Image: independent.co.uk
Tate McRae’s new single ‘Sports Car’ takes a fun ride back to the early 200s, leaving behind her old and moody bedroom pop style. This track feels like a shiny throwback to the days of hip-hop infused pop, sparkly flip phones, Juicy Couture tracksuits, and dancefloor anthems. From the very first beat, it gives off major nostalgic vibes. This is something that you will not notice in just Tate’s musical release, but through the entire industry.
With soft, whispery vocals and the sounds of a car engine in the background, Tate hints at romance but keeps things light and playful. Unlike the bold and edgy moves from pop icons like Britney’s ‘I’m a Slave 4 U’ or Christina’s ‘Dirrty’, this song is not trying to shock or make a big statement. ‘Sports Car’ is simple, fun, and a little bit safe – just a chill pop tune that makes you want to dance.
Why does ‘Sports Car’ feel so nostalgic?
Right after Tate McRae dropped ‘Sports Car’, fans and critics started comparing it to The Pussycat Dolls, especially their 2006 hit ‘Buttons’. People even began making mashups of the two songs, thanks to the similar smooth beats. One fan commented under Tate’s video, which shows her dancing at a prep show, saying, “Nasty pop girls are back and I’m here for it.” Back in the day, songs like ‘Buttons’ were called shallow or all style with no meaning. But now, Gen Z is giving that era another look and seeing it for what it really was – pure fun and easy escape.
Connection with Gen Z –
Maybe that is the whole idea. Gen Z – people born from the late ‘90s to early 2010s, are bringing back pop music that used to be seen as “guilty pleasure” and letting go of the guilt. Singers like Hilary Duff, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, and Heidi Montag, who were once seen as fake or cheesy pop stars, are now being praised for their fun and nostalgic sound. Gen Z is also appreciative of their looks, something that feels comforting in 2025. Tate McRae is one of the Gen Z artists taking on that early 2010s style and giving it a fresh twist. Pop critic Michael Cragg says it best: it makes sense that the kids who grew up loving those acts are now making music themselves and using the same style. ‘Sports Car’ sounds so much like ‘Buttons’ that it is clearly on purpose.
Is there a shift in pop music?
Cragg also says there has been a big change in how people think about pop music. Back in the mid-to-late 2000s, a movement called “poptimism” began. It was all about taking pop music seriously, just like rock. A younger group of music writers, who grew up listening to pure pop in the late ’90s, started looking at music differently than the older critics did. Streaming stats from Deezer show that 75% of Addison Rae’s fans and 69% of Tate McRae’s fans are between 26 and 35 years old. This means older Gen Z and younger millennials are connecting with music that reminds them of when they were kids. But what is interesting is that a lot of Gen Z listeners were not even born yet when early 2000s pop was big. That is where “anemoia” comes in – a word that means feeling nostalgic for a time you did not actually experience.
Why does Gen Z feel connected to the past they were not a part of?
Existential psychotherapist Eloise Skinner explains that Gen Z can still feel connected to the past through the internet and digital culture. They scroll through old videos, music, and fashion online, building emotional ties to an era they missed but still feel drawn to.
It was only a matter of time before Gen Z turned to fun, flashy pop music. According to Anna Pompilio, a cultural strategist who sits between Gen Z and millennials, today’s world constantly pulls from the past. We have access to huge digital archives in every industry, all the time. On top of that, we are constantly moving through fast-changing “micro-trends.” This mix can feel overwhelming, so nostalgia becomes something familiar and comforting, a way to feel grounded.
Even Tate McRae embraces the comparisons to Britney Spears, saying they are both “flattering and scary.” Pompilio points out that new pop stars like McRae and Addison Rae are not trying to be totally original – they are more focused on being “the next” version of classic pop icons. Songs like Rae’s “Diet Pepsi” and “Aquamarine” are filled with references to past pop styles and looks, creating a feeling of tribute rather than something brand new.
Is nostalgia risky?
There is a risk in leaning too hard on the past. Branding expert James Kirkham warns that always reusing old styles, something called “hauntology,” a term by theorist Mark Fisher, can water down creativity. And with 100,000 new songs uploaded to Spotify every day, standing out with fresh ideas is harder than ever. “Today’s Y2K revival isn’t just referencing the 2000s,” he says. “It’s referencing a TikTok interpretation of the 2000s – already twice removed from the source. We’re entering an era where nostalgia feeds on nostalgia, creating a Russian doll of references increasingly distanced from their source material.”
Nostalgia is not a new trend. Cultural sociologist Dr. Richard Courtney explained that we tend to look back fondly on pop culture from about 20 years ago. For example, in 2003, the year when Tate McRae was born – many young people became obsessed with cheesy synth sounds from the 1980s. Courtney grew up in the 80s and remembers when songs like ‘You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)’ by Dead or Alive and hits from Spandau Ballet suddenly felt cool again. That wave of appreciation came from older millennials. As he puts it, “Nostalgia is like walking into the future while staring at the past.”
How have streaming services changed acceptability?
Today, streaming services have changed everything. They have made it easier for people to listen to whatever they want without shame. The lines between “real” and “fake” music are more blurred now. Cultural strategist Anna Pompilio said that young people can freely enjoy Depeche Mode and The Pussycat Dolls at the same time. There is no longer a need to pick one over the other or feel embarrassed in society. James Kirkham agrees that Gen Z cares more about the “vibe” of music than old-school ideas of what makes something “good art”. They were not around when people argued whether The Pussycat Dolls were empowering or just overly sexualized. Instead, Gen Z listens without overthinking every little aspect. They blend both deep and silly emotions. To them, being serious and being playful can exist side by side. That is why early 2000s pop feels so refreshing right now. In a world full of stress, debates, and constant horrible news, the fun and carefree energy of bubblegum pop becomes a way to let go.
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