You know that feeling when a song comes on and you’re 100% sure you’ve heard it before, but you just can’t place it? That’s basically the entire experience of listening to Tate McRae’s third studio album. Since So Close To What dropped in early 2025, the internet has been losing its collective mind trying to figure out the tate mcrae so close to what songs connections. Honestly, it's like a giant scavenger hunt for Gen Z pop fans.
Tate isn't exactly hiding her homework. She’s been super vocal about her obsession with the early 2000s—an era she was barely alive for, but hey, the aesthetic is immaculate. From Britney Spears-inspired choreography to those crunchy, Timbaland-style beats, the album is a love letter to the TRL era.
But which songs is she actually referencing? Some are literal interpolations, while others are just "vibes" so strong they feel like a glitch in the matrix. Let's break down the tracks that people are constantly comparing to other hits.
The Big Ones: "Sports Car" and "2 Hands"
If you’ve listened to "Sports Car" and suddenly felt the urge to whisper-sing to your crush, there’s a reason for that. Tate and her co-writer Julia Michaels (who is basically a hit-making wizard) went on the record saying they were dying to reference the Ying Yang Twins. Specifically, that 2005 crunk classic "Wait (The Whisper Song)."
The hushed, breathy chorus in "Sports Car" is a direct nod to that era. It’s a bit weird to think about a 2005 club anthem being the blueprint for a 2025 pop hit, but it totally works. It gives the track this weirdly intimate, adrenaline-pumping energy. Fans have also pointed out that "Sports Car" shares some DNA with The Pussycat Dolls’ "Buttons"—mostly in that "don't cha" swagger and the car metaphor.
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Then there’s "2 Hands." When this first leaked, TikTok was convinced it sampled "Slide" by Calvin Harris and Frank Ocean.
If you listen to the opening vocals, they have that same pitched-up, sun-drenched texture. While it's technically an interpolation or a "heavy influence" rather than a direct legal sample, the comparison is undeniable. It’s got that "buy that boy with a pipe" / "I might" cadence that Frank Ocean fans recognized instantly.
The Britney Spears of it All
We have to talk about "It’s ok I’m ok." This was the lead single that kicked off the whole era, and the tate mcrae so close to what songs discourse started right here.
The music video—Tate dancing through the streets of New York—is a massive tribute to Britney Spears. Specifically, people have compared it to the scrapped "Outrageous" video.
Musically, the song feels like it could have lived on Britney’s In The Zone album. It has that "stompy" 2000s R&B beat. Some listeners on Reddit even pointed out similarities to Danity Kane’s "Lemonade," which itself sampled "Wamp Wamp (What It Do)" by The Clipse. Pop music is basically just one big circle, isn't it?
Deep Cuts and Surprising Lookalikes
The album isn't just about the 2000s, though. Tate pulled from some unexpected places for the rest of the tracklist:
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- "Means I Care": This one has some serious Rosalía energy. The flamenco-style handclaps and the "Na Na Na" refrain remind people of "Malamente" or "LLYLM." Tate has mentioned being obsessed with Rosalía’s camera work and stage presence lately, so the sonic influence makes sense.
- "Purple Lace Bra": This is one of the most interesting tracks because it’s so polarizing. It features a lush string section mixed with... well, some people think they hear crows cawing or pots banging. It sits somewhere between The-Dream’s Love vs. Money and Lana Del Rey’s Born to Die. Fun fact: Emile Haynie, who produced Lana’s debut, actually worked on this album.
- "Greenlight": This track has been mashed up on TikTok with Harry Styles’ "Satellite" more times than I can count. It has that same driving, indie-pop build-up that makes you want to run through a field at night.
- "Bloodonmyhands" (feat. Flo Milli): This is a straight-up Miami bass throwback. It feels like a sugar rush and draws heavily from the 90s/2000s Florida rap scene.
What about the Deluxe tracks?
The deluxe version of So Close To What added even more layers. The song "Horseshoe" has become a fan favorite for its raw lyrics. People are comparing the "burning house" imagery to her older track "Siren Sounds," but musically, it has that stripped-back, "lucky girl" vibe that’s very 2025. It also features production from Grant and Emile Haynie, keeping that Lana Del Rey-esque cinematic quality alive.
Interestingly, many fans think the deluxe songs are a direct "conversation" with The Kid LAROI. Since the two were dating (and then reportedly split, and then maybe got back together—it’s a lot to keep up with), every lyric is being scrutinized. Their collab "I Know Love" is obviously the most direct link, but "Horseshoe" feels like the emotional aftermath.
Why she sounds like everyone (and no one)
There’s been some criticism that Tate's sound is "homogenous" or that it blends together. Some critics have even joked about the "Curse of the Albanian Pop Star" (even though Tate is Canadian), referring to that polished, slightly anonymous pop sound.
But honestly? That’s kind of the point of this album. Tate is a dancer first. She builds songs that she can move to. She’s using these familiar 2000s textures as a playground. Whether she's channeling the Ying Yang Twins or Lana Del Rey, she’s trying to figure out who "Tatiana" (her alter ego) really is.
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If you’re trying to build a playlist based on the tate mcrae so close to what songs connections, you should definitely add some early Rihanna, Cassie’s "Me & U," and maybe some Nelly Furtado. That's the "mood board" Tate was working with.
Actionable Next Steps
If you want to dive deeper into the influences behind the album, here is how you can actually "hear" what Tate was hearing:
- Listen to the "Wait (The Whisper Song)" instrumental right before playing "Sports Car." The rhythmic similarities in the percussion will jump out at you immediately.
- Watch the Zane Lowe interview. Tate goes into detail about writing on tour and how being a dancer influences the BPM (beats per minute) of her tracks.
- Check out the "So Close To What" credits. Look for names like Amy Allen and Emile Haynie. Following the producers is often the best way to find "hidden" song siblings.
- Compare "2 Hands" to "Slide" by Calvin Harris. Play the first 10 seconds of each back-to-back. It’s the easiest way to hear the vocal processing similarities everyone is talking about.
Whether you think she's a "copycat" or a "tribute act," there's no denying that Tate McRae knows her pop history. She's taking the sounds that defined the early millennium and refurbishing them for a new generation that’s obsessed with nostalgia.