Diet Pepsi: Addison Rae's Perfect Blend of Platforms and Aesthetics

I've had little time to write lately, so I asked AI to write a review of my favourite song in my tone of voice

In the early 2000s, when Pepsi was at its cultural peak, they didn’t just sign pop stars to advertise their products – they enlisted icons. Britney Spears, in the midst of her superstardom, became the face of the brand in one of the most iconic ad campaigns ever. The image of Britney, blonde and impossibly perfect, dancing through a neon-lit Pepsi truck in a denim outfit, is as embedded in pop culture as her chart-topping hits. Pepsi, at that moment, wasn’t just selling soda; they were selling a slice of the American dream, a whole aesthetic wrapped in nostalgia and rebellion. Flash forward to today, and Addison Rae, a child star from Louisiana just like Britney, finds herself as the new face of pop culture’s most iconic drink. But where Britney was the epitome of 2000s innocence mixed with undeniable power, Rae is navigating a new era—one shaped by TikTok, Tumblr aesthetics, and a darker, more complex take on femininity.

Addison Rae, the TikTok queen turned pop star, has managed to do something that many before her have failed to accomplish: seamlessly blend platforms and cultural movements from the past and present into something that feels distinctly now. Diet Pepsi, her latest single, isn’t just a song – it’s a statement, an aesthetic, and most importantly, a perfect reflection of her unique ability to harness the zeitgeist. It’s 2023, and Rae is proving once again that she understands exactly what it means to exist as both a product of the internet age and an echo of something much older.

On first listen, Diet Pepsi might sound like another entry into the pop world’s sugary-sweet landscape, but there’s so much more going on under the surface. Rae’s voice, as polished as it is, is framed by a production that somehow feels both effortless and meticulously crafted. Styled by Mel Ottenberg – the force behind some of the most interesting, genre-defying pop looks – the music video, directed by Sean Price Williams, instantly conjures the moody, self-aware vibes of 2010s Tumblr aesthetics, but with a modern twist. It's a marriage of nostalgia and now, with Rae as our guide through the wild ride of digital culture.

This is where Rae’s genius lies – in her ability to transcend the role of just an influencer and carve out a space where she is both an active participant in and a curatorial force of the trends that shape the world she exists in. From the curated content of TikTok to the deep dives of 2010s Tumblr, Rae taps into the cultural lexicon in ways that feel both deliberate and effortless, proving she isn’t just another social media star – she’s a trendmaker in her own right.

Then there’s the song’s visual language. The influence of the Lolita-esque “sexy baby” trope is hard to ignore. In fact, it’s a key part of Rae’s persona – a modern, pop-culture update on the feminine archetype that has so often been at the center of societal fascination and critique. This blend of innocence and allure, reminiscent of artists like Lana Del Rey, adds an intriguing layer to Rae's image. It’s not just about being sexy, but about being self-aware of how that "sexy" is consumed, distorted, and ultimately worshipped. There’s power in this paradox, and Rae is leaning into it with her signature subtlety, giving us a version of femininity that is both youthful and knowingly complicated.

But let’s not forget the collaborative efforts at play here. The production on Diet Pepsi feels cutting-edge, like it could be the soundtrack to a TikTok meme tomorrow, yet still sits comfortably in the wider world of pop music. That’s a testament to Rae’s dynamic partnerships – from her collaborators to her team, the synergy between them speaks volumes. Mel Ottenberg’s styling, in particular, makes Rae’s visual world feel coherent and ever-evolving, while Sean Price Williams’ direction ties it all together in a package that’s just the right amount of self-aware.

At its core, Diet Pepsi is more than a pop song. It’s an exploration of the relationship between the digital world and real-world perception. Addison Rae isn’t just selling us a song; she’s selling us a lifestyle, an aesthetic, and a new kind of femininity. It’s soft but sharp, sweet but with a bite. She’s not trying to be everything – she’s playing with what she already is and showing us how she can bend the rules.

If there’s anything to take away from Diet Pepsi, it’s that Addison Rae has a finger on the pulse of not only what’s now, but what’s next. Like the greatest of influencers, she doesn’t just follow the trends – she creates them. Much like Britney before her, who once captured the spirit of an era with a can of Pepsi in hand, Rae is taking the reins of an entirely new cultural moment, one where she doesn’t just exist within the systems of fame – she’s reshaping them.