A Deep Dive on Addison by Addison Rae: The Ultimate Metamorphosis from TikTok to Pop Icon
On June 6, 2025, social media personality-turned-singer Addison Rae released her debut album, Addison. It served as her second musical project, following her 2023 extended play, AR. This album is most certainly one for the history books. On Addison, Rae proved she was more than just another throwaway influencer; rather, she’s a musician with a serious artistic vision, one that manifests itself perfectly on this record. Addison is filled with affirmations about wanting fame, getting through the hardships of life, romance, and success. This album infuses elements of pop, R&B, trip-hop, hyper-pop, and even trap. How did Addison Rae make one of the best debut pop albums of all time, you may ask? Well, I’ll get into everything in this article to explain just how perfect this album is.
The “Context”
Early Inspirations
Addison Rae Easterling was born on October 6, 2000, in Lafayette, Louisiana. Growing up, Rae was put into dance at a very young age. She grew to love the art and even competed in some national competitions. One thing’s for sure, though: Rae always knew she wanted to be in the spotlight. In college, Rae studied to be a broadcast journalist. In a New York Times interview, Rae said that personally she felt like that was one of the only ways to get on people’s television screens. That was until late 2019, when Rae joined TikTok and began uploading videos of herself dancing to popular songs. This changed her life forever.
Rae began amassing millions and millions of views on her TikTok videos daily, quickly gaining attention and fame. She joined the ranks of fellow TikTok dancer Charli D’Amelio, who also gained virality at the same time as Rae on a bigger scale. Throughout 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rae posted up to ten videos on a daily basis. However, it wasn’t just herself alone posting; her parents, Sherri Easterling and Monty Lopez, joined social media too. By the beginning of 2021, much of her pandemic hype was beginning to die down. I mean, there’s only so many TikTok dances Rae could’ve done by that point. Naturally, Rae decided to expand into other business ventures.
The Failure of “Obsessed”
Rae dove into acting, make-up, a perfume line, and, most importantly, music. In March 2021, Rae released her debut single, “Obsessed,” to very negative reviews. Many social media users and music critics brushed off her attempt at doing music as “just another TikToker doing music.” Many users compared this song to Dixie D’Amelio (Charli D’Amelio’s sister) and her music career. If you think about it, Dixie was sort of the blueprint for TikTokers starting a music career, though D’Amelio dropped her debut single, “Be Happy,” all the way back in June 2020. I’ll give her the credit for spearheading that pipeline.
Funny enough, Rae’s acting career did not get good press either. She starred in the 2021 original Netflix film titled He’s All That, and her performance was panned by critics and fans alike. To be blunt, it was not looking good for Addison.
In 2022, songs off Rae’s scrapped initial debut album began leaking onto the internet, notably a song called “2 die 4.” In a turn of events, many people genuinely enjoyed the leaked songs. By 2022 and early 2023, Addison Rae was very MIA in the public eye, posting maybe once or twice a week, a VERY noticeable shift from her previous posting habits.
That was until early 2023, when she was spotted hanging out with British pop singer Charli xcx. XCX took Rae under her wing and gave her the confidence to continue with music. She praised Rae’s single and indirectly influenced the creation of Addison. Then, they started being seen with each other even more, becoming good friends in a matter of months.
The “AR” E-P Era
On August 15, 2023, a countdown appeared on Addison Rae’s official website, and when it reached zero, the track titles “I got It bad,” “2 die 4,” “Nothing On (But The Radio),” and “it could’ve been u” appeared. AR, Rae’s debut EP, was released on August 18, 2023, to raving reviews. Many critics compared this small sample of music to early Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, Mandy Moore, and Christina Aguilera. “2 die 4” was released as a collaboration with Charli xcx, marking XCX’s stamp of approval. Addison went on to receive “cult-following” status because many people liked the direction she was going in, calling it “camp.” I will mention that not every critic thought positively about the project; some called it “boring,” “tasteless,” and even “generic pop music.”
Personally, these four songs made my opinion switch on Rae and her music career. I quickly began streaming and loved every song on the project. It was also another iconic moment when Rae managed to record a Lady Gaga reject with “Nothing On (But The Radio).” The song was meant for Gaga’s album The Fame, then reworked for Born This Way, and ultimately lost to time due to never getting an official release. Many fans hoped for an anniversary release of the song until Rae dropped it officially. Much of Gaga’s fanbase (“Little Monsters”) praised Rae for being bold enough to record a Gaga reject, though they did note that Gaga’s version will always be the better version.
The “Von Dutch” Remix Featuring Addison Rae & A.G. Cook
In March 2024, Charli xcx released the remix to her song “Von dutch” featuring Rae and British hyper-pop producer A.G. Cook. It went on to be the first single off of XCX’s remix album for her acclaimed 2024 record, titled Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat. The song went viral for Rae’s iconic long scream featured near the end. Rae was finally being taken seriously, and she began gearing up for the Addison era in June 2024.
Rolling Out the “Addison” Era
In June 2024, Rae posted a video to her Instagram account of her walking in high heels underwater. The audio featured in the video ended up being track four on Addison, titled “Aquamarine.” Fans and critics were DYING to hear what Rae was going to bring to the table, and she did not disappoint, to say the least. Rae cleared her Instagram in July of that year and posted a photo of her with Diet Pepsi cans, a foreshadowing of the lead single.
The Sweet, Fizzy Success of “Diet Pepsi”
“Diet Pepsi” was released as the lead single off of Addison on August 9, 2024, to critical acclaim and success. The song quickly blew up on TikTok and social media, leading to Rae’s first Billboard Hot 100 entry. “Diet Pepsi” ended up peaking at #54 and became an international top-ten hit, peaking at #9 on the Pop Airplay chart. Critics said the song was reminiscent of early Lana Del Rey. It was a huge breakout moment for Rae. Additionally, many said they got the vibe of what Rae was trying to do, like indirectly referencing Britney Spears’ iconic 2000s Pepsi ads and channeling the overall Americana vibe that Del Rey did during her Born to Die album era for the “Diet Pepsi” music video.
“Aquamarine” followed as the second single released in October 2025, also to much critical acclaim. Then came the fan-favorite song “High Fashion” on Valentine’s Day 2025. “Headphones On” followed in April 2025, marking a noticeable shift in genres for Rae and the album as a trip-hop song compared to the previous dance-pop records. Addison announced Addison during Arca’s 2025 Coachella set as they performed their collaboration song “Arcamarine,” a remix version of “Aquamarine.” It was set to be released on June 6. Her second smash hit, “Fame is a Gun,” was released a week before the album to success, peaking at #73 on the Billboard Hot 100. Its success carried into 2026 as well (I’ll get into that later).
The “Addison” Album Cover
The album cover for Addison also received media attention. Some people didn’t initially understand the cover, calling it “cheap and tacky.” Yet, many failed to realize she was referencing early 2000s millennial editing aesthetics. The album cover for Addison was placed into slideshows alongside iconic album covers from the early 2000s like Metamorphosis by Hilary Duff, In This Skin by Jessica Simpson, Beautiful Eyes (EP) by Taylor Swift, So Real by Mandy Moore, Christina Aguilera by Christina Aguilera, Charmbracelet by Mariah Carey, Ray of Light by Madonna, and Britney by Britney Spears. Personally, I feel the album cover works perfectly for the music contained in the album. I never got the hate for the album cover; it’s simple, chic, and fitting.
The “Songs”
As this is an album analysis and not a review, I will be exploring and explaining every track on this album. Stay with me, it’s going to be a long one.
Money Is Everything, and So Is “New York”, “Diet Pepsi”, and “Aquamarine”
“New York” is the first song. A dance-pop track similar-sounding to “Club classics” by Charli xcx, Rae describes the feeling of freedom that New York City brings and how much she loves it. Overall, it’s a strong opener. It makes me want to visit New York someday. Similarly, Taylor Swift had “Welcome to New York” as the opening track of her first pop venture, 1989. Something about New York and pop music just flows together nicely, I guess.
“Diet Pepsi” follows as the second track. A softer pop-dance track, she describes the feeling of “young love,” “lust,” and the feeling it brings her: driving in cars late at night, getting called baby, losing innocence, and, yes, sipping a “Diet Pepsi.” “Diet Pepsi” was originally meant to be titled “Backseat,” however, when close friend Charli xcx heard the song, she said, “Why don’t you name it Diet Pepsi?”, which she did. It’s an iconic track, and I love this one forever.
“Money is Everything” is the third track. A pop-trap song, she references Carol Channing’s famous quote about diamonds being a “girl’s best friend.” She mentions other iconic female figures by saying she will play Madonna, roll one with Lana (Del Rey), and get high with Gaga. As the song title suggests, it’s about money and how it’s “everything,” and how she just wants to have fun and spend money. Like Rae said, “Money’s not coming with me to heaven, and I have a lot of it, so can’t a girl just have fun?”
“Aquamarine” is the fourth track. A dance-pop electronica song, Rae says, “The world is my oyster, and I’m the only girl.” She describes the feeling of wanting to dance in her “own reflection,” references Madonna’s 1998 album Ray of Light, and explains how she isn’t afraid of the unknown anymore because she’s free. As the second single, it makes sense, it’s such a fun and weirdly calming track. It sounds like a beach and ocean song, if that makes any sense to anyone.
The “Interludes”
The next two songs I’ll mention are the interludes “Lost & Found” and “Life’s No Fun Through Clear Waters.” “Lost & Found” is a dark and dreamy brief song about losing and finding yourself again, transitioning into “High Fashion.” “Life’s No Fun Through Clear Waters,” though being track eleven, is a lighter and reflective interlude about how life’s no fun being in “clear waters,” transitioning into “Headphones On.”
Fame is a Gun, and a Smash Hit
“High Fashion” is the sixth song. A dance-R&B-pop song, it describes the feeling of rejecting unhealthy love and drugs in return for “high fashion.” Rae says she doesn’t need all the superficial things and how she’d be happier with high fashion. She references wanting to be seen, not by someone, but “more like in a magazine.” It sort of feels like a manifestation of “Fame is a Gun.” It became a fan favorite upon release in February 2025. I will always recommend this song to people who might not be familiar with Rae’s music, as everyone I’ve shown it to liked it.
“Summer Forever” is a dreamy R&B record describing summer romance and how her partner makes it feel like “summer forever.” It most certainly sounds like something out of a 2000s rom-com. The imagery of this song is beautiful, and the track is so ethereal. To me, it reminds me of “Come Clean” by Hilary Duff, “Candy” by Mandy Moore, and even “Don’t Let Me Be The Last To Know” by Britney Spears. Definitely a must-listen.
“In The Rain” is the next song. She describes the feeling of only crying in the rain because the rain masks her tears. She doesn’t want to be sad, so she only does it in a place where people can’t tell. It’s a slower dance-pop track that slightly reminds me of “Frozen” by Madonna, “Through the Rain” by Mariah Carey, and even “And Then We Kiss” by Britney Spears. Her vocals on “In The Rain” are impeccable, as is the songwriting. This song personally is among my favorites.
“Fame is a Gun” is the next track. This smash hit is an electronic dance song describing how fame is a gun and she “points it blind.” She describes how she wants the fame and doesn’t care about the repercussions that come with it. To be clear, it’s pretty much a manifestation of being famous. It’s a hit for sure, and it indeed sounds like one.
“Accepting the Pain” and the Last Songs on “Addison”
“Times Like These” is the tenth track, and a life-changing one at that. A slower, early 2000s-sounding song, she describes the hardships of life and how, during times like that, she has to accept it’s “how it has to be.” She even gets down to the nitty-gritty, asking if she’s too old to “blame her dad” (no, Addison, it is not, I get it, Monty is a mess). It’s my personal favorite off the project, and it makes sense. It’s very early Madonna-coded and sounds like a Ray of Light reject in the best way.
“Headphones On” is the final song on Addison, and it totally fits and makes sense as such. A trip-hop ballad, Rae describes the feelings of pain, loss, and life struggles, curing it all by putting her “headphones on.” Hearing this song immediately made me think of “Human Nature” by Madonna and “Creep” by TLC. Later in the song, she sings the words, “I know the lows are what make the highs higher, so I tell myself this is a reminder: life’s no fun through clear waters.” Already, this song was going to be a highlight in my opinion, and this final track beautifully wraps this album in a pretty orange bow. It’s so dreamy and affirmative that you can’t hate it.
Rae’s Successful Musical Transition
If you were to ask anyone in 2020 what career path a famous TikToker like Addison Rae would go down, I’m sure absolutely no one would have guessed a GRAMMY-nominated singer. Even when Rae dropped “Obsessed” in 2021, I personally viewed it as a terrible song and a bad debut single. However, AR changed that opinion for many people, including myself. It’s so tiring seeing the “she’s just a TikToker” comment being thrown around (and yes, I love “Obsessed” now).
When someone in Rae’s shoes drops an acclaimed album, gets praised by a ton of music greats, and even earns a GRAMMY nomination, you can’t just call that accidental. Now, I’m not saying all of this to claim that those things alone make or break an artist or determine their success and talent; rather, I’m saying it to validate my point.
It should almost be required to call her a FORCE in the modern pop landscape, because most importantly, Addison Rae has lots of passion for what she does. And in a world of formulated and mass-produced algorithmic music, that’s a rare trait to have. Yes, Rae may have gotten fame and attention off TikTok, but she translated that success into a blooming music and acting career, things that she’s genuinely interested in. That right there should be the main point of all of this.
The “Britney” Wannabe Accusations
The “Britney copy” and wannabe argument is also so tired. It’s invalidating to say that Addison Rae built her career off of practically being a Spears tribute. While Rae may wear inspired outfits (as I’ll note below) on tour, it’s a homage, not an exact copy. Rae makes 2000s-inspired music, but that’s nearing the end of the comparisons. Rae herself even said, when asked if she’d play Spears in a biopic, that she’s an “enigma” and that no one deserves to play her. You can obviously tell Rae is a fan of Spears, but that’s about it. They’ve both done the Pepsi thing, yes; they’re both from Louisiana; and they both have that bubbly personality. This does not make her a carbon copy. Overall, Spears and Rae are two different artists.
While Spears recently shared an Instagram caption saying she was “the PROPHECY” (she was right, of course) and claimed there were people trying to copy the way she was back in her prime, many people accused her and Tate McRae of being the people she was talking about. Spears also said that she was rather “authentic” compared to the copiers. I’d say Spears was generalizing and not thinking of it too much, and it shouldn’t even have been a topic of discussion.
The Success of “Addison”
When this album dropped, it got an 8.0 on Pitchfork and an overall cumulative score of 79 on Metacritic. Addison debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and it spawned three Hot 100 hits. Since its release, “Diet Pepsi” has amassed 800M streams, “Fame is a Gun” over 500M streams, and “Headphones On” and “Aquamarine” have amassed 100M streams. Did I mention Addison helped earn Rae a nomination for “Best New Artist” at the 2026 GRAMmys? Additionally, the album appeared in many year-end rankings for the best albums of 2025, even scoring the number-one spot at The Fader and the top twenty for Pitchfork, Billboard, The New Yorker, NME, The Associated Press, and even more. The stats speak for themselves at this point.
Artists like Charli xcx, FINNEAS, Troye Sivan, ADELA, Zara Larsson, Kylie Minogue, and even Britney Spears (Yes, THE Britney Spears) have acknowledged or praised Addison Rae’s music career. I don’t know how much other convincing I have to do to let people know that this album is one for the pop history books. You just don’t understand until you hear it for yourself. Personally, it was my favorite album of 2025 and one of the strongest pop debut albums I have ever heard.
The “Addison” Tour
The “Addison Tour” also received much attention and coverage. Her tour received positive reviews, with many noting that Addison has that early Britney Spears tour energy. Critics also took note that many of Rae’s outfits were reminiscent of Spears’ “M+M’s Tour” and “Onyx Hotel Tour.” Rae pulled in 12 million dollars across 32 tour dates. Plus, she even did a Max Martin-esque remix of “I got It bad.” The tour expanded into 2026 as Rae performed at festivals like Coachella, featuring an iconic cameo from Olivia Rodrigo during weekend two where they performed “Headphones On” and live-debuted Rodrigo’s newest single at the time, “drop dead,” from you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love.
She changed the tour name to the “Fame & Glory” show for the remaining festival dates (it wasn’t an official change; she just announced it on social media). A particular part of the “Fame & Glory” show blew up on social media: the live version of “Arcamarine,” the “Aquamarine” remix, which led to an official studio version release on the anniversary vinyl edition of Addison. During the US tour leg, her performance and dance to “In The Rain” also blew up on TikTok, with users recreating the choreography.
The “Overall”
Overall, I was in love with Addison upon first listen the night of June 5, 2025. Every song made it to my 2025 Spotify Wrapped, and it was my most-listened-to album as well (over 4,000 minutes of streaming). This album is a must-listen 2020s pop record. If you love early Britney Spears, Ray of Light-era Madonna, or early 2000s niche pop music, you will love Addison. I had such a fun time listening to this album through a critic’s perspective and ear. To say the least, my opinion did not change at all about it. Sure, is it the most perfect pop album of all time? No. However, people need to put respect on Rae’s name and music. This album gets a perfect 10/10 score, and it absolutely deserves it. As our prophet Addison Rae once said: “Put your headphones on” and listen to Addison.
