greedy

"Greedy" by Tate McRae is a bold anthem of female empowerment, self-confidence, and setting boundaries in modern dating. The song's central message revolves around the idea of knowing your own worth and not feeling pressured to open up or give yourself away to someone who is pushy or, as the title suggests, "greedy" for your attention and affection. McRae herself described the song as a "cool female empowerment song" born from a feeling of "utter confidence." The narrative is inspired by a real-life encounter where a man at a bar called her mysterious. This led her to reflect on how she is selective about who she lets in, and she channeled this into a sassy, playful track about a woman who is fully aware of her own allure and refuses to be easily won. The lyrics, such as the hook "I would want myself," serve as a powerful affirmation of self-love. The song challenges the person pursuing her, warning them that trying to monopolize her time or learn everything about her immediately will not end well. It’s a declaration of independence and a refusal to be objectified or figured out on anyone's terms but her own.

The narrative unfolds in a social setting, likely a bar, where the protagonist, voiced by Tate McRae, is approached by a man. He's intrigued and a little frustrated by her enigmatic presence, remarking that despite being near her all evening, he can't figure her out. She remains reserved, not revealing much about herself verbally. In response to his overt interest and his question of whether she wants him, she internally affirms with a confident “yeah.”

The chorus is her internal monologue and a direct address to this suitor. She declares her own self-worth with the powerful line, “I would want myself.” This is a statement of high self-esteem; she sees herself as desirable and isn't afraid to admit it. She follows this with a warning: “Baby, don’t get greedy.” She cautions him against being too pushy or demanding of her attention and emotions, implying that forcing intimacy or trying to possess her won't end well. She makes it clear that getting to know her is a challenge, something that requires patience and effort, even saying she’ll put him “through hell” just for the privilege of knowing her. This isn't a literal threat, but a metaphorical expression of her high standards and the fact she doesn’t open up easily.

In the second verse, she reinforces this idea. She sees him watching her, but she's confident he'll never know more than her name or the way she commands the room's attention. She adds a playful jab, noting that she's “still half your age,” highlighting her youth and vitality while subtly pointing out his perhaps predatory or misjudged advances. She sees his look, one that views her as a “sweet escape,” but she reiterates her core message of self-love and unavailability for easy conquest.

The bridge captures a direct conversational exchange. He's curious, asking if her mysterious demeanor is genuine or just an act. He confesses he's never met anyone like her and that she's driving him crazy. Her response is a short, dismissive, and incredibly self-assured, “Lemme check,” followed by a confident “yeah.” This flippant reply underscores her complete control of the situation and her amusement at his infatuation. The song concludes by reinforcing the central hook, a powerful mantra of self-worth and a final caution against getting “greedy,” leaving no doubt about who holds the power in this dynamic.

"Greedy" was released on September 15, 2023, as the lead single from Tate McRae's second studio album, Think Later. The song was written by McRae in collaboration with a team of acclaimed hitmakers: Amy Allen, Jasper Harris, and Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic. The production was handled by Harris, Tedder, and Grant Boutin. The creation process took place in January 2023 during a week-long writing session. McRae explained that on the last day, they decided to do something completely different with “no f–ks given," drawing inspiration from 2000s artists like Nelly Furtado and Timbaland. The song was born from a real-life experience where a man at a bar described McRae as "mysterious," which sparked the concept of writing a sassy song about self-confidence. Initially, McRae was terrified to release the song, feeling it was a risky departure from her previous work, but producer Ryan Tedder was instrumental in convincing her of its potential. An interesting detail from the writing process is that an original lyric in the chorus was "I keep to myself," which was later changed to the more empowering "I would want myself" to better fit the song's confident tone. McRae began teasing snippets of the song on TikTok on August 4, 2023, where it quickly went viral, building significant anticipation for its official release.

"Greedy" employs a rhythmic structure that is both catchy and supportive of its lyrical theme. The song moves at an upbeat tempo of approximately 111 beats per minute (BPM) in a common time signature (4/4), making it highly danceable. The rhythm is driven by a strong, steady beat with syncopated elements, particularly in the vocal delivery and the main synth riff. Lyrically, the rhyme scheme is relatively straightforward, often using couplets (AABB) within sections to create a memorable and pop-friendly structure. For instance, in the chorus, "me" rhymes with "greedy" and "well" rhymes with "hell." The phrasing in the verses, especially the staccato "ta-ta-talkin'" line, creates a percussive effect that mimics the playful, teasing nature of the lyrics. This rhythmic vocal delivery, combined with the syncopated synth hook, creates a compelling interplay that enhances the song's confident and bouncy feel. The transition from the rhythmically sparse verses to the fuller, driving chorus emphasizes the shift from conversation to confident declaration.

Musically, "Greedy" is characterized by its catchy, arpeggiated steel drum-like synth hook that runs throughout the track, inspired by the work of Timbaland. The production blends pop, dance-pop, and R&B elements, with a tempo of around 111 BPM in the key of F♯ minor. The song structure builds from a relatively simple verse with a single chord to a more harmonically complex and dynamic chorus, creating a feeling of release and empowerment. Vocally, McRae employs a playful, somewhat pinched, and nasally delivery that shifts from a chesty belt in the verses to a softer head voice in parts of the chorus, creating a dynamic texture. Her enunciation is sometimes intentionally relaxed or mumbled, a common stylistic choice in modern pop to convey a chilled, confident vibe. Lyrically, the song uses a direct narrative structure, framing the verses as a dialogue ("He said...") and the chorus as her internal and external response. This call-and-response format makes the story clear and engaging. The repetition of the hook "I would want myself" acts as a powerful, self-affirming mantra.

"Greedy" became a massive commercial success for Tate McRae, significantly elevating her international profile. Fueled by its viral popularity on TikTok, where McRae teased the song extensively before its release, it topped charts in numerous countries including Canada, Austria, Denmark, and Norway. In the United States, it became her first top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number three, and also topped the Billboard Global 200 chart. The song's success was a testament to a well-executed online promotional strategy. The music video, directed by Aerin Moreno and choreographed by Sean Bankhead, features McRae in an empty hockey arena, a nod to her Canadian heritage and a rumored dig at her ex-boyfriend, an NHL player. This theme led to the song being widely played at hockey games and McRae being sponsored by the NHL. The track won Single of the Year at the 2024 Juno Awards and received Gold and Platinum certifications in many countries. Its 2000s-inspired pop sound was praised, cementing McRae's shift into a major pop star.

The central metaphor in "Greedy" is the concept of the suitor's desire as a form of greed. This isn't about material wealth but an emotional and personal greediness—an insatiable need to know, to possess, and to consume her personality and time without earning it. By labeling his intense interest as 'greedy,' McRae frames it as a negative, excessive trait rather than romantic flattery. The line, "I'll put you through hell, just to know me," is a metaphorical statement, not a literal threat. It symbolizes the high value she places on her own vulnerability and the emotional gauntlet one must navigate to earn her trust and intimacy. It represents the idea that her inner self is a prize not easily won. The entire song functions as a narrative of a power dynamic, where her mystique and closed-off nature are her armor and source of strength, challenging the traditional narrative of a woman needing to be open and accommodating to a man's advances.

The most significant recurring phrase in "Greedy" is the chorus hook, "I would want myself." This line serves as the song's central thesis, a powerful mantra of self-love and confidence that is repeated multiple times. Its repetition drills the message of empowerment into the listener's mind, making it an instant and memorable takeaway. The word "greedy" itself is a crucial motif, used to frame the suitor's advances negatively and establish the song's core conflict. Another key recurring element is the musical hook, the arpeggiated synth melody that opens the song and weaves throughout. This motif is so central that McRae even mimics its rhythm vocally in the post-chorus with the phrase "Uh-uh, uh-uh-uh, uh-uh," sonically tying her vocal performance directly to the song's instrumental identity. The conversational structure of "He said..." followed by her response is a recurring narrative device that frames the entire story.