At this point, there is probably not a lot about Charli xcx that I can say in this introduction that has not already been said. She has been absolutely everywhere this year. Charli xcx has taken the world by storm in 2024, becoming a bonafide worldwide Pop star and reaching heights that she has never reached before. Do not get me wrong, Charli has been huge for a while(a lot of people who know me know how big of a fan I have been for a long time), but she has never been this big. It seems like Pop fans around the globe are finally realizing the genius that has always been there with Charli, and it has been awesome to see. Charli’s impact has been so big in 2024 that it has honestly spanned generations and industries. It feels like so many people in so many sections of the world have been affected by her this year. I mean, how many humans out there(whether in the world of politics, business, and lifestyle) have used the term “Brat” or “Brat Summer” to refer to something cool this year? Frankly, these terms have been all over the place. Also, I would bet that almost anyone you know has at least heard one of the many hits off of this record, as they have been everywhere as well. Songs like ‘360,’ ‘Von dutch,’ and ‘Apple’ have become viral sensations and have helped dictate the music world this year. In my opinion, Charli xcx’s Brat is the album of the year. It is a perfect 10, and there is nothing about it that I would change. Of course, I am not Charli, though; in her opinion, these songs can get even more thrilling. Charli has stated she loves to make multiple versions of her tracks, as she thinks there are many different ways that they can sound and she always thinks there are other artists she can add that can make them even better. Throughout the year, Charli dropped some very good remixes to a couple of the songs from Brat, and she has been teasing a full remix album. That remix album is finally here, and it is as awesome as it has seemed like it will be. Below I wanted to highlight some of my favorite tracks from Charli xcx’s Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat, and then go over some thoughts on the record as a whole to close things out. Please let me know in the comments what your favorite songs are from this Charli xcx remix album, and also comment on how you feel about it as a whole!

Club classics featuring bb trickz

This remix to ‘Club classics’ with bb trickz was actually the first song I listened to that was not a single from this new remix album of Brat. I immediately saw that we would be in for a pretty wild ride for this one, and I loved that. This version of ‘Club classics’ has a glitchy underground techno sound that is honestly quite a bit different from the original. The underlying synths that drove the first version of this track are sort of there, but they are highly distorted, saturated, and intense. The vocals on this track also kind of interpolate the lyrics from ‘365,’ which is interesting because there is a remix for ‘365’ on here. It is almost as if Charli xcx is referring to her own song from Brat as one of the “club classics” she wants to hear. I love bb trickz’s contribution to this track. Their bold, fast-paced, French rap verse gives the song a different texture that stands out and is very cool. ‘Club classics’ is a very fun and different take on ‘Club classics’ that sets itself apart in such a fun manner. 

Sympathy is a knife featuring ariana grande

I doubt that there are many people out there who could have ever seen this collaboration coming. I am not going to lie, I was pretty excited when I saw that Ariana Grande was on the remix for ‘Sympathy is a knife.’ For one, I am just a huge fan of Ariana and love pretty much everything she does. Secondly, I personally think that ‘Sympathy is a knife’ is probably the best song on Brat, which is saying a lot. It is hard for me to say that this version of ‘Sympathy is a knife’ is better than the original, but I have to say that it is pretty close. This remix keeps the emotional and intense energy of the original and gives it some glitz and glamor. As cool as the sound for this one is, it is even more satisfying to hear Ariana Grande open up in this way. She tends to keep a lot of her opinions on the public perception of her to herself(although she did open up quite a bit on her new album eternal sunshine), and it is great to see her speak her mind here. The ‘Sympathy is a knife’ remix is an emotional track that is perfect to play when you are in your feelings and need to let some negative energy out, as it is a song that calls out your haters in the biggest way. 

Talk talk featuring troye sivan

I am not going to lie, even though there are no songs on Brat that I was not into(I did give the album a 10 out of 10, for what it is worth), I will say that ‘Talk talk’ was one of the tracks I was not drawn to as much. This remix with Troye Sivan was dropped as a teaser for this release a few weeks ago, and it has been on repeat for me ever since. This is one of the instances where the remix is extremely different from the original. Like ‘Club classics’ there are elements of the original melody on this one, and there are even elements of the lyrics from the first version, but those are the only things that are similar. This version of ‘Talk talk’ has a groovy Downtempo House sound that makes me want to dance the night away. This track makes me think of this particular Art-Deco EDM Club in Milwaukee that is very fun to go party at. Troye Sivan totally kills it on this track. I love how his voice contrasts Charli’s as it gives the song so much texture and a different element of vitality. The ‘Talk talk’ remix is a House music banger that is a perfect track to get the club absolutely jumping. 

Von dutch a.g. cook remix featuring addison rae

The a,g. cook remix of ‘Von dutch’ was the first remix to come out from this record. It was actually released not too long after the original single was released(way before Brat was dropped), and it was the first instance that there was going to be a bunch of remixes released from this record. I will be upfront, I was not super into this remix when it was first released. When I look back at it, I think it was because of how much I enjoyed the lead single. I am still listening to ‘Von dutch’ frequently to this day, and this remix did not grab me as much when it came out. The ‘Von dutch’ remix has grown on me a considerable amount, though. Now, I do enjoy the more House music-esque direction the instrumental for this one has(shifting from the techno to the original), but I mainly dig the performance from Addison Rae here. The scream she delivers when coming onto the track is just awesome, and the emphasis and raps and sings with give the song so much emphasis. This remix of ‘Von dutch’ is the kind of banger that should get any club popping when it comes on. 

Everything is romantic with caroline polachek

For the most part, all of the remixes on this record are more high-key and abrasive than the original versions. ‘Everything is romantic’ is the only instance where the remix is significantly more calm and simple than the first version. As cool as ‘Everything is romantic’ is, this version is somehow more enticing. That is because there is a level of sensuality and sensitivity here that is not present in the original. When this song gets slowed down and chopped up a bit, it all of sudden feels significantly more emotional. When listening to this remix, it is like I am witnessing a moment of intimacy that I probably should not be able to witness, but weirdly want to see more of. Caroline Polachek’s chemistry with Charli on this song is just awesome. Her softer tone gives the song a sweet element that I enjoy so much and which makes this song pop. Normally, I would not be attracted to remixes that are more low-key and less complicated, but this remix of ‘Everything is romantic’ is super cool to me.

Girl, so confusing featuring Lorde

When ‘Girl, so confusing’ originally came out, there was a ton of speculation that Charli xcx was talking about Lorde in the song. The lyrics were oddly specific and seemed to address public perception of the relationship between these two, and fans wondered what Lorde would have to say about it. Not long after Brat came out, Lorde delivered an iconic remix by hopping on the song that was no doubt referencing her. In this remix, Lorde addresses some of the stuff Charli was saying in the original track. Lorde gives her side of the story, stating that she is actually envious of Charli’s huge personality and almost feels nervous around her at times due to her own insecurities. This was such an honest and heartwarming moment; it shows how the public perception of celebrities can affect the relationships they have with each other as well as how they feel about themselves. The ‘Girl, so confusing’ remix is a groundbreaking track where two Pop heavyweights hash it out on the same song, and that is very cool. 

B2b featuring tinashe

I am pretty sure Tinashe and Charli xcx have not worked together since making the goofy single ‘Drop That Kitty’ back in the early 2010s. Even though that single is absurd in its own right, I have always thought these two could have great chemistry and would sound cool together. That sentiment is certainly proven in ‘B2b.’ This version of ‘B2b’ is a bit brighter and more saturated than the original. It stays true to the Y2K-era EuroPop sound that the other version of the song has, but this one is definitely way more vibrant. I really like how the softer and sweeter vocals from Tinashe contrast with the lower and more grainy pitch of Charli. Their vocal styles create a juxtaposition that makes this one extra interesting. Lyrically, the meaning of this remix is way different, with this version focusing on Charli and Tinashe’s Pop star lifestyle rather than just the literal music played in the clubs they go to. Tinashe and Charli’s chemistry is so palpable on this track, and I hope we get more collaborations between these two in the future. 

Guess featuring billie eilish

Not long after Charli dropped the extended version of Brat, she put out this remix of ‘Guess’ with Billie Eilish. Understandably, this song took off online as soon as it came out. Not only was it super awesome that we were getting a collaboration between these two artists, but it was awesome that this version is even raunchier than the original. The instrumental for this remix stays pretty close to the sound of the original. It keeps that gritty and grating Tecnho sound created by rising producer The Dare that so many people initially loved about the original. Billie takes the sexual tension that was already oozing out of this track to the max. Both Charli and Billie lean into the erotic, sweaty feeling of this track and make it so fun to listen to. I recently heard this track while out at a club, and understandably, it got the function jumping. Billie Eilish takes this already titillating remix over the top, and I love it. 

Spring breakers featuring kesha

When ‘Spring breakers’ was dropped off of the extended version of Brat, Kesha was the first artist I thought of. The original version of this track has the kind of vibrant and high-octane Electropop energy that was reminiscent of some of Kesha’s biggest songs when she first became popular. So, of course, it is only fitting that we got Kesha on the remix. This is one of the tracks where the instrumental takes on a significantly different feeling than the original. This version of ‘Spring breakers’ is significantly harder and harsher than the original. There is a ton of distortion on this remix, and at times, it takes on a bit more of a glitch-House feeling than 2010s Electropop. Of course, Charli’s performance is solid here, but most of the focus for me is on Kesha. I love the attitude and in-your-face energy of her contribution to this track, as it matches the grating feeling of the instrumental perfectly. The Kesha version of ‘Spring breakers’ is even more high-key and crazy than the original. 

I do not think I have ever heard an artist do a full remix album to one of their own releases in this manner. I am trying to remember if there is anyone else I know of who has done this, and nothing comes to mind. Now, it is pretty obvious why artists do not try this. For one, it is hard enough to make a fully cohesive and fully mastered single version of a full-length album; making a second one that is just remixes or alternate editions of the first one has got to be extremely difficult. Secondly, doing something like this is pretty risky. So many people were attracted to Brat the way it was when it came out, and putting a different variant of what is essentially the same music has the potential to turn people off. Charli xcx has always been known as a huge risk taker, though, and it did not stop her from trying this with Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat. Fortunately, Charli completely nailed it with this remix album. Pretty much every single one of these songs is pretty different from the original versions, or they at least have significant elements that make them stand out. There are so many cool features on this record that I would have never expected to hear from Charli xcx. In addition to the songs above, there are tracks on Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat with The 1975, Bon Iver, bladee, robyn and yung lean, and even Julian Casablancas. All of these remixes stand out and add something new to this version of the record that is really entertaining. I am not going to lie and say I love Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat quite as much as Brat, but I will say it is pretty close to as good. I did not get the original shock value of the quality of Brat when listening to this one because I sort of knew what to expect, which probably holds it back a tiny bit. Regardless, Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat is an awesome piece of music where Charli xcx proves she is definitely the queen of Pop. At this point, it is Charli’s world, and we are just living in it.