Lily Allen and Tate McRae Revive the Revenge Anthem
They say the best revenge is living well, but for pop stars going through breakups, this isn’t true. The ultimate revenge is releasing a powerful, fiery revenge song that calls out an ex, often climbing the Billboard charts as a result.
Tate McRae and Lily Allen exemplify this with their recent work following high-profile breakups. McRae released the track TIT FOR TAT, while Allen unveiled an entire album titled West End Girl.
Exploring the Art of the Revenge Song
On the Switched On Pop podcast, hosts Charlie and Nate analyze these tracks to examine how revenge songs function in pop culture and music.
Referenced Tracks and Artists
- The Kid LAROI, Justin Bieber – "STAY"
- Angelo Badalamenti – Twin Peaks Theme
- Fleetwood Mac – "Go Your Own Way"
- Bizarrap, Shakira – Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53
- Lily Allen – West End Girl, "Madeline"
- 4chanstan
They say the best revenge is living well, but if you’re a pop star going through a break up, that’s false. The best revenge is releasing a searing scorched-earth revenge banger that calls out your ex and, ideally, rides that vengeance to the top of the Billboard charts.
Both artists demonstrate how personal pain can be transformed into chart-topping music, reigniting the classic revenge anthem in contemporary pop.
Author’s summary: Lily Allen and Tate McRae powerfully revive the revenge anthem by turning breakup pain into bold, chart-topping tracks that resonate with pop culture's enduring themes.