In a stunning career turnaround, former TikTok sensation Addison Rae has claimed the number four spot in a prestigious list of the 50 best albums of 2025 with her debut record, Addison. The album, a collection of dreamy and experimental synth-pop, has been hailed as a glittering tonic for trying times, marking a dramatic shift from the online derision that once followed her early forays into music and film.
From TikTok Backlash to Critical Acclaim
The seeds of Addison Rae's musical reinvention were sown in the summer of 2024, when pop innovator Charli XCX featured the 25-year-old on the remix of her hit single Von Dutch. Rae's sweet, fluttery vocals provided a surprising contrast to the track's abrasive sound, but her presence was symbolically potent. The song's theme of defiantly "sticking it to the haters" resonated deeply with Rae, who had faced significant backlash after her generic 2021 debut single, Obsessed.
At that time, Rae was primarily known as one of TikTok's original dance stars. Her attempts to transition that fame into mainstream entertainment—through music and a poorly received Netflix film—were met with widespread criticism. However, the collaboration with Charli XCX acted as a catalyst, swiftly cleansing Rae's image of its "sticky juvenilia" and aligning her with a cooler, alt-pop aesthetic.
The Building Blocks of a New Pop Persona
This new direction was solidified with a string of distinctive solo singles. Tracks like Diet Pepsi offered a breathy, Lana Del Rey-esque homage to lost innocence and Americana, while Aquamarine evolved into a euphoric Europop banger reminiscent of a 1990s nightclub. The defiant Fame Is a Gun served as a clear statement of intent, with Rae singing, "When you shame me, it makes me want it more."
Her debut album, Addison, was the culmination of this promising new phase. Co-produced and co-written by Max Martin protégés Elvira Anderfjärd and Luka Kloser, the project was notably helmed by three young women—a rarity for a major-label pop debut. The record delivered on the singles' promise, presenting synth-pop that was weirder and more ambitious than many anticipated.
An Album of Hedonism and Glittering Survival
The album's sound is a sophisticated blend of influences, from the glamour of Madonna's Ray of Light era to the misty nostalgia of Lana Del Rey. Opener New York begins floaty and fizzy before descending into chaotic, pummelling noise, while tracks like High Fashion and Times Like These experiment with trip-hop and R&B. The fact that experimental producer Arca remixed Aquamarine underscores the project's left-field credibility.
Lyrically, Rae champions a proud, hedonistic escape. Songs like Summer Forever celebrate being "young, dumb and cute / Nothing to lose," while In the Rain offers a fleeting glimpse of vulnerability before she declares she's "Turning my tears into gold." This mix of nostalgia, materialism, and sensation-seeking has been interpreted as a distinctly 2025 technique for survival through distraction.
The rebrand has been spectacularly successful. Rae's debut tour sold out in seconds, and her performance as support for Lana Del Rey at Wembley Stadium this summer drew unprecedented crowds and deafening screams for an opening act. Few could have predicted this trajectory, but Addison has emerged as a rare, bright spot in a long year—a much-needed cavalcade of glitter, glamour, and pure pop ambition.
