Tracey Thorn has shared her own review of a recent concert by Charli XCX, who she declares as an “artist of the moment.”
In a review published by The new statesmansinger Everything But The Girl has written at length about attending a Charli a little frantic.” and drunk, in tears.
“A recent concert in London proved that 'Brat' is the album of the year and that she is the artist of the moment,” Thorn wrote in her caption. “Am I too old to participate? »
She continued, musing, “Am I too old to like Charli XCX? It's a bit cheesy isn't it, people my age talk about a 'summer for kids', thinking it puts them down with kids.
She considered the idea of music-loving parents attending shows by artists with primarily younger fans, like Mitski and The Last Dinner Party – the latter whose canceled concert in Lincoln sparked minor controversy for the behavior of its security personnel towards a handful of adult male ticket holders. .
“I guess the worry is that there is something predatory about someone my age liking younger artists,” Thorn wrote, adding that she has previously spoken at length about “wanting more of music that reflects the stage of life I am currently in.
In a 2023 interview with ZikNationTo promote Everything But The Girl’s latest album, “Fuse,” Thorn said: “We live in the same world. We may be older and have made music in previous eras, but we are alive in this moment and subject to the inspiration that comes from it.
Thorn continued in his review: “I also like music that makes me feel young or reminds me of what it's like to be young. This year I really loved Charli's “Brat” album, but as far as it making me feel young, I'm like, how young do I mean?
Thorn compared Charli's current age, 32, to when “Brat” came out: “Not a teenager, not a young girl.” A Young Woman” – with her own life at 32 when Everything But The Girl released “Missing,” “the song that would be the biggest hit of my life and garner more attention than anything I ever writing “.
She then reflected on the similarities between “Missing” and Lorde's remix of “Girl, so confusing”: “(Missing) is also obsessed with this moment of life transition – a dance floor anthem about desire from a childhood friend, while I also feel anxiety about not being able to “move on.”
Thorn then turned his attention to the O2 concert: “I was worried we'd have to do the 'Apple' dance – a choreography that went viral on social media when the album was released – but no, of course not.
“Instead, we see a brief video of Charli's boyfriend George in the crowd, trying to dance but messing up a little and laughing. Which is of course much more “Brat” than forced audience participation. Thorn praised the concert as “a triumphant and well-deserved celebration of Album of the Year.”
“The concert didn't make me feel young, but it made me feel alive, and I accept that, thank you. » Read the full review here.
“Brat” was Charli's sixth studio album and was released in June, drawing inspiration from club and rave music and accompanied by a striking and instantly iconic lime green cover, with lowercase letters in pixelated Arial font.
Tracks like “360” and “Apple” had their own viral craze on TikTok, while a remix album “Brat And It's Completely Different But Also Still Brat” landed in October, ultimately taking Charli to number one.
“Brat” was named word of the year by the Collins English Dictionary, a word it says has been redefined by the phenomenon, with its new definition: “characterized by a confident, independent and hedonistic attitude.”
The summer of “kids” even became a factor in the 2024 US presidential election when Charli tweeted “Kamala IS brat.” The vice president's social media channels were rebranded as “Brat,” leading to an embarrassing wave of serious political pundits attempting, unsuccessfully, to explain the “Brat” phenomenon.
Charli is currently touring the UK for her whirlwind year, where she recently debuted her remix of 'So I' in tribute to SOPHIE.
