Thinking Weekly

From the biggest corporations to the most boring person you know, everyone is having a “Brat Summer.” But when it comes down to it, does anyone really understand what it means to be Brat?

With the recent virality of Apple and Kamala Harris leveraging Brat to connect with young voters, the term “Brat Summer” seems to be everywhere. While the phrase might be overused, the concept of Brat goes much deeper than a social media trend. Charli XCX offers an authentic and raw portrayal of herself while simultaneously delivering some of the best club music we’ve heard since the early 2010s.

Most people are only experiencing the album through 15-second TikTok clips or a brief listen to the Guess remix featuring Billie Eilish, missing the deeper layers Charli explores. The album is far more than just a collection of party anthems, it delves into themes of yearning for connection, celebrating life, dealing with the emotions that come with growing older, self-comparison, and addressing aspects of the human experience that are rarely discussed.

The album offers a wide range of themes, blending self-contemplation with party-girl anthems. It features Club Classics, a track that celebrates the need for good music on a night out, while also having I Think About It All the Time, which delves into the uncomfortable emotions of questioning life’s purpose and contemplating motherhood. Sympathy is a Knife explores the struggles of comparing yourself to others, capturing the feeling of “you couldn’t be her if you tried.” On the other hand, Von Dutch flips the narrative with a club track about being the number one “it girl.” Brat’s ability to switch from such vulnerability to being one of the most fun albums of the decade is truly astonishing.

An album like this is destined to leave an everlasting mark on pop culture. Its ability to resonate with such a diverse group of people, all on different paths and at various stages of their lives, is what makes it so impactful. Whether you’re tuning into the raw, emotional tracks or the ones that make you crave a night out, there is truly something for everyone. This versatility ensures that Brat will be remembered and referenced for years to come. As Charli herself says, she is truly “your favorite reference, baby.”

From her upcoming joint tour with Troye Sivan titled Sweat, to the highly anticipated Brat remix album, we definitely have not seen the last of the Brat era. With the singer posting on her private fan club Instagram, @360_brat , saying how she has ‘been working on so much music,’ it’s fair to say that Charli will not be leaving the spotlight for a hot minute. Maybe “Brat Summer” really will be forever.