fast and you don’t seem to move
But is it worse for me, if I tell the truth?
And are you just a poison that I shouldn’t use?
Wish I could say to you
What I can’t say to you
McRae fills the pre-chorus with a continuation of the themes in the first verse. She solidifies the idea that the feelings in the relationship are imbalanced and McRae battles with what to do. The back and forth of the music matches the conflicting thoughts in her head as she sings, “is it worse for me, if I tell the truth?”. The truth could potentially expand the already large gap between the two, and she questions the risk. She furthers this idea within the metaphor of poison as she is clearly aware of the pain that will follow, and yet, she doesn’t stop.
Chorus:
We could take it slower
Wait until we’re older
But I might be somebody
You might not even know her
I’m going through changes
It’s a rollercoaster
But I might be somebody
You might not even know her
Post-Chorus
We could take it slower
The chorus, like most songs, is where the title comes into play. McRae pulls in end rhymes with “slower” and the word “older” which creates a beat that joins seamlessly with the beat of the music. This is a song I do not recommend you drive to—you will most definitely be judged by your head-bopping skills, based on my own personal experience. McRae suggests further into the chorus they take a break, with the hope that age will bind the distance. She admits that “I might be somebody / You might not even know her,” which places a certain pressure on her lover—if he wants this, he needs to show her.
Verse Two:
Who knows who I’ll be tomorrow
But I hope that you still like her the same
We might end up strangers somehow
You should get to know me today
In this verse, McRae switches the tone to one that revolves around shifts and changes. She continues to show her persistence but clearly states that change is inevitable and that he “should get to know her today” because she will not be that person tomorrow. A small part of her hopes that his feelings remain the same over time as she sadly sings, “But I hope you still like her the same.” Change is something that is hard because without even trying, shifts happen without our assistance or knowledge. Growing apart is easy, but growing together is even harder.
Tate McRae is one example of an up-and-coming artist, so get used to hearing her name! Who knows what kind of magic she will string together next? Mark your calendars for March 26… oh, and go stream “Slower”!