Toy with Me

Trainor released her sixth studio album, Timeless, in 2024.^[1] It debuted at number 27 on the US Billboard 200, marking the third-highest debut of the week in the country.^[2] However, the album spent only two weeks on the charts in the United Kingdom and the United States,^[3][4] and one in Australia.^[5] In an interview with Billboard magazine published in March 2025, Trainor revealed that she had begun working on new material.^[6]

While working on Toy with Me, Trainor said that she wanted the album to open with a song that would make listeners "feel unstoppable", describing it as the beginning of a new chapter in her artistic and personal life.^[7][8] Regarding the album's title, Toy with Me, Trainor explained that it continues her tradition of naming projects with the letter "T" that references her family name; she stated that the album's concept was influenced by her experiences with her children, aiming to evoke feelings of childhood comfort and simplicity. She described wanting listeners to feel "safe" and able to "dance and be happy" while listening. She also noted that the album's theme was shaped in part by negative attention she had received online.^[9]

"Pink Cadillac"

Toy with Me includes pop and doo-wop elements; "Pink Cadillac" likewise features a doo-wop-influenced arrangement.

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Co-written by Trainor,^[10] Toy with Me adopts prominent pop sounds,^[11] featuring 2020s trends alongside doo-wop influences.^{[note 1]} The album also incorporates occasional country-inspired elements and ballads, while maintaining a dance-oriented pop approach throughout its track list.^[15] Its lyrics frequently concentrate on the themes of authenticity, empowerment, and individual freedom.^[16] They draw on internet slang and pop culture references while discussing confidence, self-image, and romantic or sexual innuendo.^[12] Trainor described Toy with Me as her "most honest and fearless" to date, representing "learning how to meet people where they are at".^[7] The album also explores self-love, family life, and relationships, including references to Trainor's children and marriage counseling with her husband.^[17]

Trainor noted that the theme of "Get In Girl" is self worth. According to The Manila Times, the song "centers on moving on from unsatisfying relationships".^[18] Sydney Brasil of Exclaim! believed the song is a "Galentine's Day anthem", since it is centered on encouraging a friend to leave an unhealthy relationship with a "bum ass man".^[19] "Still Don't Care" was described by Trainor as her "most honest and fearless" track.^[20] It is a pop song influenced by the 1980s music, encouraging listeners to accept themselves and be confident in the face of judgment or adversity.^[7][21] Trainor's mother, brother, and sister-in-law offered background vocals for the song.^[21] Paste's Casey Epstein-Gross believed that "Potential" is similar to American singer Sabrina Carpenter's music.^[12] The fourth track, "Chef's Kiss", incorporates disco elements and presents a series of misfortunes directed at a subject.^[14]

"Pink Cadillac" juxtaposes themes of independence with sexual innuendo, set against a doo-wop-influenced arrangement featuring onomatopoeic lyrics;^[12] it draws on rock and roll and bubblegum sounds along with "Rich Man", which features prominent instrumentation like handclaps and horns alongside references to wealth and gender. "Angels" is a ballad track, while "Little One" is presented as a lullaby and contains a sample of a baby's voice. "Men's Tears" and "Delulu" draw on doo-wop influences.^[14] "Princess" includes lines such as "for this dress / 'Cause it hides that I'm broken", with "Cry Baby" likewise opening with lines "I feel hated, overwhelmed / Underrated, and all by myself" before shifting into a contrasting refrain. "Ladylike" combines contemporary slang and rhythmic vocalizations. At the same time, the title track portrays Trainor as a doll and includes suggestive lines like: "Toy with me, baby".^[12] Although much of the album revisits the doo-wop influences associated with Trainor's earlier work, its latter half shifts toward a more dance-oriented sound; songs such as "Hush" and "Shimmer" combine club-inspired and 1970s disco elements.^[11] The former further features elements of nu-disco,^[14] while the latter covers theme of self-love.^[22]

Trainor announced the release date of Toy with Me on November 12, 2025, along with the lead single, "Still Don't Care".^[20] She also revealed the album's cover art and pre-order.^[23] On February 13, 2026, "Get In Girl" served as the album's second single.^[24] Trainor released its Phillip R Lopez–directed music video on April 1, featuring South African-American actress Sasha Pieterse.^[25] Prior to the album's release, Trainor started to tease a song titled "Shimmer".^[22] On April 18, she released a teaser for the album, sharing its track list.^[26] Directed by American choreographer Charm La'Donna, Trainor's long-time collaborator, and filmed in Simi Valley, the music video for "Shimmer" was unveiled on the same day as Toy with Me's release.^[27] The deluxe edition was released on April 27, featuring four additional tracks: "Just Wanna Cry", "Receipts", "Theme Song", and "Heels".^[28] On May 5, "Shimmer" was sent to the US contemporary hit radio, becoming the album's third single.^[29]

More information Review scores, Source ...

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[11]
Paste	D+[12]
Jenesaispop	6.3/10[14]

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AllMusic's Matt Collar wrote that Toy with Me continues Trainor's tendency to blend multiple pop styles while retaining the upbeat and self-empowered tone associated with her earlier work. He highlighted the 1960s orchestral soul influences ("Get In Girl"), retro-inspired sounds ("Chef's Kiss", "Pink Cadillac", and "Princess"), and a stylistic shift in the album ("Hush" and "Shimmer").^[11] Writing for Paste, Casey Epstein-Gross criticized Toy with Me for its reliance on 2020s pop trends; she argued that much of the album feels derivative of other artists, comparing several tracks to existing songs. She also highlighted the use of innuendo, describing songs like "Pink Cadillac" and the title track as excessive or awkward. Despite this, Epstein-Gross highlighted Trainor's vocal ability and felt the album was occasionally catchy—writing that tracks such as "Shimmer" and "Get In Girl" function as effective earworms, even as its "redundant bubblegum arrangements" and perceived lack of originality limit its overall impact.^[12] Jordi Bardají of Jenesaispop gave the album a mixed review, praising its "aesthetic consistency" while criticizing the inclusion of "a handful of forgettable cuts" and deeming it devoid of innovation.^[14] Washington Square News staff writer Annie Emans criticized Toy with Me for its use of "TikTok-ified lyrics and surface-level feminist themes", arguing that it does little to significantly develop Trainor's established sound or distinguish itself within 2020s pop trends.^[33]

Toy with Me debuted at number 53 in Australia and number 198 on the US Billboard 200 chart.^[34][4] Nick Bond of News.com.au described its debut as "disastrous" and "dramatic fall from grace" in contrast to her debut studio album, Title (2015), stating that Trainor is "suffer[ing] a series of brutal career setbacks".^[35] In the United Kingdom, it entered at number 40 on the UK Albums Sales component chart.^[36]

Credits are adapted from the liner notes and Tidal.^[39][10]