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glitteryvI wrote a a Charli XCX rec post for last year's Fannish 50 that focused on her latest music (instead of being a full retrospective.)
In the time since then, she's released a deluxe version of brat AND a remix album as well. This post is abt the latter, but more abt the way that there's always a bloody and beating heart within even the seemingly cold and vapid melodies of hyperpop. The best example of this is the evolution of "Girl, so confusing" from Charli's 2024 album.
Some context first. Back in late 2014, an interviewer confused Charli with Lorde. Asking her abt what her inspiration of "Royals" was. Charli was game enough to reply while pretending to be Lorde. Fast forward to May 2024 when, during an interview, Charli mentions that she'd had some moments of intense jealousy toward Lorde, that she resented Lorde's popularity. It's important to note that a lot of that was also fueled by the media comparing the two (since there can only be one (1) quirky/alternative/cool white female artist at a time./s).
A month later, Charli releases brat.
The song (original version)
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE VIDEO BELOW HAS INTENSE FLASHING LIGHTS EFFECT. DON'T WATCH IT IF YOU'RE PHOTOSENSITIVE AS IT CAN LEGIT TRIGGER SEIZURES..
Charli's extremely candid abt her insecurities (just like many of the songs in the album). Only this time it's mostly provoked by someone in particular. Ppl begin to SPECULATE abt the identity of that person. Lorde is the main female artist that ppl keep bringing up (alongside other artists like Marina and Rina Sawayama.)
Two weeks go by.
The song (remix version)
NO F/W warning for this video. The song does touches on disordered eating, tho.
And here's Lorde verse:
Well honestly I was speechless
When I woke up to your voice note
You tell me how you’ve been feeling
Let’s work it out on the remix
You always say let’s go out
But then I cancel last minute
I was so lost in my head
And scared to be in your pictures
Cause for the last couple years
I’ve been at war in my body
I tried to starve myself thinner
And then I gained all the weight back
I was trapped in a hatred
And your life seemed so awesome
I never thought for a second
My voice was in your head
Girl, you walk like a bitch
When I was ten someone said that
And it’s just self defense
Until you’re building a weapon
She believed my projection
And now I totally get it
Forgot that inside the icon
There’s still a young girl from Essex
[N/B: These next two verses have Charli and Lorde singing it together. *clutches heart*]
People say we’re alike
They say we’ve got the same hair
It’s you and me on the coin
The industry loves to spend
And when we put this to bed
The internet will go crazy
I’m glad I know how you feel
Cause I’d ride for you, Charli
(the song fades with Charli saying "You know I'll ride for you too")
WOW! I just get chills whenever I listen to this amazing tune.
FTR, they've performed this song live a few times. My fave performance was this surprise one during Weekend 1 of this year's Coachella.
TRIGGER WARNING FOR A LOT OF STROBE LIGHTS, INTENSE BACKGROUND GRAPHICS, AND V. DYNAMIC CAMERAWORK. DO NOT WATCH THIS VIDEO IF YOU HAVE ANY KIND OF PHOTOSENSITIVITY.
IIRC, it was close to midnight and I jumped up and began dancing cuz it felt like a v. magical performance, NGL. 😅 I also LOL'd a little whenever Charli's AutoTune'd voice went on before and after the song. It was an extremely happy-making moment for sure!
Bonus performance!
Charli ended her set with a DELIGHTFUL rendition of "I Love It" (which she wrote, then gave it to Icona Pop.) And that in itself is greatness. BUT, the reason why I'm including this person's fancam here is cuz I went quite @ __________________ @ over the Brat Summer outro.
The moment right around 3:55 made me get even more starry-eyed but, like, on a visceral level. The onscreen text questions her abt whether or not brat and/or brat summer is really over. The video intercuts with Charli dancing against a vivid red-almost-fire orange background. Her image gets more and more distorted until riiiiight around the 4:00 mark when a slight delay is added. I love how it all works together to give an added layer of EMOTIONS to experience.
FINAL TIME I'M ADDING A V. SEVERE WARNING FOR HELLA INTENSE FLASHING LIGHTS. DON'T WATCH THIS IF YOU'RE EVEN SLIGHTLY PHOTOSENSITIVE. I'M 100% SERIOUS HERE. I usually okay with strobe effects and the like. However, even watching this on my TV was quite O__o.
In the time since then, she's released a deluxe version of brat AND a remix album as well. This post is abt the latter, but more abt the way that there's always a bloody and beating heart within even the seemingly cold and vapid melodies of hyperpop. The best example of this is the evolution of "Girl, so confusing" from Charli's 2024 album.
Some context first. Back in late 2014, an interviewer confused Charli with Lorde. Asking her abt what her inspiration of "Royals" was. Charli was game enough to reply while pretending to be Lorde. Fast forward to May 2024 when, during an interview, Charli mentions that she'd had some moments of intense jealousy toward Lorde, that she resented Lorde's popularity. It's important to note that a lot of that was also fueled by the media comparing the two (since there can only be one (1) quirky/alternative/cool white female artist at a time./s).
A month later, Charli releases brat.
The song (original version)
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE VIDEO BELOW HAS INTENSE FLASHING LIGHTS EFFECT. DON'T WATCH IT IF YOU'RE PHOTOSENSITIVE AS IT CAN LEGIT TRIGGER SEIZURES..
Charli's extremely candid abt her insecurities (just like many of the songs in the album). Only this time it's mostly provoked by someone in particular. Ppl begin to SPECULATE abt the identity of that person. Lorde is the main female artist that ppl keep bringing up (alongside other artists like Marina and Rina Sawayama.)
Two weeks go by.
The song (remix version)
NO F/W warning for this video. The song does touches on disordered eating, tho.
And here's Lorde verse:
Well honestly I was speechless
When I woke up to your voice note
You tell me how you’ve been feeling
Let’s work it out on the remix
You always say let’s go out
But then I cancel last minute
I was so lost in my head
And scared to be in your pictures
Cause for the last couple years
I’ve been at war in my body
I tried to starve myself thinner
And then I gained all the weight back
I was trapped in a hatred
And your life seemed so awesome
I never thought for a second
My voice was in your head
Girl, you walk like a bitch
When I was ten someone said that
And it’s just self defense
Until you’re building a weapon
She believed my projection
And now I totally get it
Forgot that inside the icon
There’s still a young girl from Essex
[N/B: These next two verses have Charli and Lorde singing it together. *clutches heart*]
People say we’re alike
They say we’ve got the same hair
It’s you and me on the coin
The industry loves to spend
And when we put this to bed
The internet will go crazy
I’m glad I know how you feel
Cause I’d ride for you, Charli
(the song fades with Charli saying "You know I'll ride for you too")
WOW! I just get chills whenever I listen to this amazing tune.
FTR, they've performed this song live a few times. My fave performance was this surprise one during Weekend 1 of this year's Coachella.
TRIGGER WARNING FOR A LOT OF STROBE LIGHTS, INTENSE BACKGROUND GRAPHICS, AND V. DYNAMIC CAMERAWORK. DO NOT WATCH THIS VIDEO IF YOU HAVE ANY KIND OF PHOTOSENSITIVITY.
IIRC, it was close to midnight and I jumped up and began dancing cuz it felt like a v. magical performance, NGL. 😅 I also LOL'd a little whenever Charli's AutoTune'd voice went on before and after the song. It was an extremely happy-making moment for sure!
Bonus performance!
Charli ended her set with a DELIGHTFUL rendition of "I Love It" (which she wrote, then gave it to Icona Pop.) And that in itself is greatness. BUT, the reason why I'm including this person's fancam here is cuz I went quite @ __________________ @ over the Brat Summer outro.
The moment right around 3:55 made me get even more starry-eyed but, like, on a visceral level. The onscreen text questions her abt whether or not brat and/or brat summer is really over. The video intercuts with Charli dancing against a vivid red-almost-fire orange background. Her image gets more and more distorted until riiiiight around the 4:00 mark when a slight delay is added. I love how it all works together to give an added layer of EMOTIONS to experience.
FINAL TIME I'M ADDING A V. SEVERE WARNING FOR HELLA INTENSE FLASHING LIGHTS. DON'T WATCH THIS IF YOU'RE EVEN SLIGHTLY PHOTOSENSITIVE. I'M 100% SERIOUS HERE. I usually okay with strobe effects and the like. However, even watching this on my TV was quite O__o.
