"I’m not trying to pull the “I knew them before they got big” card, but I truly did know Tate McRae long before she hit it big. Dancers were on the Tate train back in 2016 when she competed on So You Think You Can Dance—and honestly, probably even before that. She was a child dance prodigy, setting the standard for competitive dancers everywhere. So, when she transitioned to pop, bringing jaw-dropping choreography paired with iconic tracks guaranteed to stay stuck in your head for days, I knew her pop star career was just beginning.
chronic fatigue, you better count your days
Even if you don’t recognize the name, you’ve definitely heard her songs somewhere on the internet—Think Later, Greedy, exes, and her latest release, Sports car, all became instant social media hits. She’s been compared to legends like Britney Spears and Nelly Furtado and has quickly amassed a cult following. After streaming her single Sports car on repeat since its release, I’m thrilled that her highly anticipated new album, So Close to What, is finally here. As The Everygirl’s resident Tate McRae stan (self-appointed, but definitely still counts), here’s my ranking of every song on the album.
Every song on Tate McRae’s So Close to What, ranked
15. Means I care
This song is the perfect anthem for all the anxious attachment girlies out there. While I love its relatability, I don’t see it becoming a staple in my playlists. Tate shines brightest on upbeat pop tracks, and the slower, more emotional songs just don’t stand out as much to me. My personal measure of danceability is low for this one, so it’s not a go-to.
Score: 5/10
14. No I’m not in love
There isn’t a single song on this album that I actively dislike, but this one, like Means I care, blends into the rest of Tate’s discography a little too easily. It’s still good, but there are other songs with a similar vibe on the album that I gravitate toward more.
Score: 6/10
13. Signs
As a Cancer, I know the struggle of wanting people to read your mind when it comes to emotions all too well. This song nails that feeling, which definitely earns it some points. While I love the concept, the song itself didn’t immediately wow me—but I can see it working its way up my personal ranking as time goes on.
Score: 6.5/10
12. Revolving door
This is for everyone caught in the cycle of an on-again, off-again relationship, unable to break free from that one toxic ex. That’s not my journey, so I don’t personally connect with it, but I can absolutely see the appeal. It’s not a song I’d skip, but it’s also not one I’d actively add to my playlists.
Score: 6.5/10
11. Greenlight
In a world where Green Light by Lorde exists, it’s tough to release a song with such a similar name and not compare them. And not to pit female artists against each other, but Lorde’s Green Light is, well, Green Light. That said, I absolutely love the bridge of this song, and that alone almost bumped it up a few spots.
Score: 7/10
10. Dear god
This feels like a classic Tate McRae song, and I can already picture the inevitable TikTok dances that will come from it. But when stacked up against similar tracks like Sports car and It’s ok I’m ok, it doesn’t quite hit the same. It’s sitting comfortably in the middle of the pack for me.
Score: 7.5/10
9. I know love (feat. The Kid LAROI)
Maybe I’m just a sap, but I love when artists feature their boyfriends on a track. It’s giving Barry Keoghan and Sabrina Carpenter in the Please, Please, Please music video, and I’m here for it. “I know love what it is what it is” isn’t exactly profound lyrical poetry, but it’s been stuck in my head since my first listen, and I’ll definitely have this one on repeat.
Score: 7.5/10
8. Purple lace bra
On the surface, this sounds like a song about a romantic relationship, but it’s actually about Tate’s complicated relationship with the music industry. The lines “You only listen when I’m undressed” and “I’m losin’ my mind ’cause giving you head’s the only time you think I got depth” had my jaw on the floor. If anyone dares to reduce Tate’s talent to sex appeal, I’m ready to fight them.
Score: 8/10
7. Nostalgia
As someone who is chronically nostalgic, this song spoke to me on a spiritual level. It has a subtle country influence that I wasn’t expecting, but it still feels very much like Tate. Beyond being an undeniable bop, it’s also the reminder I constantly need to live in the present instead of obsessing over the past or future. I didn’t think a slower song from her would crack my top ten, but this one is a sleeper hit.
Score: 8/10
6. bloodonmyhands (feat. Flo Mili)
Apparently, this is Tate’s personal favorite from the album, and honestly, it’s up there for me too. Flo Milli’s verse is simply iconic, and the song itself is the ultimate breakup anthem for when you’re in your “the best revenge is living well” era. If you’re looking for the soundtrack of your post-heartbreak glow-up, this is it.
Score: 8.5/10
5. 2 hands
I need it to be summer immediately so I can blast this in my car with the windows down. For lack of a better word, this song is just…a vibe. 2 hands scratches the same itch as Bed Chem by Sabrina Carpenter, and I can’t stop listening. It might be too early to declare the song of the summer, but I won’t be shocked if 2 hands claims the title by June.
Score: 9/10
4. Miss possessive
This one was so close to cracking my top three, but it just barely missed the cut. That said, I’m still completely obsessed. It has the same energy as Olivia Rodrigo’s jealousy, jealousy, where we get to fully embrace the pettiness of jealousy with no shame. This is an automatic addition to my “getting ready to go out” playlist.
Score: 9/10
3. Like I do
If you told me this was an unreleased Ariana Grande song from her Thank U, Next era, I’d 100 percent believe you. It perfectly captures that frenemy dynamic when you think someone is your bestie, but in reality, they’re secretly rooting for your downfall. Thankfully, I don’t have any opps like that in in my life, but that won’t stop me from playing this on repeat until I’m absolutely sick of it.
Score: 9.5/10
2. It’s ok I’m ok
Tate absolutely nailed the singles for this album, and both of them landed in my top two. This song cements her status as a full-fledged pop princess, right beside the likes of Sabrina Carpenter and Dua Lipa. If you somehow still have any doubts about Tate Mcrae’s talent, just watch a single clip of her performing this live, and you’ll be convinced.
Score: 10/10
1. Sports car
I have listened to Sports car multiple times a day since it dropped, and it still hits just as hard on listen hundred-something as it did on the first. Tate is giving major Nelly Furtado energy on this track, and it instantly transported me to peak early 2000s pop. I need to be in a club with my best friends, dancing to this song immediately. Until then, I’ll be busy using it as the backdrop for my maladaptive daydream where I’m a pop star on a sold-out world tour.
Score: 10/10
Lauren Blue, Assistant Editor
As an Assistant Editor for The Everygirl, Lauren ideates and writes content for every facet of our readers’ lives. Her articles span the topics of must-read books, movies, home tours, travel itineraries—and everything in between. When she isn’t testing the latest TikTok trend, she can be found scouring Goodreads for new releases to feature on the site.