Addison Rae’s “Diet Pepsi” marks a confident and surprisingly stylish step in her transition from social-media personality to mainstream pop artist, opening the door to her major-label era with a breezy, synth-pop-leaning single that feels both nostalgic and fresh.

Released in August 2024 as the lead single from her debut studio album Addison, the track pairs shimmering, dreamy production with Rae’s airy vocal delivery to create a mood-first listening experience that’s meant to evoke the heady, carefree buzz of young love.

Lyrically, “Diet Pepsi” leans into vivid, sensual imagery — from fogged-up car windows and lipstick-scrawled chests to the titular soda itself — to craft a vivid snapshot of summer romance and youthful lust, with hooks that are catchy enough to stick long after the song ends. Critics and fans alike generally praised it as one of the standout pop moments of Rae’s debut era, highlighting its alluring mood and radio-ready chorus that helped it chart across multiple countries worldwide.  

However, reception wasn’t universally glowing, and part of what makes “Diet Pepsi”interesting is how it sparked divergent reactions — from praise for its catchy hook and Nostalgia Pop aesthetic to critiques of its lyrical simplicity and stylistic echoes of early 2000s pop icons. Some listeners drew parallels between Rae’s breathy vocal approach and the dreamy, cahoots-in-a-parking-lot vibe of vintage pop classics, while others found the verses a bit clunky or juvenile compared with her more polished peers. Nonetheless, the track became a cultural touchpoint for Rae’s musical identity — going viral on TikTok, peaking in the top ten on radio charts, and anchoring her live performances throughout The Addison Tour.

Whether embraced as a modern pop anthem or critiqued for its simplicity, “Diet Pepsi”undeniably helped solidify Addison Rae’s presence in the broader pop landscape and hinted at the direction her budding musical career might take.