Tate McRae Embraces Her Full Pop Star Potential For Her Debut Manila Performance – Review

Tate McRae has always been on the cusp of “main pop girlie” status. 

Her meteoric rise from viral dance videos to chart-topping singles has made her a household name in the global pop scene. But what exactly defines what a “main pop girlie” is? Is it a series of chart-topping hits? Or a plethora of sold-out concerts all over the world? Or as some would attribute it to one’s many gifts — whether it be their talent, dedication, or enthusiasm for the process of becoming the next big thing in the music industry?

For McRae, it’s the rare combination of all of the above. While her peers in the pop world might be celebrated for their signature styles or personality-driven public images, Tate’s appeal lies in her unapologetic authenticity and fierce commitment to her craft. Beyond her impressive string of singles, like “you broke me first” and “greedy,” McRae’s presence in the industry has been marked by a quiet, but unmistakable confidence. Yet, what people may not have realized until now is that McRae embodies all that and more — an artist who can seamlessly blend vulnerability with power, raw emotion with polished technique.

Such was on full display during the Manila stop of her ongoing Think Later World Tour, wherein the Canadian pop star delivered a show that highlighted the very strengths that have made her one of the industry’s most promising pop acts to date. With every note she hit, every dance break, and every heartfelt moment she shared with her audience just confirmed that we are witnessing the evolution of an artist destined for more. With her Philippine audience watching, it’s clear that McRae is ready for her moment in the spotlight.

While holding a concert on a Monday evening seemed like an odd choice, McRae and her artistry were still able to transform the New Frontier Theatre into a club-like atmosphere of its own. Several of her loyal ‘Tater Tots’ were clad in blue hockey jerseys, or even dressed in concert merch that they copped earlier on in the day. With fans and audiences alike making their way to their spots at the show, the excitement was building up, given how everyone was getting ready to dance the night away to her many hit songs.

From the moment the lights dimmed and the bass of her opening track, the titular “think later,” rumbled through the speakers, it was evident that we were going to behold a high-octane performance that one couldn’t forget. By the time McRae’s silhouette appeared in full display in front of the crowd –– several of those present began screaming her name, bobbing their heads along to the track. Given the vibrant energy and rousing beats of the track, it was commendable that McRae selected the perfect choice of an opener to get audiences engaged from the get-go.

McRae surely knew how to follow up such a performance (with astounding choreography as expected), given how both “hurt my feelings” and “uh oh” were able to maintain the momentum from both the audience and her onstage energy. Yet even as she kept everyone’s spirits up with such high-energy numbers, the 21-year-old pop star was able to deliver soul-baring tunes via an excellent display of her vocal talents (that impressed me, even) through heartbreaking anthems like “feel like shit,” “stay done,” and “messier,” which had the crowd singing along.

Following her impressive vocal showcase, the pace picked back up once “cut my hair” came on. McRae and her dancers’ ability to make full use of the New Frontier Theatre’ stage allowed the show to feel larger than life — whether it was the slowed-down R&B-infused tempo of “rubberband” or the high-octane nature of the chart-topping single “exes.”

With the latter in particular, her performance was true to what the viral TikTok hype has established (and more!), given how seamlessly her vocals and impeccable dance performance fit with one another. At some choreography-heavy parts of the track (particularly its jaw-dropping dance break), the Canadian pop star invited audiences to sing along on her behalf, and they were definitely able to do so with every breath that they had.

As a much-needed cool down of sorts, McRae — in awe of the crowd’s energy — asked everyone in the audience to scream as loud as they could for her. Traversing through each corner of the theatre, she acted as an emcee of sorts, eventually getting the crowd to scream to their heart’s delight, which made it feel as if the venue was going to burst via a sonic boom. “That was crazy, I love you guys so much!” she immediately remarked with glee, following the deafening set of screams that just occurred.

Her next few performances to “grave,” “guilty conscience,” and “we’re not alike,” had audiences having the time of their lives, yet it was her performances to the crowd favorites “she’s all I wanna be” and “you broke me first,” that had audiences simultaneously singing along and bawling to every lyric. “In case you guys weren’t familiar, I wrote this song when I was sixteen, and I first uploaded it to YouTube. So to those who’ve been supporting me since then, I just wanna say thank you so much for all the support and for being with me here tonight,” she mentioned.

To cap the show off with the same infectious nature that it began with, McRae performed “run for the hills,” which blended her vocal harmonies with intricate dance moves from her backup dancers. As it built up to the highly anticipated encore, she also used the track’s climactic bridge to activate a strong display of confetti that made its way to the furthest of regions of Araneta’s New Frontier Theatre. Although she disappeared to get ready for her last two performances, people were whooping and cheering her name, with “Tate” being chanted across the venue.

By the time she came back for the encore, her performance to the sassy, if biting, new single “it’s ok, I’m ok” had audiences in awe once more at her dance skills. And as the first few notes to “greedy” came along, the audiences were already the one’s singing along louder than Tate herself, while she danced to every beat with bursts of joy and precision.

As the night drew to a close, it was clear that McRae’s performance had not only lived up to expectations but had firmly solidified her place in the conversation about pop’s current and future superstars. While she may have drawn inspiration from pop icons like Britney Spears and Ashley Tisdale, McRae has surely since carved out a space that is entirely her own.

Her raw, unfiltered lyrics, combined with her captivating stage presence and undeniable vocal ability, have set her apart from her peers, marking her as more than just another pop star in the making; she’s a triple threat whose force to be reckoned with. While many wished for the show to have gone on for just a bit longer, McRae’s ability to blend vulnerability with empowerment — coupled with her genuine connection with her fans — showcased the kind of star power that is impossible to ignore.

With every performance, it’s becoming more evident that she isn’t simply trying to emulate her idols, her peers, or any of the artists who have come before her — she is here to redefine what it means to be a pop artist in this generation. In a crowded and ever-evolving industry, Tate McRae has proved that she is worthy of being recognized as one of the main pop stars (or ‘main pop girlies’ if you will) of this era. The Manila show was just another milestone in what is sure to be a career that will continue to shape her burgeoning pop career for years to come.

Listen to Tate McRae’s sophomore album Think Later below: