The phenomenon of ‘Brat’ was unavoidable in summer 2024, whether in global music charts, on American television (‘Saturday Night Live’), online on various social media platforms, in fashion choices and trends, and culturally in interpersonal relationships and patterns of behaviour. ‘Brat’, – the way Charli XCX introduced us to it – soon became a word that created its own meaning, defined by so much more than a spoiled, badly behaved child. Everything impactful became ‘brat’, everyone wanted to channel their inner ‘brat’, and suddenly everything was ‘brat’ green.
It all started in spring, when Charli XCX’s singles ‘360’ and ‘Von Dutch’ catapulted to the top of the charts, having fans and curious casual listeners counting down the days to hear her sixth studio album ‘Brat’ in full. Her song ‘360’, a track about women’s empowerment and self-confidence, came with a music video that starred multiple 2024 IT girls, who are easily recognisable to everyone who is chronically online – such as fashion icon Julia Fox, models and influencers Gabbriette and Alex Consani, YouTube personalities Emma Chamberlain and Quenlin Blackwell, and many more. In hindsight, it already gave us a taste of what was about to come. Additionally, Charli XCX’s ‘Brat’ tour and her co-headlining tour ‘Sweat’ with Australian singer Troye Sivan, supported by English DJ Shygirl, were announced.
‘Brat’ the album was released on June 7th, peaked at number one in the UK, Australia, and Ireland, and reached the top 10 in a dozen other countries. In the United States, it reached number 3 on the Billboard 200, which marked Charli’s highest debut in the country to date. The record is a mixture of reflective, brutally honest, and vulnerable lyrics, as well as aggressive rave-inspired club sounds that make for a perfect combination and captivate long-time fans as well as people like me, who had been aware of Charli XCX long before and have been streaming some of her biggest hits over the past ten years (‘Break The Rules’, ‘Boom Clap’, ‘Boys’, ‘Hot In It’, etc.), yet never really classified themselves a fan of her music – until now. As the album was an immediate commercial success, two other versions were released shortly after: ‘Brat and it’s the same but there are three more songs so it’s not’, self-explanatory, and ‘Brat and it’s completely different but also still Brat’, which includes at least one artist featuring on each song and added twists to either the track’s melody or lyricism. Three songs polarised the most: ‘Girl, so confusing’, featuring Lorde, essentially a conversation between two girls who have continuously been put up against each other just because they work in the same industry, ‘Sympathy is a knife’, featuring Ariana Grande, which discusses the effect made-up rumours and beauty standards have on well-being and mental health, and ‘Guess’, featuring Billie Eilish, in which the two women – Eilish openly queer – express their sexual fantasies and desires in a way male artists have done for decades.
Upon reflection, my fascination for ‘Brat’ might be an age thing, as I am now approaching my late 20s, and I often find myself reminiscing on my experiences in my late teens, which involved careless partying every weekend and having no real responsibilities besides making sure I have recovered by Monday to make it on time for school and without a hangover. The poppy club beats are almost nostalgic, while Charli XCX’s lyrics are relatable and comforting to me now as an adult, knowing that someone as confident as her is sometimes struggling to see her worth, her beauty, her talent, and her path in life, too. Furthermore, hearing young female artists express their concerns about competition in female friendships, as well as their sexuality, freely and unashamed, is – not rare – but definitely somethingthat needs to happen more often. In a way, ‘Brat’ is teaching us how to dance through our worries by living in the moment and trying to make the best out of it by being as authentic to our true selves as we can be, and also gifting us understanding and community.
During the summer, American singer Chappell Roan’s debut album ‘The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess’ also gained mainstream attention – even though it was released a year prior – as well as ex-Disney star Sabrina Carpenter’s brand new sixth album ‘Short n’ Sweet’, making the three of them – blonde, red and black haired – the “Powerpuff Girls” of 2024 pop. Soon, promoters worldwide started organising ‘Brat’ inspired club nights – for everyone who enjoys a night out and those who weren’t lucky enough to get their hands on a tour ticket – which naturally focused on Charli XCX’s album but often included songs by all three.
In ‘Brat’, women and non-binary people have found community by enjoying something that spoke to them and inspired them to live life to the fullest, no matter what standards are set by a patriarchal society, similar to the ‘Barbie’ movie and its message from last year. However, in my perception “Barbie Summer” was mainly about acknowledging everyday sexism, internalised misogyny, and appreciation within the female community, while “Brat Summer” was not just about being vocal regarding all of those issues, but also about unabashedly being yourself no matter who you are, and not letting yourself be put in a box that someone else has built for you. Additionally, young women are learning how to intentionally de-centre men from their lifestyles and decision-making. Wearing what you want – brat! Speaking up for yourself – brat! Supporting others – brat! Having flaws and making mistakes – brat! Not letting others dictate your life – brat! Loving whoever you want – brat! Identifying as whatever gender you’re most comfortable in – brat! Making your own choices about your life and your body – brat!
Unsurprisingly, ‘Brat’ even made its way into the presidential election of the United States, with Charli XCX indirectly endorsing US Vice President Kamala Harris by tweeting “kamala IS brat.”, which led to Harris’ team using songs of the album throughout her entire campaign. Another song that became a hopeful anthem of her campaign was Chappell Roan’s ‘Femininomenon’, as a liberal black female president would be a phenomenon that the world so desperately needs to progress. Unfortunately, the world is not quite there yet.
Nevertheless, with the songs and albums of the summer – or generally speaking, the whole of 2024 and beyond – all being performed by female artists and them not just dominating most people’s Spotify Wrapped but also next year’s Grammy Awards, we as a society have noticed a long-awaited shift in the music industry and culturally. The impact of women is finally undeniable.
Whether Charli XCX intended to or not, ‘Brat’ is so much more than just an album. It embodies attitude and empowerment. It teaches us self-expression through authenticity, bravery, and confidence. It embraces uniqueness and imperfections. It unites people who feel disregarded, overlooked, and unsatisfied. It has given us hope for a brighter future, even if it is just for a moment. ’Brat’ is a movement that will carry on, a pivotal moment in pop culture history, and it will never be forgotten.
Written by Vicky Madzak
GEM Magazine 