Now that it’s October, I’m accepting that it’s officially fall. I’m leaning into pumpkin-flavored baked goods, I put out my decor, and I’m rewatching old Disney favorites like Twitches.
But also, this means I have to stress over what costume I’m gonna wear. I actually despise Halloween for the sheer fact that I have to wear a costume. I’m great at dressing up (in designer) not (in costume).
It’s a weeks’ long debate that inevitably ends with me struggling to find a last-minute Halloween costume. I do not wear what everyone else wears, probably because I’m a Leo, so I want my costume to be a little niche.
In the spirit of being less of a procrastinator and more proactive, I’ve committed to choosing what I want to be for Halloween now. Yes, early October, so I can take my time and find what I really want to wear.
However, this isn’t easy. If you go to TikTok, there’s a 50% chance that someone else at the party will be wearing the same thing as you. So, you kind of have to relinquish that dream and embrace it.
If you’re like me and trying to find a good costume a bit early this year…let’s get through this battle together. Whether you need a group costume, something for you and your significant other, or just a solo moment, it’s easy to pick a celeb and copy their style as a costume.
Let’s take a look at some of the best celebrity-inspired Halloween costumes for 2024!
Travis Kelce
For boys, Travis is an easy option for those with a girlfriend who wants them to dress up. I get how it may feel like you have a gun to your head if you aren’t a Chiefs fan, but this is the easier option compared to others.
To be Trav yourself, you just need a pair of jeans, a jersey or Kelce-related shirt. Literally, that’s it. You know what they say: happy wife, happy life! Bonus points if you grow a mustache in time.
Here are my picks for a Travis Kelce Halloween costume:
Taylor Swift
And for each Travis, there should be a Taylor. For Swift you can go with many different styles — or should I say eras? — depending on your mood. Which is good news for those who hate wearing the same thing as others and bad news for the people who are bad at making decisions.
If you want to go with something matching your Travis, wear a Taylor Swift gameday outfit. But if you want to go with a Classic Taylor, choose one of her tour looks or something fabulous from her music videos.
This is my favorite Taylor Swift Halloween costume:
Sabrina Carpenter
I’m warning you now: this will be a popular costume this year. Sabrina’s one of the breakout popstars of the year, and as she’s currently still on her Short n’ Sweet Tour, her star is only growing.
To achieve the best Sabrina Carpenter look, all you need are short skirts and corsets…and no costume would be complete without sky-high platform heels.
Capture that me espresso with this Sabrina Carpenter:
Barry Keoghan
And you can’t have a Sabrina without her Barry! Saltburnstar Keoghan — alongside heartthrob Jacob Elordi — stole hearts in Emerald Fennel’s film…but his relationship with Sabrina has been all we can talk about lately!
The Irishman is known for wearing his signature tracksuits, while also being a bit of a fashion icon himself. If you don’t want to go too crazy this Halloween, I’d stick to a track jacket.
Another easy look is Barry in the Please, Please, Please video. You can achieve this look with these items:
Rihanna
Rihanna is iconic. She’s had many memorable fashion moments, including that famous flaming red hair. If you’re in the mood to wear a wig, Rihanna is a terrific option. Plus, it’s a solid way to manifest her next album (I hope).
If you’re pregnant, her Super Bowl halftime performance outfit is a great pick! Even better, if it’s how you’re announcing it! But, if you want to be the Fenty founder for Halloween, here are some easy picks:
A$AP Rocky
You had to have known this was coming. A$AP is Rihanna’s longtime boo and again, another male fashion icon. The duo serve major looks, which shouldn’t surprise you. But that means your A$AP Rocky costume consists of dressing really nice.
Or, controversially, you could be A$AP Rocky in Lana Del Rey’s “National Anthem” music video. If you think that’s the more fun option, here is how you can steal the look:
Charli XCX
BRAT Summer to BRAT Fall. While Charli baby rages on tour with Troye Sivan, you can channel your inner BRAT queen this Halloween. Charli’s look is a little similar to Sabrina’s, but also a little less girly, and a little more grunge.
So grab a pleated miniskirt and crop a white tee. The Charli XCX look is actually an extremely comfortable Halloween costume that can be recycled on a later date…because I hate buying a costume and never touching it again.
Here are some BRAT outfits for your BRAT Halloween:
Hailey Bieber
Would it be a celeb-inspired Halloween costume list without queen Hailey herself? New mom Hailey is such a fashion icon and our ultimate influencer. Without Hailey, we probably wouldn’t give a hoot about Kosas Concealer and we definitely wouldn’t have rhode skin.
She has a bunch of stylish outfits you can replicate — and for far less money than Hailey paid. But this is a super simple Hailey Bieber costume:
Justin Bieber
And to round out the list, we have The Biebs himself. You knew it was coming. And we’ve seen many phases of Justin Bieber, so picking a costume should be a breeze.
Male or female, Justin Bieber is a popular Halloween costume. I’ve seen girls dress up as “Baby” era Bieber and boys dress up as current Justin. Either way, he’s a terrific celebrity to dress up as— especially if you have a Hailey joining you this All Hallows Eve.
Photo by Harley Weir courtesy Charli XCX/Faceboook
Charli XCX comes to town this weekend
Charli XCX has entranced fans of hyper-pop into fervent devotion for years, but leveled up exponentially with this year’s Brat.
With that album, Charli XCX unleashed perhaps one of the best pop albums and seasonal takeovers of all time. Brat was a loaded crossover album seamlessly blending pop and experimental electronic music, and packed with certified club anthems reflecting on themes of projection (“Sympathy Is a Knife”), self-sabotage (“I Might Say Something Stupid”), bearing children (“I Think About It All the Time”), and all the seriousness and levity that is driving to the airport (“Apple”).
Hailed as “a cultural reset” Brat and the ensuing “brat girl summer” (see: sweat, sex, white tanks, “It girls,” controversy, dancing all night to lyrics you’d confess to a therapist) immediately took on a life beyond mere listening, spawning memes, multiple Boiler Room sets, dance parties, the “Apple” TikTok dance, a website dedicated to brat green (#8ACE00), an infatuated Kyle MacLachlan, a presidential campaign theme, etc. Charli XCX brings her PARTYGIRL 365 disposition to Orlando Sunday with co-headliner Troye Sivan.
7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, Kia Center, $45.50-$125.
Move over, Billie Eilish, there’s a new environmentally-conscious Gen Z pop star in the mix, and it’s none other than Chappell Roan. Despite her classification as a “geriatric Gen Zer” (born near the very beginning of the generation’s “hatching” in 1998), there’s no denying Roan as being, these days, perhaps even more influential on her age group than “zygote” Gen Z pop stars like Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo. The latter two, although often vocal about various “do-gooding” endeavors (for Rodrigo, it’s less about the environment than her Fund 4 Good, which aims to “support community based non-profits and girls’ education, support reproductive rights and prevent gender-based violence”), have never been quite as upfront and vehement as Roan is in the October issue of Rolling Stone for which she serves as the cover star (complete with the title, “A Star Is Born”—the Lady Gaga allusion being rather over-the-top, but hey, no one ever said that subtlety sells).
Among other quotable chestnuts found in the article, Roan announces, “All the money [I make] goes to the world-building [oy, that phrase]. That’s why I am saying no to every fucking brand deal right now, because I’m like ‘Does it fit in this world?’ No, H&M does not fit in this world. Also, fuck H&M.” While Roan could have simply stopped at “every fucking brand deal,” she opted to call out H&M in particular. A pointed choice considering Charli XCX’s highly-publicized, fresh collaboration with the fast-fashion juggernaut. A collab that has many declaring that Brat summer is effortlessly poised to become Brat autumn (with a remix edition of the album coming out in October to further emphasize the seamless transition). And why not? When there’s still so much more money to be made off of this particular “femininomenon” for Charli? Indeed, like Chappell, she’s been frequently mentioned as one of the three most celebrated pop stars of the year—and all of whom have been slogging at it for roughly a decade only to finally be met with insane, Taylor Swift-level obsession in 2024 (though one wonders if any fans can truly be as obsessed [and willing to spend as much money to prove it] as a Swiftie). Charli, of course, has actually been in the spotlight since at least 2012, when Icona Pop’s “I Love It” (which Charli wrote, but didn’t feel was right for herself as a “solo” effort). Well over ten years. It’s just that, as with everything, Gen Z isn’t aware of shit prior to their own “era” until and unless it becomes a trend.
Which, one supposes is why it’s good that Roan is trying to use her own “trending” nature to make a big, politically and environmentally-conscious statement while she can. Apart from already insisting that fame can be repurposed from toxic to tolerable, Roan is focusing in on a cause that’s supposedly near and dear to Gen Z, despite their greater addiction to fast fashion than any previous generation. Particularly with ultra-cheap online outlets like AliExpress, Temu, Shein and Romwe (and, quelle surprise, Shein owns Romwe, hence the very similar prices and products) “tempting” them with their shitty but attainable wares. Compared to those entities, H&M seems almost “saintly” (though its latest offense is continuing to operate its many store locations in Israel amid the ongoing Palestinian genocide).
Thus, Roan’s open vitriol toward a fast fashion player that is hardly all that influential to Gen Z compared to the abovementioned ilk comes across more like shade. Which is also odd when considering that, per Roan’s gushing account, Charli XCX was the first of the “pop girls” to reach out to her after she went on that previously mentioned tirade about fame and posted it to TikTok. It was during a soundcheck in Dublin that she stated, “I love Charli so much. She was like the first girl to reach out and check on me. She was like ‘Hi, this is about to get really hard and if you need a friend, I’ll be here for you’. So it’s just so sick to see her just ruling the fucking world and doing it her way.” But if being a spokesperson for H&M—even allowing the company to adopt her signature Brat green backdrop for its logo—is “doing it her way,” maybe Roan isn’t entirely convinced of XCX’s artistic genius.
Then again, perhaps Roan really doesn’t have that much room to talk/get on a soapbox. For, even though she might make a big production about being seen with her own reusable water bottle at an awards ceremony or bringing her own carpet to the red carpet for that same awards ceremony (the VMAs), she’s also the same “artist” willing to allow her hit, “Hot To Go!,” to appear in a Target commercial for the “Cuddle Collab.” (Perhaps she thought that because the commercial centered on dogs and cats, it could eke by the proverbial “watchdogs” [no pun intended] of environmental causes.) And it probably will, for there is little that Roan can do wrong at the moment, whereas Charli has already started to lose cachet for being “too corporate,” what with the H&M collab and Kamala Harris’ campaign using Brat for its own “marketing” purposes, ergo a much older, wider range of demographics becoming aware of her.
In any case, it’s not as though Eilish is much for really backing up her sentiments either, what with participating in XCX’s underwear-laden “Guess” video. Because, regardless of insisting that all those mountains upon mountains of “unused” panties would be donated to an organization that supports survivors of domestic violence, the “fast fashion-chic” look of the video’s key backdrop is enough to bury that message—literally. Meanwhile, Roan wants to resurrect it in a manner, “unwittingly” or not, that puts a glaring spotlight on how “anti-Gen Z” in sentiment XCX ultimately is despite her newfound resonance with the generation that supposedly finds most millennials to be inherently cringe. And not just for their environmental practices (that actually aren’t worse than what Gen Z does with its own China-based fast fashion obsession).
I hate to say it…I hate to even acknowledge it…but it’s the truth: the summer is ending. Sure, the solstice technically goes until late September, but we know the real summer ends after Labor Day.
And while we soak up these last few peaceful weeks of Summer Fridays and vacations on the beach, the looming threat of the fall and colder weather is quickly approaching. We avoid the very thought of it like the plague.
But, I want to make the most of the end of summer 2024. When you look back at it, we’ve had a crazy summer in terms of pop culture: the rise of Chappell Roan, the reign of Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poet’s Department, Charli XCX teaching us what it means to have a BRAT Summer, Billie Eilish’s enormous hit, “BIRDS OF A FEATHER,” and of course, Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” and “Please, Please, Please” to soundtrack our summer.
Yes, the pop girlies have ruled the scene this summer…alongside major country vibes with albums from Zach Bryan, hit songs like “The Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey, and even fresh country additions from Lana Del Rey and Quavo with their single “Tough.”
The Song of Summer 2024 may forever be up for debate, with a few top contenders already mentioned. Former President Barack Obama just released his Summer Playlist, and it got us thinking.
What I’m looking for are songs that are perfect for closing out the summer. Different from my usual Weekend Playlist, these songs aren’t necessarily new…but they’re still astonishing.
Some were released this year, and some just perfectly embody the end of the summer. If you’re already feeling a tad nostalgic and blue about summer 2024, here’s a playlist that’ll help you feel better:
“Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter
Let’s start it off with Sabrina, who is becoming one of the biggest pop stars in the world as we speak. Her new album — Short ‘n Sweet, out August 15 — and she’s somehow still eligible for Best New Artist at the Grammy’s this year?
“Espresso” is an awesome start to the playlist because it also kicked our summer off with a bang. With fun little lyrics like “that’s that me espresso,” we can’t help but hit replay each time the song ends.
Spotify says, “Since June, the song has spent 20 days at #1 on Spotify’s global charts – topping 25 regional charts in countries like Australia, Malaysia, Jordan and Singapore.”
“HOTTOGO” by Chappell Roan
It’s the summer of Chappell Roan, we can’t even lie. Her insane rise to superstardom deserves to be marked in history books. Thousands flock to see her perform at festivals before it gets too tough to buy her tickets on Ticketmaster.
With hit songs like “Good Luck, Babe!” and “HOTTOGO” from her album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, have certainly soundtracked our summer. She’s one of the most exciting artists we’ve seen in forever, so of course we had to include this banger.
Spotify data says, “The song saw its biggest spike of the summer on June 10 (globally), the day after her Gov Ball set in New York City.”
“Back On 74” by Jungle
This song is viral on social media because of its feel-good vibes. I love any Jungle song this summer because they keep it lighthearted, with a bit of a nostalgic, retro feel to their sound.
It’s an exceptional mix of modern and classic, and “Back On 74” delivered fantastic energy all summer long. If there’s anything we’ve learned, it’s that Jungle can make a cohesive album throughout.
“Guess (Remix)” by Charli xcx and Billie Eilish
We are totally having a BRAT Summer, and when Charli and Billie collabed on this “Guess” remix…the world felt it.
When two representatives of today’s culture and music industry come together to create a fun, sexy track that combines pop and electronic music in the best way…it just works. This remix is like a shock of energy to the system from the second you turn it on.
Especially with Eilish and Charli having such huge summer albums, this feels like an acknowledgement that the music industry is going to be okay…and they’re in complete control.
“BIRDS OF A FEATHER” by Billie Eilish
Obviously, we had to mention Billie Eilish’s solo work: her third album, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, is a complete masterpiece. A how-to on production and high-quality vocals, Billie Eilish and her brother, FINNEAS, are up there with the best — and youngest — singer-songwriter-producers in the industry.
“BIRDS OF A FEATHER” is one of the singles on the album. A viral success that constantly tops charts and breaks records, this song is nothing short of sensational. It’s proof that Billie gets better with age, using all of her knowledge so far and channeling it into her latest album.
According to Spotify, “Billie had a refreshing return to tempo this summer with this breezy summer hit. A leading track from her third studio album, the song reached a fever pitch after a poignant performance at the summer games closing ceremony – quickly rising to #1 on Spotify’s global charts with over 678M streams and counting.”
“She’s Gone, Dance On” by Disclosure
Year after year, Disclosure gives us countless dance tracks to highlight our summers. They’re highly regarded in the house industry as juggernauts who know how to get people up and dancing.
“She’s Gone, Dance On” was previewed at Coachella by Dom Dolla, as the American Royal Couple — Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift — danced in the crowd. Shortly after, the song was released to the public and we haven’t stopped listening to it since.
“360” by Charli xcx
Again, we can’t mention a Charli remix without an original BRAT song. “360” is an introduction to what it really means to have a BRAT Summer. It’s carefree, fun-loving, and club-ready.
It makes us want to let loose and forget about our problems for a while. Charli XCX has started a movement, and solidified herself as our fearless BRAT leader.
“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey
There seriously hasn’t been a time this summer when I’ve been out at a bar and this hasn’t played. I would be biased if I didn’t include Shaboozey’s song in this playlist, because it truly has been everywhere. “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” is his follow-up after a massive feature on Beyonce’s COWBOY CARTER.
Spotify data suggests that since June, the song has hit #1 on Spotify’s Charts in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, and the US and has been #1 on Billboard for six weeks so far. It reached #1 on Spotify’s US Chart for the first time on July 4th, proving it to be the perfect summer holiday anthem.”
What the song does well is capturing everyone’s attention early on and opening up into a full-out stomp-and-holler country song that we all love. It’s a summer of country for a reason, and this is great for country fans and non-fans alike.
We’re in the best of times (brat summer), but we’re also in the worst of times (constantly fielding articles by Some Guy about how brat summer is dead). But how could brat summer be over if I feel it in my heart? If they’re still playing “Guess ft. Billie Eilish” at Tenants of the Trees in LA (where Charli XCX herself had her birthday party for some reason)? And if the impact of brat summer is still causing ripples through the culture it cannot be over.
No, I’m not talking about Kamala’s brat green rebrand. I’m talking about something more substantial — the very same thing that had last summer in the same chokehold: the infectious and irresistible power of girlhood.
Last summer caused a vibe shift. Culture started catering to women. Let’s be real: Women have been the drivers of pop culture for a long time. I, for one, will never forget that artists like The Beatles and Elvis, who are still taken seriously as iconic musical artists today, caused fanatical frenzies, not unlike artists like Justin Bieber and One Direction. Yet, despite our clear good taste, women have historically been written off as fickle while culture catered to men.
Just think of how the 2000s were defined by blockbuster summer movies. Usually, an action movie would dominate, followed by a “chick flick” that was relegated to date nights or the whims of teenage girls. Yet, when Barbenheimer resurrected this dynamic, one had a clear chokehold on the internet and the world. And since I haven’t seen Oppenheimener-flavored Olipops, no prizes for guessing which one it was.
This summer isn’t defined by movies (Twisters and It Ends With Us aren’t the Barbenheimer redux we wanted) it’s characterized by music. And while the guys gave it the old college try — Kendrick did release the ultimate hater anthem with Not Like Us in the Spring — the girls take it yet again.
And despite seasonal albums from established pop stars like Dua Lipa and Ariana Grande, queer (or queer-coded) female artists have blown up this summer. All of them have also been grafting behind the scenes for years before finally getting their flowers. But now the world is listening. We’re learning. And we’re obsessed.
Of course, there’s the princess of the summer, Sabrina Carpenter, who is the latest Disney veteran to make it big. We’ll get to her Disney drama later, but this summer, it’s all about our Short n Sweet queen’s infectious earworms. We called it earlier this year: she is the moment. Her rise to fame has been inevitable.
Then there’s the surprise star of the year, Chappell Roan. So glad bisexual women decided not to gatekeep this absolute star. The fact that I’ve been listening to Chappell since 2020 and I’m still not tired of “Pink Pony Club” says a lot.
But Charli XCX’s mainstream moment is arguably the most surprising. Charli is a giant to music lovers and, of course, the queer community. A real dyed-in-the-wool party girl, she grew up in the clubs and doesn’t just talk the talk, she throws the parties. Despite her collaborations with literally everyone, her Grammys, and her hits, Charli XCX is only now becoming a household name. Why? Because we’re finally ready for her.
Girlhood is brat. Brat is girlhood. Girl, it’s so confusing, but it’s about being a girl
Girlhood is the name of the game and Charli writes for the girls and the gays. Her album speaks to the desire to hold on to the feeling of youth juxtaposed with the realities of growing up. Who can’t relate? She talks about themes integral to girlhood: going on vacation and thinking it will change your life, going to a party and thinking it will change your life, and having dinner with a girl and thinking she hates you.
The latter was the impetus for the internet-breaking track “The girl, so confusing version with lorde.” After Charli released the original version of “girl, so confusing,” the internet rightly assumed it was about her years-long pseudo-beef with Lorde. Lyrics like: “I’m all about throwing parties / You’re all about writing poems,” and “People say we’re alike, they say we’ve got the same hair,” added fuel to the fire of their reported feud. So imagine our surprise when Charli released a version with Lorde herself. Like Miss Ella, honestly, we were speechless.
Lorde knew what she was doing when she said: “When we put this to bed, the internet will go crazy.” Sure enough, the internet erupted. And it did the same once again when footage was released of the two scream-singing their instant classic of a collab at Charli’s birthday party. What a way to put the feud rumors to bed.
Will Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo work it out on the remix?
After Lorde and Charli worked out their decade of competition over a Jack Antonoff beat, the internet speculated: who would be next to quell their beef with the power of song? If it seems like the plot of a Disney movie, get in for the ride — the Disney of it all has just begun.
A few weeks ago, sources reported that former Disney stars turned stadium-selling pop stars Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter might be collaborating on a song. With the upcoming release of Carpenter’s highly anticipated album sneaking up on us, fans speculate that this could be a surprise track waiting on the record.
If you don’t understand how earth-shattering this is, let me take you back to 2021, when Olivia Rodrigo first took the world by storm with her song “drivers license.” The song, and subsequent album, chronicled her heartbreak about how her costar and ex-boyfriend Joshua Bassett left her for “that blonde girl.” The blonde in question? Sabrina Carpenter.
That’s right. Our very own me espresso was the villain in the “drivers license” saga. And you mean to tell me the two of them have put their boy drama aside to collaborate? Please, please, please tell me if this is true. If it is, I’ll be sat watching it unfold. As if I needed another reason to eagerly await the release of Short N Sweet.
In the meantime, I’m making a list and checking it twice about all the other celebs I want to see quell their beef. And yes, the list gets more and more unhinged as you go down, tis the summer of collabs. And our favorite artists are proving that magic can be made if they do it together. Billie and Charli did it. Kendrick and the entire rap community did it. Who is next?
This is my ultimate dream. The Paris Olympics may have made you fantasize about what life would be like if you hadn’t quit JV basketball, but it made me dream about seeing my beloved One Direction again. After all, I can’t watch an opening ceremony without thinking about their performance at the 2012 London Games. Stranger things have happened than a boyband reuniting. The second they announce a tour, I’m quitting my job and dedicating my life to following them around on tour. Hold me to that.
Hilary Duff and Lindsay Lohan
The Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo feud is the closest our generation will ever get to experiencing the magnitude of drama caused by Lindsay Lohan and Hilary Duff. As the two defining Disney sensations turned movie stars of their time, Duff and Lohan were pitted against each other by the media. Everybody knew it: the two were rivals in their careers and in their relationships. We’ll never experience that kind of TMZ-stoked animosity again. But we’re older now. Duff and Lohan are both in new phases of their careers. If they worked it, the (millennial side of the) internet really would go crazy.
Shawn Mendes and Justin Bieber
These two divas have been competing to be the prince of pop for years. And their silent feud runs deep. In a radio interview at the beginning of Shawn’s career, Justin responded to a question about the other Canadian crooner with the dismissive and deadly, “who’s Shawn Mendes?” Then, after Mendes appeared with Hailey Baldwin at the Met Gala in 2018, Bieber quickly reignited his relationship with our favorite nepo baby and married her. Talk about winning the battle. The two already have a song together, “ Monster,” but no one is buying that they’ve really worked it out. I want to see Shawn at Justin and Hailey’s baby shower or bust.
Justin Bieber and Harry Styles
Speaking of pop feuds, Bieber and Styles have been toeing a tension-laden line since 2012. Rumors swirled that One Direction was supposed to open for Bieber on his Believe tour but the plans were canceled — and dreams died. Reasons abound as to why but I suppose we’ll never know. As someone who attended that Believe tour, I have been waiting for them to work it out on the remix ever since.
Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus and The Jonas Brothers
Other feuds from my childhood I want fixed: the Disney Channel stars involved in the seminal sustainability single, “Send It On.” That was our Fleetwood Mac Rumors. With loyalties crossed, relationships breaking friendships, and a whole lot of teen angst going on, the Disney Channel producers had one song and one song only to change lives. While we were watching “Send It On” play during Disney breaks, we had no clue about the drama simmering beneath the surface. But imagine if they put that to bed? The internet would go crazy.
Joe Jonas and Taylor Swift
Of all of Taylor’s exes, she’s clearly already worked it out with Taylor Lautner — who was backflipping across her Eras tour stages for a brief stint last summer. But the reconciliation I really want is between Taylor and Joe. Sure, she’s written some scathing songs about him. And she told the world on Ellen that he broke up with her in 17 seconds. And she’s befriended Sophie Turner. But for a brief moment, Taylor made up with Kanye West, so stranger things have happened. Can you imagine a mashup between “SOS” by The Jonas Brothers and “The Story of US” by Taylor Swift? My Spotify Wrapped would become unshareable.
Katy Perry and Taylor Swift
Though allegedly this feud started due to the backup dancers, Perry has become one of Swift’s famed list of enemies. And as the queen of “Karma,” Swifties know that all of Taylor’s adversaries never fare well — just look at Ye or Scooter Braun. Katy Perry’s comeback might be another one of these casualties. Ouch. If the two managed to reconcile their “Bad Blood,” imagine the album Katy Perry would create.
Nelly Furtado and Fergie
Remember the song “ Give It To Me” by Timbaland, Nelly Furtado, and Justin Timberlake? Thanks to TikTok, the song experienced a recent resurgence. But did you know the entire song is a diss track? Justin Timberlake’s verse is about Prince (more insane than “what tour? The world tour”), Timbaland’s verse is about Scott Storch, and Nelly Furtado’s verse is about Fergie. But what if we stopped pitting two pop icons against each other and instead begged them both to have a comeback … together?
The Don’t Worry Darling Cast
The Don’t Worry Darling press tour pitted all our favorite stars against each other in the public arena: Harry Styles, Florence Pugh, Olivia Wilde, Chris Pine, and Gemma Chan. And while that trainwreck of a movie doesn’t need a sequel, I would animatedly watch one just to keep keen eyes on the press tour.
The It Ends With Us Cast
If we thought there would never be another press tour as dramatic as Don’t Worry Darling, Justin Baldoni of the It Ends With Us cast just hired Johnny Depp’s lawyer — so it’s inarguably surpassed its dramatic predecessor. With Blake Lively and Baldoni both waging a press war, some are hoping It Ends With Us will just … end. But I need a little entertainment to tide me over into fall. And if the movie itself won’t provide it, the hope of a last-gasp reconciliation might.
Kendrick Lamar and Drake
I know this will never happen. In fact, if it did, I’d lose some respect for Kendrick, honestly. But sometimes I like to imagine that all of this was just marketing for a joint album a la “Watch the Throne.”
On June 7, English pop artist Charli XCX released her sixth studio album, “Brat.” Immediately recognizable by its lime-green backdrop and simple sans-serif inscription, it’s since become a pop culture phenomenon, making its way to worldwide charts, trending TikTok audios and dances and even endorsement by the Kamala Harris campaign, which has incorporated the Brat aesthetic in multiple social media campaigns. What it means to be Brat
While the concept of Brat is loose and meant to be one defined on a personal basis, Charli XCX told BBC that Brat is a concept that represents a person who might have “a pack of cigs, a Bic lighter and a strappy white top with no bra.”…
Blake Lively has managed to pull off the impossible. It used to be rare for a television star to make the crossover to movie stardom. From George Clooney to Will Smith, few actors in the 90s pulled off that feat. And while it’s a bit more common now, only a select group have soared from teen drama to A-List status.
In recent years, we can point to stars like Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, and Charles Melton as proof that there’s life beyond the soapy high school drama. But let’s be honest: they’d be nothing and nowhere without the original cast of Gossip Girl.
The 2000s drama was ahead of the curve. Shows like Succession and White Lotus have taken up its mantle by commenting on the lives of the elite from the inside but those prep school kids blazed the trail. And leading the pack, forever changing what we think of Grand Central Station, is Blake Lively.
Decades later, she’s still on top. She’s a beloved A-Lister with an enviable marriage, an even more enviable friend group (Taylor, if you’re looking for more besties look no further), and a thriving career.
But how did she go from preppy headbands to Hollywood royalty? And, even more recently, why does her career feel like it’s always on an insane upward trajectory? Especially when, if we have to admit it, she’s not the greatest actress around. Likability and beauty can get you far — but Blake’s career is astounding. Is she really all that or is she just… really pretty?
Blake Lively’s Rise to Fame
Before she was Blake Lively: Hollywood Icon™, she was still the coolest girl on our screens. Her role in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was pivotal for millennials everywhere. Alongside America Ferrera (Hey Barbie!), Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel, this ultimate girl gang rivaled her current Swift squad. We all wanted to be them. We all wanted to wear her pants.
She retained that mantle of being unattainably cool in her pivotal role: Gossip Girl.
As Serena van der Woodsen, Lively became the ultimate It Girl. Just like her character, she was the epitome of elite 2000s girlhood. She was like Paris and Nicole with an old-money sophistication. She was all bandage dresses and blowouts both on screen and off. Who didn’t try to recreate at least one of Serena’s outfits — and with disastrous results! — in the show’s heyday?
Post Gossip Girl, Blake faced the stingy choices available to young female stars once their adolescent drama rolled its final credits. For women, the desire to grow up in the public’s eyes leads to a string of sexualized roles. Or, the need to branch out manifests in less-than-successful career pivots — sorry to Leighton Meester’s one song.
While Blake didn’t go any of these routes, she didn’t make the splash she yearned for, either. She did a string of subpar movies that are not worth the watch. She starred as a perpetually beautiful woman who didn’t age in The Age of Adaline — kind of a reverse Benjamin Button except her biggest problem was staying hot forever. Then she starred in the clunky, Gone Girl-esque thriller A Simple Favor alongside Anna Kendrick. Though critics panned it for its nonsensical plot, confusing characters, and flat acting, it found cult fans on streaming and is even an iconic role for many fans — even recently announcing a sequel (we’ll get to that).
She also had forgettable roles as the hot love interest in films like The Town, a cult Boston crime film for which she put on an okay Boston accent, and Savages, a movie recently revived by Netflix.
As her most notable works post Gossip Girl, this isn’t the most robust resume. Yet Blake has retained A-List status. I wouldn’t call her an It-Girl, she’s not out partying or having abrat summer, but every time she steps out, she makes headlines. At this point, she’s known as much for her idyllic marriage with Ryan Reynolds and her friendship with Taylor Swift. Her daughter even has a feature in Taylor Swift’s “Gorgeous” — probably a bigger career credit than anything Blake has appeared in since Gossip Girl.
Meanwhile, many of her Gossip Girl castmates have found success beyond the series. Penn Badgley stars as the creepy serial killer Joe in Netflix’s You. As one of the streamer’s biggest shows, Penn has been catapulted back into the hearts of audiences everywhere — even if his character isn’t the typical heartthrob. Chace Crawford is subverting his pretty-boy looks in The Boys on Amazon, another smash hit series. His character, The Deep, is disturbed and dumb, and played with a brilliant blend of criticism and compassion by Crawford, who doesn’t merely rely on his looks … though he definitely could.
Not to mention her Sisterhood co-star America Ferrera starring in Barbie, the hottest movie of last summer, and being nominated for an Academy Award. Not her first award buzz, never forget Ferrera’s Emmy-nominated turn as Betty Suarez in Ugly Betty, one of the most addictive shows of the 2000s.
With everyone else in her orbit going on to transcend their roots and prove their actual talent, why hasn’t Blake done the same? And however has she managed to stay the most relevant? So the question is: Is she actually a solid actress, or are we all just distracted by how outrageously gorgeous she is? It’s like when your crush says something and you laugh even though it wasn’t funny. Are we all just crushing on Blake Lively?
Blake Lively Is The Queen of the Met Gala: Why did she skip Met 2024?
Testament to her enduring A-List status, Lively is one of the people’s favorites at The Met Gala, which she generally attends with her husband year after year. As one of the biggest and most exclusive annual events on the planet, only a handful of celebrities are invited to the Met steps each and every year. Blake is one of the lucky few.
Usually, the invite list is determined by who was most relevant that year. Whose press tour dominated culture and fashion headlines? What musicians were everywhere? Who were the industry It-Girls? Lively hasn’t fit that bill since the 2010s, yet there she is, smiling on the Met Steps each and every year.
It makes some sense when you consider how viral Lively’s looks go every year. She’s an easy muse — so designers never miss when dressing her. Therefore her absence at the 2024 Met Gala was remarkable. Many were hoping she’d revive the success of her most memorable gown from the Heavenly Bodies exhibit. But alas, nothing. Some speculated a falling out with Anna. Others, another pregnancy. Or was Blake finally just … uninvited?
Turns out, she was just busy being a mom and working on her various projects. I’ll admit, I was skeptical when I heard this. What projects? Lively’s biggest projects are The Met and Kansas Chief’s games. Sometimes I think she’s as much of a nepo bestie as Travis Kelce is a nepo boyfriend. But I recently ate my words. Blake Lively has a stacked Q2 — proving we too can finish the year strong even if we were lagging in the first half.
Blake’s Been Busy: Everything Blake Lively has been up to in 2024
So what are all these projects Lively is so busy with? Surprisingly, a slate of blockbuster films and a brand new business. She’s already embarked upon various press tours, which is why she’s everywhere right now.
Her most prominent, and controversial, venture for the year: starring in the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s blockbuster It Ends With Us. This BookTok favorite is divisive to say the least. While Colleen Hoover’s genre of easy-to-read romantic fiction went viral, the literati aren’t a fan. The main point of contention: the writing is stinko. But to each their own. And on this particular book, Hoover’s critics are accusing of profiting from abuse and trauma because the film romanticizes an abusive relationship.
Yet, the power of BookTok compelled the studios to adapt this novel into a big budget movie starring Lively alongside Justin Baldwin, known for Jane The Virgin. For a minute, thanks to last year’s succession of strikes, it looked as though the movie might be scrapped. Call it Lively’s luck, but production continued against all odds and here we are: moments away from its big premiere.
Watch the Trailer for It Ends With Us here:
But that’s not the only press tour Blake is on. She joined her husband Ryan Reynolds on the press tour for Deadpool and Wolverine, even upstaging Reynolds and his co-star Hugh Jackman with her look for the final premiere.
Alongside Gigi Hadid, she appeared on the red carpet at Lady Deadpool. Little did we know, this was a hint of things to come. In case you forgot (I definitely did) Lively had a brief role as Lady Deadpool in the canonically awful Green Lantern films. She kind of reprised the role as the voice of Lady Deadpool in this new movie — just one of many cameos and Easter eggs in Marvel’s latest bloated action flick.
When not campaigning for wife-of-the-year, bestie of the year, or promoting It Ends With Us, she’s been filming the much-awaited sequel to A Simple Favor. She and Anna Kendrick have reprised their roles: mysterious Hot Mom (Lively, obviously) and Bored Mommy Blogger (Kendrick in an abundance of floral sundresses and wedges).
This sequel comes so long after the original because, despite the initial bad reviews, it found another life on streaming platforms. So, get ready to comfort-watch or hate-watch when it comes out — I’ll be doing both.
But Blake isn’t only trying to pump some much needed life back into her acting career. She’s enetered her Business Mogul Era. She’s already founded the brands Betty Buzz and Betty Booze and now she’s branching into beauty. Known for her scorching flowing locks, why wouldn’t she make a haircare brand?
The collection is called Blake Brown Beauty after her maiden name — which Reynolds joked he only just found out. Priced at $25 and under, Blake Brown Beauty is launching exclusively in Target to corner the affordable haircare market. The line consists of shampoos, masks and styling product. If there’s one thing the world needs more of, it’s celebrity beauty brands, right?
Promising to give the world that Blake Lively shine, the brand is a departure form many DTC celebrity beauty ventures, such as Cecred by Beyonce, Rate Beauty by Selena Gomez, or Hailey Bieber’s rhode. Instead, Blake is doing what she does best: going for mass appeal. It’s worked so far, might as well bet the house (or the hair) on it. But let’s be real, unless her shampoos come with a personal stylist and a Hollywood paycheck, we might just be setting ourselves up for disappointment.
This approach is similar to another celebrity whose success Blake takes major cues from: Jennifer Aniston. Before there was Serena, there was Rachel. From inspiring trends to becoming the people’s princess, Aniston and Lively have a lot in common. Namely that they’ve built gigantic careers on an average amount of talent. Pretty privilege is really kind to some.
Now, I’m no hater. I love looking at beautiful people as much as the next person. But as we brace ourselves for a Blake resurgence, someone has to say it: she’s prettier than she is talented.
The truth is, Blake Lively, like Jennifer Aniston, has found her niche. She’s good at being likable, at being the girl next door (if the girl next door lived in a mansion and was married to Deadpool). And in Hollywood, that’s a skill in itself.
So, is Blake Lively overrated? Maybe. Is she the second coming of Meryl Streep? Probably not. But is she good at what she does? Absolutely.
At the end of the day, Blake Lively is like that really pretty, really nice girl from high school who you want to hate but simply can’t. She’s not changing the world, but she’s not trying to. She’s just out here, living her best life, making us all wish we could pull off headbands and making Ryan Reynolds Instagram posts slightly more tolerable.
So here’s to you, Blake Lively. You may not be perfect, you may not be revolutionary, but damn it, you’re doing your thing. And sometimes, that’s enough.
So while I won’t be tuning into her latest slate of films or buying her beauty brand, I’ll be enjoying her press tour simply for the opportunity to decide which of her looks hit, and which of them miss.
How is it already August? As we enter the final month of the summer, we’re gearing up for even more new music to come our way. It’s the month of new albums from stars like Sabrina Carpenter, Post Malone, A$AP Rocky, and more…which means singles will be left and right.
But that’s not all, we’re shifting into the fall releases for new music…and fans are speculating that a certain Taylor Swift will re-release Reputation (Taylor’s Version) very soon. So, there’s a lot to look forward to with the quickest summer ever coming to an end.
And while we’re still in the middle of a heat wave, I’m looking forward to heading to the beach and getting some much-needed vitamin D…but that means I’m going to need a good playlist filled with new music released this week. Luckily for everyone involved, I create a weekly playlist filled with just that!
I find the best of the best when it comes to new songs. I listen to new albums, read through every press release, and search every Spotify playlist for what’s actually worth listening to. Plus, the playlists aren’t terribly lengthy…so it’s a really manageable listen too!
We’ve already wasted enough time here, so I want to get to the point. To enjoy a nice weekend, you need a weekend playlist. Let’s get listening!
Charli XCX, Billie Eilish- “Guess (Remix)”
If there’s one thing for certain, it’s that Charli XCX’s BRAT album inspired our summer. You may have heard about having a BRAT Summer, which includes partying as much as humanly possible and living your life…but Charli isn’t finished teaching us how to be a BRAT. Now, she’s partnered up with an unexpected collab: Billie Eilish.
The remix is sure to be a hit. “Guess” on its own was enough to send Charli into the mainstream, but adding Billie’s flirtatious lyricism to the mix makes it a surefire radio play. It’s both pop and house, which is super timely considering a few popstars are heading to house music. BRAT summer continues, Billie style.
Jessie Murph ft. Teddy Swims- “Dirty”
Two powerhouse vocalists join to create a soulful, cutting breakup anthem about a partner who has cheated on you. It’s every bit as vengeful and catchy as you’d imagine. It fully sums up when you’re done with a partner who’s treated you wrong while showcasing the vocal prowess of Jessie Murph and Teddy Swims.
With two big names in the music industry whose star power continues to grow exponentially, “Dirty” is an exciting development from the pair. Ahead of Jessie Murph’s debut album, this is just the beginning for two rising stars in the industry.
Gryffin- PULSE
With new album, PULSE, Gryffin goes back to his house roots. He gears up with heavy hitter collaborations like John Newman, Rita Ora, Whethan, and more, all while creating catchy dance tracks that fit perfectly with the summer. An album made to be played on the dancefloor while surrounded by friends and music lovers alike, there’s not one song that’s a skip.
PULSE is a great listen for those who need to start a pregame off the right way. With lots of synths, great beat drops, and strong lyricism, Gryffin continues to blaze his own path in creating pure EDM with his own, fun twist.
Maren Morris- “Intermission”
Maren Morris has a cathartic, lilting voice that carries through her EP, Intermission. Surprisingly honest, a delight to listen to throughout its entirety…Intermission is a loving, honest submission into Morris’ catalogue. She’s impressive, but we already knew that. And that’s what makes her music so easy to listen to. About the EP, Morris states,
“Here’s my heart journey and gamut of emotions packaged into 5 songs. Covering loss, catharsis, sexuality and gratitude, I hope you hear the light coming back to me in them and somewhere perhaps see it mirrored in you.
RUFUS DU SOL- “Lately”
“Lately” is the first track from legendary EDM group, RUFUS DU SOL, since 2021 when they released “Music is Better.” Now, three years later, they’re here to remind us what makes them an essential group in music. Their sounds are light, sending you straight to a rooftop in the city somewhere.
A borderline transcendental experience, “Lately” is both calming and upbeat at the same time. Soft in all the right places and explosive in others. If you needed a lesson on how the band can create magic in a song, listen to “Lately.”
Carlita, SG Lewis- “The Moment”
Carlita is on the verge of her big moment. With her debut album coming in November, Sentimental, and a subsequent leading single with SG Lewis to showcase it, there’s no stopping her. “The Moment” is a thrill from the very start, combining every little skill Carlita has learned along the way of her already illustrious career with SG Lewis’ ability to make any song a hit.
If this gives us a taste of the new album, then we’re in good hands. “The Moment” is everything we’ve been wanting in a song so far.
David Guetta, AFROJACK- “Raving”
Two titans in the industry: David Guetta and AFROJACK have united to release their highly anticipated new single, “Raving.” The song title is a little self-explanatory, but it makes you want to go rave. It’s fun, and specifically in time for BRAT Summer. We’re loving the hard house music lately, and this track is made by some of the best in the EDM industry.
“Raving” is what we needed to close out the summer: an electric single that gets you moving. It’s a fun track that just keeps getting better as time goes on.
Sonny Fodera, Jazzy, D.O.D- “Somedays”
Sonny Fodera has already made many hits, but this song proves he can do it time and time again. It’s no shock that his production is borderline seamless and his collaborative efforts are always a success. “Somedays” is no different. It’s fun-filled and captivating, replay worthy even.
Alongside Jazzy and D.O.D, Sonny Fodera pairs vocal talent with bass-heavy beats. A summer anthem without a doubt, “Somedays” will be a great addition to any playlist.
From the moment Megan Thee Stallion crowned summer 2019 “Hot Girl Summer,” each subsequent summer has fought to earn its own moniker. And just before the solstice, Charli XCX came to claim the crown with her album BRAT. The very instant the neon green album cover made its way to our Spotify feeds, it was clear it would be an instant classic.
And now, after sitting with the album for a few weeks — and blasting it through my headphones like armor against the heatwave — it’s undeniable that these timeless tracks will define summer 2024. So everyone, like your pilot after a flight, I’d like to be the first to welcome you to BRAT summer.
Let’s be clear: BRAT summer is an extension of the summer of gay pop. Look at the charts, and you’ll discover that many of this summer’s favorite earworms are made by and for the gays. Happy Pride from the queer community! Songs like “Good Luck Babe!” by our favorite performerChappell Roan [who we interviewed here!] and “LUNCH” by alt-pop queen Billie Eilish are proudly queer anthems that aren’t going anywhere all summer and beyond. And while Charli isn’t queer herself, she’s a cornerstone of the queer music community. Her impact on the gay music scene cannot be ignored — she did the soundtrack to the lesbian cult film Bottoms, for goodness sake. And that’s to say nothing of her years making gay pop bangers before Jojo Siwa crowned this the summer of the genre.
Think of it like the parents who get citizenship in a country because their children were born there. For many queer folks, Charli is mother, and her music is directly influenced by and produced for LGBTQIA+ audiences. She follows a tradition of other hyperpop divas who have become icons in the queer community. Madonna. Kylie Minogue. Lady Gaga. Charli XCX.
Though for too long she was relegated to “gay famous” — aka only a household name to queer people and mostly unknown to mainstream pop charts — everyone has finally caught on. So if you’re new to Charli standom, welcome to a party so fun you’ll never want to leave.
BRAT is Charli’s seminal work — no wonder this is the record drawing the most public intrigue and influence of her career. She teased the album for months. With interviews, campaigns, DJ shows, and even announcing a joint tour with Troye Sivan, Charli was telling us to get ready for BRAT summer for months. For a while, some even wondered if it would live up to the hype. Luckily, it has exceeded it.
In her cover story interview for THE FACE magazine, she described BRAT as “irresistible club pop made by a dyed-in-the-wool party girl.” And she delivered on her promise. BRAT is infectious and instantly timeless. It’s party fodder that’s surprisingly poignant. It’s not just an album, it’s a lifestyle. And everybody’s going to be living it all summer long.
Already, BRAT has brought back partying. Even The New York Times has caught on — they recently published an article on partying in the new age. It included items like social media etiquette and not taking off your shoes in someone’s apartment. Overall, it feels like a treatise on BRATty behavior.
Consider this our take. From how to dress to how to act, here’s the Popdust guide to having a BRAT summer.
Bring back indie sleaze
Every year since the pandemic, fashion blogs have been predicting the return of indie sleaze. This Tumblr-era aesthetic reigned during the height of the early 2010s party girl era. It was characterized by cigarettes, ripped tights, and smudged eyeliner. It was embodied by Tumblr icons like Alexa Chung and the rest of the “rockstar girlfriend” set. And, in recent years, many of its markers have returned. Arctic Monkeys put out a new album. Everyone is preoccupied with It-Girls again. But Indie Sleaze as an aesthetic has failed to regain its grip on the youth culture.
However, BRAT might be singlehandedly bringing back that vibe. It makes me want to put on a crop top and buy a choker. It makes me yearn for American Apparel days and wearing Doc Martens to the club. The #CleanLook aesthetic is out. Dressing for the most feral night of your life? In. Call it inner child healing and go full tilt into Tumblrcore.
Add one more accessory to your outfit before leaving the house
Allegedly, Coco Chanel once said: “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and remove one accessory.” Clearly she was not a BRAT. Instead, add an accessory to your look each time you leave the house. Being a BRAT is about being over the top. It’s about buying the rhinestone and bedazzled tourist caps when you’re on vacation. It’s about giant sunglasses at night. It’s not just about accessorizing, it’s about over-accessorizing.
My rule of thumb is to pick a go-to accessory and exaggerate it as much as possible. For example, if you love a funky earring, commit to the biggest, most outrageous earrings you can find. Personally, I adore rings, so this summer, I’m literally stacking every ring I own every day. If my hands weigh as much as my head, I’m doing it right.
Don’t sleep in your makeup — but make it look like you did
The cardinal sin in beauty is sleeping in your makeup. You run the risk of clogging your pores, activating or worsening acne, causing premature aging, drying out your skin barrier, and irritating your dermis. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. You’re also missing out on all the potential benefits of your nighttime skincare routine when your skin needs the TLC the most.
Being a BRAT might be about being booked and busy, but it’s also about keeping yourself at your best to do it all over again tomorrow. So, no, don’t use BRAT summer as an excuse to sleep in your makeup, but use it as inspiration to look like you slept in your eyeliner.
I’m talking thick brows, smudged eyeliner, smoky shadow, and finger blush. Apply with no caution whatsoever, and you have the look.
Say yes — to everything.
Consider that one Jim Carrey movie Yes Man. When he’s bound to say yes to everything, hilarity ensues. In real life, the same is true. Doing it for the plot, as the kids say, can open doors you never expected. In the winter, I’m protective of my boundaries and selective about what I do. In the summer, I’ll take any opportunity to be outside.
An extension of this rule is keeping the conversation open. Don’t just ask people what they’re doing, ask them if you can tag along. You’ll be surprised how often they tell you that the more, the merrier.
Don’t flake
Saying yes to plans is a commitment. But it’s not very BRATty to cancel at the last minute. Once you affirm plans, respond to a Partiful invite, or slide up on someone’s story about a house party, you’re bound to it. Even if you only go for a moment, show your face, and leave, it’s better than flaking completely.
Dance!
In the song “girl, so confusing” (not the version with Lorde, but we’ll get there), Charli says: “Think you should come to my party and put your hands up!” The queen has spoken — y’all better put your hands up.
It might seem like a given since we’re talking about parties, but people don’t want to clock in and dance anymore. It’s time to break the cycle. This summer, let’s make a pact to actually dance at parties. No more standing on the walls, trying to look cool and nonchalant. Being a BRAT is about being chalant.
Think Troye Sivan in his icon run of music videos last year. I want to channel “Get Me Started” energy to every song on BRAT. You don’t have to have full choreo, but let the music move you, for goodness sake! That’s what it’s for.
Especially if they’re playing throwback 2000s and 2010s recession-pop
This one is for the DJs: If you’re playing BRAT at the club (you should be), it’s best paired with recession pop. Play Charli mixed with the greats and their own pop bangers. BRAT is influenced by the music of the past decade. And considering Cahrli has been making music that whole time, BRAT is an homage to this era. The best way to pay it respect is by
Pregame with sad girl music
A BRAT is complicated. They contain multitudes. They’re complex and layered. Behind the party girl exterior is a deep yearning that can only be soothed by sad girl music. If you’re watching Lana Del Rey’s Coachella 2024 performance on YouTube before going out, congratulations, you’re a BRAT.
I personally find that starting the pregame with Phoebe Bridgers, moving on to Billie Eilish, and ending with Charli sets the perfect mood. You have to work your way up to Charli. You have to emotionally earn it.
Wired headphones forever
The above is true when you’re alone, too. Listening to music in your headphones, it better be either La Del Rey or Charli this summer. But the headphones themselves matter. Until they make neon green skins for your bulky wireless Airpods, wired earphones are the official choice for a BRAT summer. Whether you choose the classic Apple earphones or trendy ones like the Koss vintage-inspired earphones, as long as they have a wire, you’re good.
Ponder the meaning of life
“I think about it all the time, that I might run out of time,” ponders Charli on BRAT. “My career feels so small in the existential scheme of it all,” she ends the song, “i think about it all the time,” before leading into a song of the summer, “365.” Clearly, her career means something — both to her and the culture. And it’s a sign to us all. It’s normal to ponder the meaning of life, to spiral at the club, to have an existential crisis in the car on the way home. As long as you show up and dance.
Take digitals. Post the good, bad, and the ugly
Every other year comes a photo trend. During Tumblr, it was the Polaroid camera. For the past few years, it’s been the disposable. Now, it’s the digital cameras. While we don’t have to bring back Facebook albums compiling every photo from every night, I shudder to recall that dark time, digital cameras offer both whimsy and functionality. Just don’t dilly-dally before sharing with your friends.
It’s also about being real online and offline. There’s no room for shame or regret when you’re a BRAT. So post every pic, even if your eye is half closed — in fact, that makes you seem cooler. Like, wow, you’re too busy living your super cool and awesome life to stress about your photos. And I’ll be in the likes of all your photo dumps and stories because BRATs support BRATs.
No beef. Work it out on the remix
Undoubtedly, the most viral storyline from the BRAT rollout came a few weeks later with a remix. Many had already speculated that the song was about Cahrli and Lorde’s purported beef. After years in the industry, the two kept being compared to each other and Charli has spoken out about these comparisons before. While they weren’t fighting it out on Instagram Live, the fans hyped up this so-called rivalry. It finally seemed like Charli was addressing it in “girl, so confusing,” a song straight out of the Barbie soundtrack (which she also worked on).
So, imagine all of our surprises when Lorde and Charli worked it out on the remix. Released days after the initial album, “The girl, so confusing version with Lorde” was a surprisingly vulnerable and completely powerful move to end this alt-girl beef. Lorde hopped on the track to talk about her insecurities and the defense mechanisms we make to protect ourselves and hurt other people. I almost cried to that heavy pop beat. And Charli wouldn’t have it any other way.
In a world filled with nonsensical (though entertaining) feuds like Kendrick and Drake, this summer is about working it out on the remix. It’s about supporting other BRATs. And inviting that girl you think hates you to your party. Truly iconic.
