You probably know Addison Rae as that one Hype House TikToker from 2020. While this might be true, over the past few years, Rae has made quite the name for herself. Most recently she’s being referred to as the world’s newest pop princess. In 2023, the singer released her debut EP consisting of four songs and one bonus track. The EP also famously included a feature from fellow musician Charli xcx. The mini-album was well-received by fans, but didn’t stick out as anything extraordinary. On April 23rd, Rae announced the release date, title, and cover work of her first full album, causing fans to go crazy. Addison, was released on June 6, 2025, and received relatively high reviews. In this article, I’ll do a track-by-track analysis and share my own thoughts on the record.
“New York”
This big city anthem is about Addison’s experience in New York and what emotions she holds with it. While Rae was born and bred in Los Angeles, she feels a deeper connection to New York City. This track also has more repetitive lyrics and a strong base line, alluding to Charli xcx’s style of club music.
Favorite Lyric: “LA is home, but I’m ready to go.”
“Diet Pepsi”
“Diet Pepsi” is the lead single of the album, and making it the first song released was the perfect choice. This was also Addison’s first song after the release of her debut EP back in 2023, marking the beginning of this new era. The song tells the story of a teenage summer romance, some comparing it to Lana Del Rey’s style of storytelling. Very well received by the public, the song went viral on TikTok and is now Addison’s most streamed.
Favorite Lyric: “I leave a mark so you know I am the best.”
“Money Is Everything”
Acting as a play on the common saying “money isn’t everything”, this song dictates the exact opposite of the phrase. Celebrating the materialistic things in life, “Money Is Everything” tells the story of not needing to rely on a man for money. The song also references American actress and model, Marylin Monroe, and her famous quote; “diamonds are a girl’s best friend”.
Favorite Lyric: “And the girl I used to be is still the girl inside of me.”
“Aquamarine”
This song was the second single from the album, and was very highly anticipated by fans after getting a taste of what the record was going to be like from “Diet Pepsi”. While the songs are quite different sonically, they’re in the same universe and have similar ideas. More specifically, “Aquamarine” talks about changing and transforming as a person, as well as writing your own story and figuring out who you want to be.
Favorite Lyric: “The world is my oyster and I’m the only girl.”
“Lost & Found”
Track five, “Lost & Found”, serves as an interlude to the album. The track barely contains any lyrics, but the ones that it does include reveal that Addison has been going through a process of change and discovery.
Favorite Lyric: “I lost and found myself again.”
“High Fashion”
Sometimes love and romance just isn’t what you want. Instead, it’s the materialistic things you crave. “High Fashion”’s lyrics revolve around preferring to live freely and have money rather than to be held back by the struggle of finding a good relationship.
Favorite Lyric: “I don’t want cheap love I’d rather get high fashion.”
“Summer Forever”
Leaning more into the romantic side of the album, “Summer Forever” is similar to “Diet Pepsi”, as it tells the story of a fun-filled hazy sort of love. Addison mentions that being with the right person can make it feel like it’s going to be summer forever. With synthy pianos and Rae’s whispering tone, this song also feels like it’s going to be summer forever.
Favorite Lyric: “The edge feels safer when I’m standin’ on it with you.”
“In the Rain”
“In the Rain” is a song about having to hide your emotions from everyone around you so as not to let people see you weak and low. Especially as a musician in the public eye, Addison is constantly dealing with this feeling as well as receiving her fair share of criticisms. Constantly being misunderstood and criticized gets tiring, but sometimes all you can do is cry in the rain when no one else is watching.
Favorite Lyric: “You don’t deserve my heart and guess what? I don’t owe it to you.”
“Fame Is a Gun”
The fifth and latest single from Addison’s album, “Fame is a Gun”, tells a story about how attention as an artist, regardless if it’s good or bad, can be a force for empowerment. All the lyrics of this song are about how, no matter how the public perceives her, Addison will come out on top and continue to live her glamorous life while the critics watch.
Favorite Lyric: “And when you shame me, it makes me want it more.”
“Times Like These”
Life moves fast and it’s easy to get lost in the whirlwind of it all, which is exactly what “Times Like These” is about. Eventually, the stress of everything going on around you catches up, and it’s hard to know what to do next. Rae deals with the feeling by letting go of her worries and realizing that times like these will pass, it’s just a matter of time. In the end everyone will end up where they need to be.
Favorite Lyric: “Am I too young to be this mad?”
“Life’s No Fun Through Clear Waters”
Another interlude, this track is simply a placeholder pausing the album once again. The title of the song describes life being more fun when you don’t know exactly what’s going to happen.
Favorite Lyric: “Life’s no fun through clear waters.”
“Headphones On”
As the closing track and fourth single on the album, “Headphones On” is the incredible ending to an incredible record. The catchy chorus and sheer energy of the song are what make it one of my personal favorites on the album. The song describes life’s ups and downs, and how we can’t control everything that happens to us. Some things simply aren’t meant to be. The best we can do is accept it and put our headphones on.
Favorite Lyric: “You can’t fix what has already been broken.”
