"What I Want" is a song by American singer Morgan Wallen and Canadian singer Tate McRae. It was released on May 16,2025,through Big Loud,Mercury and Republic Records as the fifth single from Wallen's fourth studio album,I'm the Problem.[1] The song marks the first ever collaboration between Wallen and a female singer. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100,becoming Wallen's fourth number-one on the chart and McRae's first.[2]
Wallen revealed that the collaboration with McRae was something both had wanted to do for a while. Initially,"What I Want" was not written with a female singer in mind but Wallen admitted that McRae "just absolutely crushed every single part of the song". The two did not work on or record the song in the studio together due to the fact.[3] Wallen said that his sister introduced him to McRae's music several years prior.[1]
After news of the collaboration broke,fans of McRae criticized her for working with Wallen following his controversial past.[4][5]
Promotion
On March 29,2025,Wallen was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live,and performed previous singles "I'm the Problem" and "Just in Case".[6] During his performance,a television in the background displayed several titles for unreleased songs on the album alongside their track numbers,including "What I Want",with other artists blurred out.[7] In April 2025,Wallen confirmed that the song would be a collaboration with a female artist,as that is something Wallen had yet to do.[8] On April 15,Canadian singer Tate McRae posted an Instagram story of a jersey with Tennessee Volunteers colors,having "T8" written across the front and Wallen's initials "MW".[9] Wallen revealed the full tracklist for I'm the Problem the day after,confirming their collaboration.[10] On May 13,the singer held a listening party at his bar in Nashville and previewed the track.[11]
Lyrics and composition
"What I Want" is a "crooning ballad" that sees both artists sharing vocals about a "temporary relationship".[12] It tells the story of two lovers who each bring their own baggage together,realizing that they ask more of each other and,as a result,let each other "off the hook".[13]
Critical reception
In a ranking of all album tracks,Melinda Newman and Jessica Nicholson of Billboard placed the song twelfth,saying that it comes as a "shimmery tune with a slight hip-hop beat" where both artists share "verses and a few harmonies" but would have been more "fun" if the duo sang together more as their voices are a "surprisingly compatible match".[14]
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