Bringing the Pop-Punk Energy
"That’s What I Want" is a standout track from Lil Nas X's debut album Montero. Unlike his country-trap beginnings, this song dives headfirst into 2000s pop-punk revival. The tempo is fast, the acoustic guitar strumming is aggressive, and the vocals require attitude.
To sing this well, you need to maintain a conversational yet punchy tone in the verses and open up into a full chest-mix belt for the chorus. The song is relatively short (2:23), so there is no time to warm up during the track—you have to be on 100% from the first note.
AI Coach Tip: Watch Your Breath
Because the tempo is high (approx 174 BPM), the phrases come quickly. Our analysis shows singers often run out of air in the chorus. Plan a quick, low breath right before the line "I want someone to love me."
Phase 1: The Rhythmic Verses
The song starts in F# Major. The verses ("Need a boy who can cuddle with me all night") sit in a comfortable lower-mid range (C#3 - C#4). The challenge isn't pitch—it's rhythm.
The Trap: It's easy to slur the words because the beat is driving. Keep your consonants crisp and percussive. Imagine you are acting as part of the drum kit. This percussive diction gives the song its "punk" feel.
Phase 2: The Chorus (The Hook)
The chorus explodes with the line "I want someone to love me." This melody jumps up to F#4 and repeats. This is the top of the chest/mix range for many baritones.
- Placement: Place the sound forward in the "mask" (nose and cheekbones). This gives the vocal a bright, cutting quality ("twang") without straining your throat.
- Vowels: On the word "Want", try modifying the vowel slightly towards "Wuh-nt" rather than a wide "Wah-nt". This narrows the sound and makes the high note easier to sustain.
Phase 3: The Bridge and Outro
The bridge features a guitar solo followed by a breakdown. The vocals here are more emotive. You can pull back the volume slightly before building up for the final chorus. The outro includes ad-libs that can go higher (up to B4), but these are optional. Focus on the core melody first.
Frequently Asked Questions
The core melody belts up to an F#4. There are background ad-libs and falsetto parts that reach higher, but F#4 is the main challenge note.
Use "breath support" rather than "throat tension." Engage your core muscles to push the air, while keeping your neck relaxed. Singing Coach AI can visualize if you are pressing too hard.
Yes! F#4 is comfortable for a Soprano's chest voice. You might find the low notes in the verse (C#3) tricky. You can transpose the song up +2 or +3 semitones in the app to fit your voice.
