There are many pop singers in the world ranging from not so popular, extremely popular, and well known (but underrated) like Tate McRae. Her rise to fame began after she competed in the American reality television series So You Think You Can Dance, where she used this exposure to begin posting videos of herself singing and dancing on YouTube. From there she released her debut EP All the Things I Never Said which was a commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard Canadian Albums Chart.
More recently, on November 14th, 2024, she released “2 Hands,” which talks about her desire to be close to the one she loves, explores love languages, and emphasizes her need for physical touch.
The reaction to the song, once released, was mainly positive, as it was praised by critics for her vocals and by fans for the relatable lyrics. It debuted on many music charts all around the world, and its numbers on different platforms like Spotify and Apple Music were impressive with currently over 83 million streams on Spotify alone. Throughout this buzz about the new song, enthusiasts of it were seen going to social media and making dance challenges, and sharing their own interpretations of the song’s meaning.
The song explores the five (main) love languages: physical touch, words of affirmation, acts of service, quality time, and gift giving. McRae focuses on showing that she’s been in many different relationships where her partners have given her many different forms of love, but it’s never worked out for her. “And I know you could spoil me plenty more/But I don’t really trust that anymore.” She expresses that everyone receives love differently and her preference for physical touch has never been met by her past partners so she hopes her current one will. She uses the metaphor of needing “two hands” on her to feel connected and it symbolizes her longing for proximity in her relationships.
Her vulnerability, authenticity, and relatability in the song are what make it such an adored composition. The main message that stands out is how she demonstrates her craving for affection and love, and that topic is what connects to her listeners and anyone new who understands the feeling. The rawness and straight forward nature of the lyrics inspire listeners to ponder their own love languages through a universal connection. “’Cause they’re just words, they don’t mean much/(They don’t mean much, no, no)/Need a little less talk/and a lot more touch.” For many people, physical touch is a crucial part of human understanding and connection, so her honesty makes it easy for listeners to see themselves in her shoes.
With an introspective vibe, it feels like taking a glimpse into McRae’s inner thoughts and feelings. The majority of that, like in most music, comes from the production. With a catchy background beat and a catchy chorus, what shines the brightest is McRae’s voice. You can hear resilience and vulnerability in her delivery, which reflects her being upfront with the things she wants, but also displaying a sense of strength. The minimalist background is what shines a spotlight on her vocals and the smaller touches in the background amplify the emotion that her vocals display.
With her talented vocals and reach to many different people, Tate McRae creates the upbeat and fun song “2 Hands,” and, in turn, speaks to the importance of physical touch, the longing for connection and the need to feel loved. Through these elements, it becomes clear that its popularity is due to its emotional depth and ability to resonate with listeners.
