Greedy (Tate McRae song)
"Greedy" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by Canadian singer and dancer Tate McRae. It was released through RCA Records on September 15, 2023, as the lead single of her second studio album Think Later (2023). The song was written by McRae, alongside Amy Allen, Jasper Harris, and OneRepublic lead singer Ryan Tedder; production was handled by the latter two along with Grant Boutin. Lyrically, McRae described the song as an ode to female empowerment. "Greedy" was commercially successful, peaking at number one on both the Billboard Global 200 and Canadian Hot 100, and number three on the Billboard Hot 100.
The song was the winner of the Juno Award for Single of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2024.[4]
Background and composition[edit]
In December 2022, McRae first talked about her new "era" of music, saying that she was "in the zone" for the music and determined on who she wants to be and what to do next.[5] "Greedy" signifies a "new chapter" of music to McRae.[6] It reflects on an encounter she had with a man at a bar, who expressed that he found her mysterious. Upon reflection, McRae agreed with his impression, noting that it "takes a lot" for her to open up. She subsequently wrote "Greedy" about the "feeling of having utter confidence". She described the outcome as a "cool female empowerment song" which she loved.[7] McRae articulated that the song marks the first time people see a "feistier and more playful side" of her, being as "unexpected" as it is.[8]
Written in January 2023,[9] McRae first teased the song via TikTok on August 4. The teaser subsequently went viral on the platform[10] with over 200,000 videos made across different sounds.[11] Billboard writer Kyle Denis opined that the song is a "successful example of a concerted TikTok-focused promotional plan", as it was carried to success by snippets steadily teased by McRae rather than a random trend.[11]
The song is performed in the key of F♯ minor in common time with a tempo of 111 beats per minute. McRae's vocals span from F♯3 to D5 in the song.[12][13]
Music video[edit]
An accompanying music video was released along with the single on September 15, 2023, and was directed by Aerin Moreno. The visuals are set in an empty hockey arena and feature McRae driving an ice resurfacer while wearing a hockey glove.[14] The subsequent dance segments were choreographed by Sean Bankhead.[15] Rolling Stone writer Tomás Mier opined that she embraced her Canadian heritage by showing love for hockey.[8]
Chart performance[edit]
The song topped the charts in Austria, Canada, Norway and Denmark, debuting at number one in the latter two countries. It also reached the top ten in at least 20 countries, including Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, New Zealand, Poland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and the top 50 in Brazil and Italy. It is her first song to chart within the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 3.[16][17]