31 million streams in a single week. That is how “What I Want” stormed onto the Billboard Hot 100 at number one, becoming Tate McRae’s first chart-topper and Morgan Wallen’s fourth. For McRae, it was a moment years in the making, jumping from her earlier breakout “Greedy” to finally holding the top spot. For Wallen, it was another reminder of his unstoppable run, now stretching deep into pop as well as country.
The heart of “What I Want” is the push and pull between two people who know their time together may not last but dive in anyway. McRae’s voice carries hesitation, the feeling of someone bracing for an ending, while Wallen answers with certainty, saying that even the baggage is “what he wants.” That tension, hesitant versus sure, gives the song its pull.
What are your thoughts on ‘What I Want’ topping the charts?
Fans had plenty to say once the song hit number one. One listener called it “the crossover nobody expected but everybody is talking about.” Another admitted mixed feelings, happy that McRae finally earned her first number one, but not thrilled it came with Wallen given his history. The range of reactions shows just how wide the audience is: celebration, criticism, and fascination all at once.
That push and pull of opinion makes the next layer of the story even more interesting. Beyond the online debates and headlines, there is the song itself, sitting quietly in Wallen’s new album I’m the Problem. The audio release strips away any distraction. It is just the voices, the sketch of Wallen on screen, and a ballad that feels both modern and unguarded.
Morgan Wallen, Tate McRae – What I Want (Audio)
The audio version underlines why the song connected so quickly. When McRae’s character admits the relationship is temporary, it feels like a confession whispered into the dark. When Wallen replies that her flaws are exactly what he wants, it turns into a kind of vow. Listeners picked up on that, calling the song “a pop-country trap ballad that hits harder than expected.”
Together, these two artists created more than a chart hit. They created a moment. McRae’s career now carries the stamp of a Billboard number one, and Wallen’s hold on mainstream music just grew stronger. Their voices may come from different worlds, but they met in the middle and made something lasting. Follow Morgan Wallen and Tate McRae on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Their story is still being written, and fans will want to see every page.