With Addison Rae’s connections to Troye Sivan and Charli XCX—who had unprecedented years themselves—the stars have aligned for Rae’s big entrance back into the music industry after she first tried her luck at pop music in 2021. Her debut track, called “Obsessed” received many unfavourable reviews with Popdust stating that the song “doesn’t even offer any humour, just second-hand embarrassment.” But Rae pressed on, releasing “Diet Pepsi” earlier this year, which, according to Rolling Stone has “reignited her career.” Since we were introduced to catchy “Diet Pepsi” chorus and Lana Del Rey-esque music video imagery, Rae has been on a roll. She has finally tapped into the current zeitgeist of pop music and is reinventing her image into one of an ethereal and voguish popstar seamlessly.
Rae’s brand new track “Aquamarine” is the dreamy follow up to adventurous and lust-filled “Diet Pepsi.” The song begins with Rae’s airy vocals over a runway-ready beat. It’s almost reminiscent of Madonna’s “Confessions on the Dancefloor” era with its upbeat chorus and vividly cinematic, suggestive lyrics. “The worlds is my oyster / Dive into me / I’m not hiding anymore,” she sings, immediately setting the tone for not only the track but for this new phase in her career. “Aquamarine” gives us another taste of her sound and creates her own place in the world of pop music.
The first verse of “Aquamarine” continues Rae’s ethereal, suggestive tone: ” The world is my oyster / Baby, come touch the pearl / The world is my oyster / And I’m the only girl.” The lyrics feel like a manifestation mantra, showcasing Rae’s musical flair and cultural intuition as she taps into the spiritual side of the current zeitgeist, using positive affirmations and creating a track akin to Ariana Grande’s “Just Like Magic.” This adds another dimension to the song- inviting the listener to not just hear the song but engage with it, manifesting their better and higher selves, tapping into something deeper than just a pop song.
Rae continues her spiritual quest in the refrain: “I’m the ray of light / I’m transforming and realigning / I’ll take you with me high, high, high.” The lyrics are very reflective of Rae’s personal rebrand and journey as she managed to successfully dig herself out of the TikTok star category and release unexpectedly good songs. It’s almost like she’s extending a promise to the listener that, much like Rae, they can too reinvent themselves and start over. What’s a better way to build a connection with an audience than by promising to take them “high” with you? By connecting through her lyrics, rather than positioning herself above her listener, Rae brings her personal charisma and girly charm into her music.
Rae ends the song with a bold and beautiful statement, “I’m not hiding anymore / I won’t hide / I’m free.” This closing chorus draws a curtain on Rae’s past as she demonstrates her new sound and eclectic flair. With “Aquamarine”, Rae successfully brings one more wave of heat in mid-November. The lyrical allusions to summer time through oceanic references, alongside positive affirmations, conjure up uplifting and immersive energy as Rae follows through on her promise to take them high. “Aquamarine” is a light and ethereal listen, which is enough to pull the half of the globe out of their winter blues as the track’s euro-dance sound and Rae’s airy vocals combine to create pop perfection.