That Way (Tate McRae song)

Last updated

"That Way"
Promotional single by Tate McRae
from the EP All the Things I Never Said
ReleasedJanuary 24, 2020 (2020-01-24)
Genre Pop
Length2:55
Label RCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Nick Monson

"That Way" (stylized in all lowercase letters) is a song by Canadian singer Tate McRae, from her debut EP All the Things I Never Said (2020). The song was released as the EPs only promotional single and was written by McRae, Skyler Stonestreet, and Nick Monson and produced by Nick Monson. "That Way" is a minimalist piano ballad. [1]

Contents

Background and release

McRae originally previewed first half of the song on YouTube in December 2019. [2] The song was officially released alongside her EP on January 24, 2020. [3] The song was written in late 2018 or early 2019, [4] when McRae was in Grade 10. [5] The song became a sleeper hit, performing moderately on its release but after going viral on TikTok in 2021, due to the lyric "friends don't look at friends that way", [4] the song charted in the UK and Ireland, and was certified Platinum in the US, Gold in Australia, Canada, and Denmark and Silver in the UK. The song has attracted over 470,000 videos on TikTok combined, [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] over 202 million views on TikTok on the official sound, [11] and over 370 million streams on Spotify. A remix with Jeremy Zucker was released on September 3, 2021. [12]

Composition and lyrics

The song narrates a friendship that becomes more than platonic, but both parties can't act on their mutual attraction for each other. McRae has noted that the song is based on a real experience and is about having a crush on someone you know you would never be with. [5] The song was described by Ashley Osborn of Ones to Watch as the sadder, more mature version of Taylor Swift's "You Belong with Me". Osborn remarked that the song expresses sentiments of deeper feelings for a friend matched by unclear signs, resulting in perplexing dejection. [13] The song has also been described as using "heartbreakingly specific lyrics to describe a friendship that always comes tantalizingly close to taking the next step but never does, the friendship itself on life support as it hangs around in an awkward limbo." [14]

Critical reception

Writing for Ones to Watch, Ashley Osborn remarks that the song is the perfect testament to McRae's incredible ability to express distinct moments of emotional strife through her unique thread of vocal performance. [13] Music review site Ben's Beat describes that the song as one of the most emotional tracks on the EP, noting that McRae's sorrowful vocals are mainly supported by muted percussion hits and slowly moving piano chords, but this suffices, due to the conviction and heartfelt emotion in the song. [14]

Music video

The music video featured McRae dancing alone in a room lit with blue light, to her own choreography, in the contemporary dance style. [15] McRae remarked of the video in a press release, "I have multiple sides to me; a lot of layers that people have not yet seen. My dancing is a huge part of my life, so I'm so glad I finally get to create movement to a song that's really personal to me." [16]

Live performances

McRae performed the song on Late Night with Seth Meyers on October 14, 2021. [17]

Credits

Credits adapted from Tidal [18]

Charts

Chart performance for "That Way"
Chart (2021)Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA) [19] 59
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan) [20] 1
UK Singles (OCC) [21] 82

Certifications

Certifications for "That Way"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [22] Gold35,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [23] 3× Platinum120,000‡
Canada (Music Canada) [24] Gold40,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [25] Gold45,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [26] Gold400,000‡
United States (RIAA) [27] Platinum1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

"Stupid" is a song by American rapper Ashnikko featuring American rapper Baby Tate from the former's third EP, Hi It's Me, released under Digital Picnic/Parlophone Records on July 12, 2019. Produced by Oscar Scheller, "Stupid" became popular on the video-sharing app TikTok, where celebrities like Miley Cyrus and Cody Simpson have danced to the song. It has been described as industrial and pop-rap. The song received positive reviews from music critics, who praised the song for its production, songwriting and vocal performances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tate McRae</span> Canadian singer and dancer (born 2003)

Tate Rosner McRae is a Canadian singer-songwriter and dancer. At the age of 13, she gained prominence as the first Canadian finalist on the American reality television series So You Think You Can Dance. McRae was signed by RCA Records in 2019 after her songs had gained traction online—including her 2017 viral hit "One Day"—as she released her debut extended play (EP) All the Things I Never Said (2020) in January of the following year. Her 2020 single, "You Broke Me First" became an international hit and peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2021, McRae was the youngest musician to be featured on the Forbes' 30 Under 30 list.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Broke Me First</span> 2020 single by Tate McRae

"You Broke Me First" is a song by Canadian singer Tate McRae. It was released on April 17, 2020, through RCA Records as the lead single from her second extended play, Too Young to Be Sad (2021). The song gained popularity on the video-sharing platform TikTok, where it has featured in over a million videos. The song is the second most streamed song released by a female artist in 2020. The song impacted mainstream US radio on August 4, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bella Poarch</span> American singer and social media personality (born 1997)

Denarie Bautista Taylor, known professionally as Bella Poarch, is an American social media personality and singer. On August 17, 2020, she created the most liked video on TikTok, in which she lip syncs to the song "M to the B" by British rapper Millie B. She is the most followed TikTok contributor from the Philippines. In May 2021, she released her debut single "Build a Bitch".

<i>All the Things I Never Said</i> (Tate McRae EP) 2020 EP by Tate McRae

All the Things I Never Said is the debut extended play by Canadian singer Tate McRae. It was released on January 24, 2020 by RCA Records. The EP was supported by the release of three singles and one promotional single, and received positive reviews from critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lie to Me (Tate McRae and Ali Gatie song)</span> 2020 single by Tate McRae and Ali Gatie

"Lie to Me" is a song by Canadian singer Tate McRae and Iraqi–Canadian singer and songwriter Ali Gatie. It was released on October 14, 2020 through RCA Records. The song was written by the artists, along with Eirik Gjendemsjø, Emily-Madelen Harbakk, Lise Reppe, Manon van Dijk, Marthe E. Strand, Nicolay Øverland, McRae and Victor Karlsen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R U OK (song)</span> 2020 single by Tate McRae

"R U OK" is a song by Canadian singer Tate McRae. It was released on December 13, 2020, through RCA Records as the second single from McRae's second extended play, Too Young to Be Sad. The song was written by McRae, Bryan Fryzel and Lowell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rubberband (Tate McRae song)</span> 2021 single by Tate McRae

"Rubberband" is a song by Canadian singer Tate McRae. It was released on January 20, 2021 through RCA Records as the third single from McRae's second extended play, Too Young to Be Sad. The song was written by McRae, Andrew Goldstein, Jacob Kasher, Natalie Solomon and Victoria Zaro.

<i>Too Young to Be Sad</i> 2021 EP by Tate McRae

Too Young to Be Sad is the second extended play by Canadian singer Tate McRae. It was released on March 26, 2021 by RCA Records. The EP was preceded by three singles and one promotional single, with the fourth single released alongside the EP and received positive reviews from critics. On Spotify, the EP has amassed over one billion streams, making it the most streamed female EP of 2021 on Spotify.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slower (song)</span> 2021 song by Tate McRae

"Slower" is a song by Canadian singer and songwriter Tate McRae. It was released on March 3, 2021 through RCA Records as the first and only promotional single from McRae's second extended play, Too Young to Be Sad. The song was written by McRae, Nolan Lambroza, Russell Chell, Zack Zadek and Zoe Moss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You (Regard, Troye Sivan and Tate McRae song)</span> 2021 single by Regard, Troye Sivan and Tate McRae

"You" is a song by Kosovo-Albanian disc jockey Regard, Australian singer Troye Sivan and Canadian singer Tate McRae. It was written by the performers along with Frederik Castenschiold Eichen, Koda, Sakima and Tom Mann, and produced by Regard. Marking the first collaboration between the artists, the song was released as a single for digital download and streaming by Ministry of Sound on 16 April 2021. It is an '80s-inspired English-language dance-pop and electro-pop song, blending deep house, retro-pop and synth-pop influences. Focused on heartbreak, the song is about the difficulties over a failed relationship and how hard it is to move on from someone you love. The song received positive reviews from music critics, who highlighted its music and lyrics as well as Regard's production and Sivan and McRae's vocal delivery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mimi Webb</span> English singer and songwriter (born 2000)

Amelia Anne Webb, known professionally as Mimi Webb, is an English singer and songwriter. In October 2021, she released her debut EP, Seven Shades of Heartbreak, which peaked at number nine on the UK Albums Chart, and included the single "Good Without", which peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart. Webb released her debut studio album, Amelia, in March 2023, which spawned the successful singles "House on Fire", "Ghost of You" and "Red Flags".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Working (song)</span> 2021 single by Tate McRae and Khalid

"Working" is a song by Canadian singer Tate McRae and American singer Khalid, released on June 17, 2021 by RCA Records. The song was written alongside Sarah Aarons and producer Joel Little. "Working" peaked within the top 50 in Canada, and also appeared on singles charts in the United States, Ireland, and Sweden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feel Like Shit</span> 2021 single by Tate McRae

"Feel Like Shit" is a song by Canadian singer Tate McRae, released on November 11, 2021, by RCA Records as the lead single from her debut studio album I Used to Think I Could Fly (2022). The song was produced by Russell Chell and Jasper Harris, and written by McRae, Jacob Kasher, Russell Chell and Victoria Zaro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">She's All I Wanna Be</span> 2022 single by Tate McRae

"She's All I Wanna Be" is a song by Canadian singer Tate McRae. Written alongside produced Greg Kurstin, it was released on February 4, 2022 by RCA Records as the second single from her debut studio album I Used to Think I Could Fly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chaotic (Tate McRae song)</span> 2022 single by Tate McRae

"Chaotic" is a song by Canadian singer Tate McRae, released on March 25, 2022, by RCA Records as the third single from her debut studio album I Used to Think I Could Fly, released on May 27, 2022. The song was produced by Greg Kurstin, and written by McRae, Kurstin and Victoria Zaro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">10:35</span> 2022 single by Tiësto featuring Tate McRae

"10:35" is a song by Dutch DJ Tiësto featuring Canadian singer Tate McRae. It was released on 3 November 2022 through Musical Freedom and Atlantic Records as the sixth single from Tiësto's seventh studio album Drive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greedy (Tate McRae song)</span> 2023 single by Tate McRae

"Greedy" is a song by Canadian singer and dancer Tate McRae. It was released through RCA Records on September 15, 2023, as the lead single of her second studio album Think Later (2023). The song was written by McRae, alongside Amy Allen, Jasper Harris, and OneRepublic lead singer Ryan Tedder; production was handled by the latter two along with Grant Boutin. Lyrically, McRae described the song as an ode to female empowerment. "Greedy" was commercially successful, peaking at number one on both the Billboard Global 200 and Canadian Hot 100, and number three on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exes (song)</span> 2023 single by Tate McRae

"Exes" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Tate McRae. It was released on November 17, 2023, through RCA Records as the second single from her second studio album, Think Later (2023). The song has reached the top 10 in Canada, as well as number 23 on the Billboard Global 200 chart.

References

  1. ↑ "Between Billie Eilish And Olivia Rodrigo, There Was Tate McRae". Stereogum. February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  2. ↑ friends don't look at friends that way , retrieved February 10, 2022
  3. ↑ all the things i never said - EP by Tate McRae, January 24, 2020, retrieved February 10, 2022
  4. 1 2 Ways, Curious. "Digital Cover: Tate McRae". HUNGER TV. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  5. 1 2 tate mcrae and jeremy zucker talk "that way"!!!! , retrieved February 9, 2022
  6. ↑ McRae, Tate. "that way created by Tate McRae | Popular songs on TikTok". TikTok. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  7. ↑ mcrae, tate. "that way by tate mcrae created by tate mcrae | Popular songs on TikTok". TikTok. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  8. ↑ sounds, vibe. "that way slowed created by vibe sounds | Popular songs on TikTok". TikTok. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  9. ↑ 𝑡𝑖𝑘𝑡𝑜𝑘𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑑𝑑🦕. "that way created by 𝑡𝑖𝑘𝑡𝑜𝑘𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑑𝑑🦕 | Popular songs on TikTok". TikTok. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  10. ↑ cali <3. "that way slowed created by cali". TikTok. Retrieved February 9, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ↑ Songstats. "Songstats - Music Data Analytics for Artists & Labels". Songstats. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  12. ↑ that way by Tate McRae & Jeremy Zucker, September 3, 2021, retrieved February 10, 2022
  13. 1 2 "Pop Prodigy Tate McRae Shares Her Coming-of-Age Story in 'all the things i never said' / Ones To Watch". Ones To Watch. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  14. 1 2 bensbeat (January 27, 2020). "Tate McRae – all the things i never said EP". Ben's Beat - Music Reviews. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Tate McRae Will Blow You Away With Epic Dance Moves In Her New Music Video". Elite Daily. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  16. ↑ "TATE MCRAE RELEASES PERFORMANCE VIDEO FOR "THAT WAY" TODAY – Sony Music Canada". www.sonymusic.ca. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Tate McRae Is Emotional For Her Late Night Performance Of 'That Way'". UPROXX. October 16, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  18. ↑ "all the things I never said credits". TIdal. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 23" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on February 15, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  22. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Brazilian single certifications – Tate McRae – That Way" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Tate McRae – That Way". Music Canada . Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Tate McRae – That Way". IFPI Danmark . Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  26. ↑ "British single certifications – Tate McRae – That Way". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  27. ↑ "American single certifications – Tate McRae – That Way". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved November 25, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.