On June 7, Charli xcx took the world and media by storm, releasing her 6th studio album, “Brat.” Ever since she released her first hit in 2008, “Do It Well,” the artist has continued to gain traction and popularity throughout her singing and songwriting career.
The pop icon has become infamous for her authentic and almost raunchy songwriting skills, and her newest album “Brat” is no exception. Only this time Charli’s album appears to be bigger than just music.
After “Brat” made its public debut, Charli quickly took to social media to endorse a soon-to-be fan-favorite song, “360.” In what seemed to be only a mere moment, social media had already made “Brat” the album of the summer. Social media personalities like Jake Shane and singer-songwriter Troy Sivan can be credited for “Brat” taking off so quickly.
State High students shared their thoughts on “Brat’s” rapid popularity.
“I think it [‘Brat’] got super popular quickly because of Tiktok. Everyone was posting TikToks to ‘Apple’ so it just became popular because of TikTok,” junior Sam Acensio said. Gen Z has taken what started with influencers and everyday fans dancing and lip-syncing to her various songs like, “Brat,” and “Apple,” and turned the album into a lifestyle. From wearing neon green to embodying “Brat summer,” it appears “Brat” has taken over.
“I think it [‘Brat’] got popular so quickly because she made a bunch of popular 2000s songs that this generation knows about, and it’s sort of a reinvention,” junior Hannah Eckley said.
Either way, many believe that “Brat” is the album of the summer. It could be because social media took an album just like any other and turned it into something more, or that the album was bigger than music to begin with. From the title of the album to the color of the cover art, there seemed to be something different about this album.
Something about “Brat” is just so direct, and Charli discussed this feeling in an interview on Jake Shane’s podcast. “It’s very direct, a little confrontational. But I think also it’s confrontational because sometimes when you’re at your most vulnerable, you lash out,” Charli said.
The spotlight didn’t end there for “Brat.” Charli has since partnered with popular brands including Laniege, Skims, and Wildflower, making her even more of a pop icon.
While Charli XCX is making pop history, it’s hard to ignore her similarities and connections to other pop stars.
“I think we are in sort of a pop era with Chappell Roan and Charli xcx and I think this album was different because it contributed to that,” Eckley said.
Recently, Charli has used her platform and “Brat” to help promote Vice President Kamala Harris during her presidential campaign. What started as a simple social media meme, Charli ran with, promoting Harris with the saying “Kamala is Brat.” In an interview with Forbes, Charli discussed her contribution to the Harris campaign. “Happy to help to prevent democracy from failing,” she said.
While dealing with the intensity of her fame this summer, Charli used her influence to support causes important to her, serving as a role model for many. Furthermore, her music has opened the doors for women by encouraging them to be in touch with their raw emotions, without having to apologize. While she may have created the song of the summer, her impact extends beyond “Brat” itself.
