After a short hiatus from music to focus on acting,Reneé Rapphas returned to music with a bang. Her newest album,BITE ME,has every bit of pop and edge that makes Reneé Rapp such a special artist. She makes sure it’s not too serious, but every song is seriously good.
Though every song onBITE MEis a certified banger, we are all going to have our own favorites. Since the album has just been released and is fresh in our minds, now is the perfect time to dissect each song and rank them.
12That’s So Funny
“That’s So Funny” exemplifies the post-breakup feeling of hearing which story is being told. How funny that Rapp’s ex gets to come out looking good, when the story goes very differently, according to her. Though this experience might not be completely universal, it is easy to feel Rapp’s anger and hurt through the snarky attitude of the lyrics.
The song is heartbreaking and slows down the vibe right before the end of the album.Rapp’s vocals are softer and more subdued at first before building to a crescendo at the end. One of the slowest songs on the album, it mixes up the vibe, but it’s in last place for being just a bit too slowed down.
11I Think I Like You Better When You’re Gone
This song starts out sounding like Reneé Rapp is sitting on a stool with just a guitar. It’s very stripped back and honest. However, as the tensions in her emotions rise, the background beat gets more intense. It pairs perfectly with that feeling of trying so hard to like someone, but ultimately wishing they weren’t in your life.
The shortest song on the album, “I Think I Like You Better When You’re Gone” is a quick and very blunt track about how Rapp is feeling about this certain person.Is the “funny feeling something’s wrong” easier to deal with than just being honest?
10You’d Like That Wouldn’t You
Ending the album with a bang,this song has a very tongue-in-cheek energy that Reneé Rapp can infuse into her songs so effortlessly. This song is the boombox over her head while she’s standing on the lawn outside of her lover’s window.
The funniest part of the song is a little break at the end of the second verse. While it’s played for laughs, it also shows the listener maybe a little bit of what Rapp has gone through in past relationships. Is this song what her lover would like, or what she wants? We may never know, but we sure can sing along.
9Kiss It Kiss It
“Kiss It Kiss It” is going to be one of 2025’s summer anthems, and summer is almost over. It is passionate and energetic from start to finish.The song has a very girl-pop vibe, with a light pink bubblegum feeling.
The end of the second verse, where it breaks down for a second and really focuses on the guitars, is a fun surprise and almost takes you off guard, since it diverts from the pop feel for just a second.
The album is very unapologetic in Reneé Rapp’s personality and sexuality. It’s refreshing to see not just this song but also the entire album written about queer love. This song is a bold and bright expression of Reneé Rapp’s love that she is sharing with her audience.
8I Can’t Have You Around Me Anymore
ThoughBITE MEhas plenty of upbeat songs, the theme of betrayal and heartbreak runs deep in most of the tracks. In this track, the betrayal is coming from Rapp, as she describes someone that is causing issues in her current relationship. Therefore, they shouldn’t see each other, and that’s what the song is trying to say.
This song is very honest and full of raw emotion that the audience can feel through her strong vocals. The guitar is simple yet beautiful, and I think this is where the album really started to pick up steam and resonate with me.Reneé Rapp is so talented not just vocally, but also at getting her audience to feel the same heartbreak she’s feeling.
7Mad
The second song released off of the album, “Mad” is exactly what you need to listen to when you’re upset about what could’ve been. It’s the exact feeling of wanting someone so badly, but something is just keeping you apart.The anger is felt through how Rapp sings the lyrics, making you want to sing along, or even yell if you need to.
The snarky attitude felt throughout the song is only amplified by the intense instruments and Rapp’s powerful vocals. Even though it feels like she should be screaming “Hey, you,” her vocals are controlled and refined. Her power is on full display on this track, and it’s easy to see how much love and care she put into making it.
6Shy
There is nothing “shy” about this song. Rapp’s vocals are on beautiful display in this song, becoming rougher and louder as opposed to light and airy. The bridge makes you want to clap along. It has the same campy nature that Rapp does so well.
This is another song that shows Reneé Rapp being her authentic self in her lyrics.She is giving her audience little pieces of what her relationships have been like, even sharing a little vulnerability. Though this song is campy and fun, we can all relate to the feeling of being shy around a new crush or date.
5At Least I’m Hot
“At Least I’m Hot” is what everyone needs to listen to if they are ever feeling down on themselves. Sure, the world outside might be awful and hard to deal with, but this is the pick-me-up that will get you right out of that funk.
Reneé Rapp’s partner, guitarist Towa Bird, even makes an appearance on this song, adding a quick little spoken quip right before the second verse. It adds character and charm to the track, maybe even a little glimpse into the fun they have together playing music. It’s a fun and unserious track, a break from the heartache.
4Leave Me Alone
“Leave Me Alone” is the lead single off of the album. It was the first glimpse that we got into this new era of Reneé Rapp. It has a fun party anthem beat and lyrics that are so fun to sing because of how unserious they are.
The apparent call-out of her old TV show,The Sex Lives of College Girls, is a hilarious addition. Even among the funny lines and uptempo beat, it still follows the album’s theme of letting go.
This song set the tone for the whole album before it was even released. It has a great energy that starts the album off with a bang. This also gives us a great hint at what to expect from Reneé Rapp in the future.This song will be great on tour, and we will all be screaming along.
3Sometimes
The mix of angelic vocals and the melodic enchanting piano make this song so emotional to listen to. It’s the first time on the album that Rapp’s emotions are on full display, the pain evident and real. The song builds and builds like the feeling of frustration Reneé Rapp is feeling throughout the whole song.
Reneé Rapp’s vocals are beautiful on this track,going back and forth between low and quiet to high and loud and making sure that you hear what she is trying to say. Even though the song evokes heartbreak, it’s so beautiful it almost makes you forget about how much the words hurt.
