That Way (Tate McRae song)

"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 written by McRae, Skyler Stonestreet, and Nick Monson and produced by Nick Monson. "That Way" is a minimalist piano ballad.[1]

"That Way"
Song by Tate McRae
from the EP All the Things I Never Said
ReleasedJanuary 24, 2020 (2020-01-24)
GenrePop
Length2:55
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Nick Monson

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 170 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]

  • Tate McRae – vocals, composer, lyricist
  • Skyler Stonestreet– composer, lyricist
  • Nick Monson – producer, composer, lyricist, engineer
  • Dave Kutch – mastering engineer
  • Dave Cook – mixing engineer

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
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[22] Gold 35,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[23] Gold 40,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[24] Gold 45,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[25] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[26] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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. Ways, Curious. "Digital Cover: Tate McRae". HUNGER TV. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  5. 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.
  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. "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. 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. "Canadian single certifications – Tate McRae – That Way". Music Canada. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  24. "Danish single certifications – Tate McRae – That Way". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  25. "British single certifications – Tate McRae – That Way". British Phonographic Industry.
  26. "American single certifications – Tate McRae – That Way". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
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