This summer, British pop star Charli XCX made a major comeback into the spotlight with her sixth studio album, “brat.” The album was released on June 7, with 15 tracks, and in just three days, the deluxe version — aptly titled “brat and it’s the same but there’s three more songs so not.” According to Billboard, “brat” debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Dance/Electronic Albums and entered the Billboard 200 at No. 3, marking her highest all-genre rank to date. Notably, “360” reached a peak of No. 3, and “Von Dutch” climbed to No. 7, highlighting a significant boost in her chart presence.
The last time Charli XCX reached a similar level of popularity was in 2014, after the release of her album “sucker.” For this reason, Charli XCX’s recent success came somewhat unexpectedly. It is safe to say, however, that “brat” has ignited a summer sensation, capturing the attention of Gen Z and beyond.
The release of the album sparked a cultural phenomenon known as “brat summer.” Charli XCX describes the essence of “brat” as embodying a character who is “a little messy and likes to party and maybe says some dumb things sometimes,” but also remains “very honest, very blunt” and unapologetically herself. Many young people resonated with “brat” this summer as it provided an unfiltered and raw portrayal of self-expression. As a whole, the concept contrasts sharply with the polished “clean girl” aesthetic and other high-expectation trends that have dominated the social media landscape in recent years.
TikTok has played a crucial role in the success of “brat,” with the track “Apple” Becoming particularly famous due to a viral dance. This dance, which has now been featured in nearly two million posts, has ensured that even those unfamiliar with the album are somewhat familiar with its catchy beats and vibrant energy.
Similarly, opening track “360” and closing track “365” have blown up on social media. The two tracks are strikingly similar, as “365” is essentially a remixed version of “360” featuring slightly more intense and vulgar lyrics. There has been quite some discourse, especially on TikTok about which song is “better” but in my personal opinion, the high-energy “365” is one of the best songs on the album. This just shows how “brat” creates space for people with all different interests to enjoy her music. Francesca Dizon ’26 shared how “brat” has empowered her personally, elaborating on the album’s honest depiction of womanhood.
“My favorite song is ‘Girl, it’s so confusing’ because I feel like I really resonate with the experience of being a girl because it truly is just so confusing,” said Dizon.
In a surprising turn of events, presidential candidate Kamala Harris has embraced the “brat” mindset in her campaign. Following President Joe Biden’s announcement of his withdrawal from the presidential race, Charli XCX tweeted “kamala IS brat,” which quickly went viral. In response, Harris’s campaign rebranded her social media presence with the “brat” trends the rest of us enjoyed all summer long.
“Brat” has undeniably dominated the summer of 2024, with its distinctive lime green and Arial font becoming cultural markers of the season. Its impact on internet culture will likely last much longer.
“Whenever my friends and I saw something neon green after the album was released, we’d exclaim ‘brat!’ It had such a profound impact and truly took the world by storm,” said Dizon.
The album’s influence extends beyond music, shaping fashion, social media trends, and even political branding, demonstrating its significant impact on contemporary culture. Overall, Charli XCX’s intentional mirroring highlights the duality of womanhood and the emotional highs and lows explored in “brat.” Hence, the album receives 5/5 stars.
