"Headphones On" by Addison Rae // Song Review

- March 09, 2026

The closing track of Addison Rae's self-titled debut album, "Headphones On" perfectly encapsulates the emotional arc of the entire project. "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" she sings in the opening verse and chorus. It provokes a bittersweet sense of optimism, in a way that embraces the broken and the beautiful parts of who we are equally.

The sadness, the insecurities, the pressure, the ache for something more is all laid bare. Above all though, "Headphones On" is a reminder to embrace every high and low, learning to dance in the rain and keep persisting even when it feels hard to. "Every good thing comes my way" feels like such an important mantra to carry throughout life, to hold onto the belief that something better is just around the corner. This song is Addison at her most reflective, grounding the album in the one thing that's been constant through it all - music. Using it as an escape from reality and letting it carry her through life is such a perfect closing statement for this record.

As with the rest of her debut album, "Headphones On" was produced by Addison, Luka Kloser, and Elvira during their time together in Sweden. This song really embodies Addison's personality so well, especially in terms of her ethos as an artist and intent behind making this music. The entire project is so reflective of her femininity and inherent sensuality, which ties those qualities to the personal facets she opens up about in her songwriting. "Wish my mom and dad could've been in love, guess some things aren't meant to last forever," she admits in the second verse, before adding, "I compare my life to the new it girl, jealousy's a riptide, it pulls me under."

The heart of this song is rooted in the power of finding an escape within music, which is something so many will be able to see a piece of their own lived experiences in. Sometimes all you can really do is put on your headphones and listen to your favorite song to get through hard moments, as cliche as it may sound. You have to believe that everything good is going to come your way in order for it to happen, just surrendering to the idea that what's meant to be will be and that every bad moment eventually comes with something good.

"This song is deeply connected to me in so many ways. Writing it was healing, emotional, and extremely spiritual. Every good thing comes my way. Because I choose to be good." Addsion wrote alongside the song's release on Instagram.