Just before the lights, the noise, and the spectacle — Tate McRae took a quiet moment to connect with her audience on a deeper level.
Ahead of her show in Stuttgart, Germany, the Canadian singer surprised fans during soundcheck with a heartfelt acoustic cover of “The 1” by Taylor Swift — a fan favorite from Swift’s introspective folklore album.
Wearing a bright blue tracksuit and sitting casually on a stool, McRae held her phone with the lyrics as she softly sang lines like:
“I have this dream you’re doing cool sh— / Having adventures on your own…”
“And if my wishes came true / It would’ve been you.”
Her stripped-back performance — just her voice and a single acoustic guitar — captured the wistful melancholy of the original, and the clip quickly made the rounds on social media, resonating with fans who praised its emotional sincerity.
A Song That Speaks Volumes
“The 1” opened folklore, the surprise album Taylor Swift released during the height of the pandemic in 2020. The album went on to win Album of the Year at the 2021 Grammy Awards, and the song itself became a subtle anthem for what could’ve been.
McRae’s rendition felt like a quiet nod to her own inspirations — and it wasn’t the first time she’s done this.
Soundcheck Covers: A McRae Signature
In recent tour stops, McRae has turned soundcheck into a space for reflection and musical homage. She’s covered artists like Billie Eilish (“Birds of a Feather”), Olivia Rodrigo (“Pretty Isn’t Pretty”), and even the country-pop crossover hit “I Had Some Help” by Morgan Wallen and Post Malone.
Riding High After Her First Billboard No. 1
McRae is currently on tour promoting her second studio album “So Close to What,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, marking a major milestone in her career. The album includes standout singles like “Greedy,” “Sports Car,” “2 Hands,” and “It’s OK I’m OK.”
Next up on her European tour: Antwerp, Dublin, London, and Paris, before returning to North America in August. The tour wraps up on November 8 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood.
