Brazen, rude and cheeky: Charli XCX made this summer 2024 unforgettable with the release of her sixth album Brat and, whether you are willing to admit it or not, it was exactly what pop needed in 2024.
The album that made our inner brat come out
Everyone knows it, rebellion never goes out of style and Charli XCX is ready to remind us, presenting us with electronic dance music, dance pop and hyperpop sounds that bring us back to the disco songs of the early 2000s. Her narration stems from the term "brat", that is "spoiled, annoying, rude girl" and overturns the meaning, giving it a positive sense: through it, she tells us how much relief can give us the freedom to express ourselves without shame.
This way, the artist brings us a new concept that influences fashion and beauty as well: oufits fully Y2K, low-waisted jeans, lip gloss, mask sunglasses. The make-up, instead, is characterised by smokey eye and shabby looks with smudged mascara and under-eye bags in plain sight. Everything paired up with a touch of lime green, the same depicted on the cover of the album, that turns into the new Barbie pink: exactly the opposite of what clean girls recommend.
Charli XCX rows against the beauty standards imposed by society, rejecting perfection with the intention of glorifying a free and savage femininity. Just like you’re brat when you’re at the top of your game, you are as well when, on the contrary, you feel a little down. This album explores topics such as insecurity, competitiveness, motherhood and self-acceptance, all surrounded by a healthy dose of irony.
This essence has embraced really everybody, even reaching Kamala Harris, who is running for office in the 2024 USA election. The singer called her brat in a tweet that went tremendously viral. The X Page of the vice president changed the banner with the writing “Kamala HQ” with a green background and the album’s graphic.
In short, then we can gather that “Brat summer” (which has officially ended, as declared by Charli XCX) has been absolutely legendary and will remain in our hearts for a while yet. Who knows… can we hope for a “Brat fall”?
You can listen to Brat here: