My expectations for Addison Rae’s debut album are in heaven after these four legendary singles: “Diet Pepsi,” “Aquamarine,” “High Fashion,” and now, “Headphones On.” That’s a historic run right there. No notes. If you haven’t already been taking this TikTok sensation-turned pop princess seriously, it’s officially time! All of these singles are main pop girl material (and so was “Obsessed,” for the record, but you gotta pick your battles.) “Headphones On,” a mid-tempo, rose-colored pop gem about pain and perseverance, is about to be my spring and summer hyper-fixation. Addison sings about accepting hard truths and turning to music — and cigarettes — for comfort. So, let’s get into it: The poetry of Addison Rae’s “Headphones On” lyrics deserves a proper breakdown.

Addison Rae “Headphones On” Lyrics Breakdown: Parents Drama, It Girl Comparisons

Addison Rae “Headphones On” Lyrics Breakdown

In the highly addictive “Headphones On” chorus, Addison croons: “Guess I gotta accept the pain / Need a cigarette to make me feel better / Every good thing comes my way / So I still get dolled up.” Queen of manifestation! Cigarettes seem to be a common theme in Addison’s debut album. (Do not follow this example, kids.) “I’d rather feel the sun kiss on my skin / With a cigarette pressed between my tits,” she sings in the last single, “High Fashion.” And in the “Aquamarine” music video, Addison smokes two cigarettes at once… She’s basically a cigfluencer at this point. Remember that viral video of her smoking cigarettes with her toes??

In the first verse of the new track, Addison details the “pain” she’s referencing. “Wish my mom and dad could have been in lovе / Guess some things werеn’t meant to last forever,” she laments. She also reveals that she compares her life to “the new it girl” and feels jealous. I’m trying to imagine who Addison Rae could possibly be jealous of.

In addition to the cigarette motif, this album clearly has a water theme. In “Headphones On,” Addison likens jealousy to a “riptide” and later sings about “soaking up the rain” and how life’s “no fun through clear waters.” Obviously, she also uses water and swimming as metaphors for freedom and power in the “Aquamarine” lyrics. (College-level stuff, like I said.)

“Headphones On” is a bop about accepting the hard parts of life, coping how you can, and choosing to keep inviting in light and beauty. “I know the lows are what makes the highs higher” are the words of wisdom I needed today, truly. Sonically, she’s serving a gorgeous fusion of Madonna, Britney, and Lana Del Rey.

If you ask me, we already have our song of the summer.

What Happened Between Addison Rae’s Parents, Monty Lopez And Sheri Nicole Easterling?

I can’t believe I forgot about this lore… Back in 2022, there were TikTok videos showing Monty with a younger woman on FaceTime and touching a different woman’s ass at a bar. Around the same time those clips surfaced, he and Sheri Nicole split. But this wasn’t the first time Addison’s parents had marital issues: They’d already divorced in the 2000s and remarried in 2017. Then, things got even messier when Sheri attended the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards with none other than 20-something-year-old rapper Yung Gravy, and they kissed on the red carpet. Wild times indeed. It’s no wonder Addison’s in dire need of coping mechanisms.