ETHAN, he’s all I wanna be | COVERS

In the 42nd edition of COVERS (2024), ETHAN delivers a compelling rendition of “he’s all I wanna be” originally performed by Tate McRae.

Ah, it’s time to get cozy and cover up! In COVERS, we highlight a musician or band covering songs by another musician (likely a popular musician). COVERS focuses solely on the musician who covers.  It is open to established musicians and musicians who may not be as well-known. In the 42^nd edition of COVERS (2024), ETHAN delivers a compelling rendition of “he’s all I wanna be” originally performed by Tate McRae as “She’s all I wanna be”.

“He’ll wear his tight black singlet / With all his friends around.” Oh, snap! Hmm, funny, ETHAN, I don’t recall that lyric appearing in “She’s all I wanna be” by Tate McRae. That’s because that lyric appears in the Australia-based (New Zealand-bred) musician’s 2022 cover, “he’s all I wanna be”.  ETHAN changes the SHE to HE throughout “he’s all I wanna be” providing a refreshing, queerer perspective.  The handsome (understatement) and talented musician is openly gay, contributing ample bops to the queer music collection.  His sweet, unapologetically gay take on “She’s all I wanna be” marks another highlight of the artist’s career.

Changing pronouns and making male-specific lyrical adjustments is a big draw on “he’s all I wanna be.” In the original penned by McRae and Greg Kurstin, Tate wants to be like the girl who is dating a guy who has changed.  In this case, ETHAN envies the boy who is with the boy who is the object of his affection, or something like that.  The chorus, the most tuneful section of the original and the cover, sums up the love pain:

“Stupid boy making me so sad

Didn’t think you could change this fast

He’s got everything that I don’t have

How could I ever compete with that?

I know you’ll go and change your mind

Oen day wake up and be bored with mine

He’s got everything that I don’t have

And he’s all I wanna be, all I wanna be so bad…” 

Despite his feelings for this “Stupid boy,” ETHAN doesn’t let it stop him from kicking ass and taking names.  How does he do that? He serves up brilliant vocals. His runs are lovely, while his falsetto is ripe and warm.  He’s at his best on the centerpiece, the pop/rock-infused chorus, crying foul about that ole boy! “He’s all I wanna be” is the sugar honey iced tea.

ETHAN // “he’s all I wanna be” // ETHAN // 2022

ETHAN, he’s all I wanna be: Covers No. 42 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner /The Musical Hype; ETHAN; Alan Cordero, Ba Tik, Kampus Production, Matteo Milan, SHVETS production from Pexels; OpenClipart-Vectors, StockSnap, Vicki Hamilton from Pixabay]