Charli xcx’s remix album, Brat and it’s completely different but also still the same, was released on October 11, 2024, marking a new chapter for the pop star after her wildly successful summer. The original album, BRAT, solidified Charli’s reputation as one of pop’s most innovative and genre-bending artists. The work examined the pressures of fame, identity, and self-worth through a playful and irreverent lens. It featured captivating beats that made listeners eager to hit the club and experience the songs as they were intended to be enjoyed. BRAT made an undeniable impact, with songs so popular on the internet that the summer of 2024 was dubbed “Brat Summer.” Brat and it’s completely different... takes those themes even further, with Charli enlisting an eclectic group of collaborators to reinterpret each track, often flipping the original meanings or expanding their emotional depth. The result is an album that feels both familiar and entirely new, blending hyperpop, experimental production, and introspective lyrics in ways that push the boundaries of pop music. While BRAT was about reclaiming and redefining one’s identity amidst external expectations, the remixes feel like an evolution—digging deeper into those themes while letting new voices add their own narratives. It’s a testament to Charli’s ability to continually reinvent her work and collaborate with other artists to create something even more powerful.
“360 featuring robyn & yung lean” opens the album by setting a new tone. Lean’s slower, lower voice contrasts with Robyn’s, giving this remix a more grounded feel compared to the original’s almost anthemic vibe. While the original “360” was about the idea of being the “it-girl” without Charli ever inserting herself into the narrative—she only references Julia Fox—this version flips that, with Robyn and Yung Lean focusing more on their own fame, making it a much more personal take. “Club classics featuring bb trickz” leans into remix culture by taking the meta club-bop of the original and transforming it into an even stronger dance track. Interpolating “365” and adding bb trickz’s catchy Spanish lyrics was a stroke of genius, improving upon the track’s self-aware fun while elevating its energy, making it feel like an actual club classic.
In “Sympathy is a knife featuring ariana grande,” the remix takes a more introspective turn. While the original dealt with jealousy and hatred from within the industry, Ariana’s contribution shifts the focus to the hardships of fame and sympathy from those who don’t understand, such as fans or the media. The mix of Ariana’s auto-tuned vocals adds a softer touch, blending seamlessly with the party vibe that’s typical of Charli’s sound, yet amplifying the emotional resonance.
“I might say something stupid featuring the 1975 & jon hopkins” more than doubles the length of the original, “I might say something stupid,” transforming the track into a sprawling meditation on belonging. With The 1975 bringing in pianos to offset Charli’s usual electronic synths, the song feels like a welcome break, delving into deeper introspection with lyrics that reflect on where one belongs and if it’s where one already is. In contrast, “Talk talk featuring troye sivan” stays close to its original form. This remix feels more like a feature than an overhaul, with Troye maintaining the same romantic, vibing energy of wanting to start something with someone you’re instinctively drawn to. The chemistry between Troye and Charli is perfect for a club track, reminiscent of the original’s carefree vibe.
A. G. Cook’s production brilliance is on full display with “Von dutch a. g. cook remix featuring addison rae.” Cook, Charli's Creative Director and the Executive Producer for most of her discography, is credited with helping develop and popularize the hyperpop genre. This remix effectively showcases his production talents, gradually building the energy of the original track throughout the remix. The result is a track that feels distinctly different while still honoring the essence of the original. Addison Rae’s vocals work surprisingly well in the context of Cook’s signature production. “Everything is romantic featuring caroline polachek” is a beautiful response to the original, “Everything is romantic.” In the original version, Charli celebrated the romance inherent in life due to the love she was experiencing with a partner. In this new version, Charli seems to have lost that perspective, and Caroline steps in to remind her of the beauty and romanticism that surrounds us. It is Caroline, not Charli, who lists the romantic experiences life has to offer and repeats one of the essential lines of the song, “fall in love again and again.” With Caroline's ethereal vocals and the addition of strings, the track takes on a more expansive and emotionally resonant feel, making it even more compelling than the stripped-back original.
“Rewind featuring bladee” taps into nostalgia with longing for a simpler, less stressed-out time. Bladee’s softer, lo-fi vocals fit seamlessly with Charli’s, and the remix shifts the original’s classic beat into something more synth-heavy. The original song, “Rewind,” evoked a strong sense of yearning, reminiscent of Charli’s earlier work, such as “1999” from her third studio album released in 2018. However, this new piece offers a more introspective angle, expressing a desire not only for simpler times but also for moments when she felt less insecure and more self-assured. “So I featuring a. g. cook” is a poignant tribute to the incredibly talented late singer and producer SOPHIE, who is credited along with A. G. Cook as one of the pioneers of hyperpop. The remix shifts focus from the grief and emptiness of losing her, as explored in the original, to celebrating the joyful moments Charli shared with her. While the original’s beat resembled a party track, the remix feels more relaxed and free, allowing the memories and emotions in the lyrics to shine through.
The much-speculated-on “Girl, so confusing featuring lorde” adds a new layer of honesty to Charli and Lorde’s public relationship. With Lorde joining to share her perspective on friendship, insecurity, and girlhood, the remix serves as a resolution to whatever tension between them the original, “Girl, so confusing,” hinted at. While the production hasn’t changed much, Lorde’s feature turns this into one of the most candid pop collaborations in recent memory. “Apple featuring the japanese house” diverges from the original, “Apple,” with all-new lyrics focusing on a distant connection to someone, someone that you haven’t spoken to in a while and feel distant with. There is an argument that can be made claiming that this distant connection is a parent-child one; lines like “I ignore you when I see you calling 'cause I know it's something I might regret,” and “Sometimes when I go home it doesn't feel like home/Don't know if you can hear me inside this conversation,” fit well into that context. This all-new version of the original feels like a fresh narrative that still holds the essence of the original’s themes of generational trauma.
In both the original, “B2b,” and the remix, “B2b featuring tinashe,” “B2b” stands for back to back. However, the original’s lyrics are “Back to, back to, back to, back to you” and focus on returning or not returning to someone you’ve been in a relationship with before. In this new version, "back to back" refers to having a busy schedule filled with numerous events throughout the day. It suggests that you are always booked and successful, with performances lined up one after the other. Tinashe’s feature is particularly apt, as both she and Charli have navigated the mainstream pop world for years and are finally getting the recognition they deserve. “Mean girls featuring julian casablancas” switches gears from Charli’s exploration of the “mean girl” archetype to Julian’s reflections on being hurt in a toxic relationship. His deep, distorted vocals clash perfectly with Charli’s higher voice, creating a remix that feels both fresh and familiar, enhancing the emotional complexity of the original.
“I think about it all the time featuring bon iver” delves into Charli's fears about the future and motherhood. The original piece reflects her uncertainties about when or if to take that life step. In this version, she expands on how her feelings have evolved. Lyrics like “I found love, baby / But I was scared to run out of time..." express her anxiety about the future and whether good things will last. The theme of motherhood is further explored with the line, “Should I stop my birth control?” highlighting her ongoing internal struggle with this decision. Justin Vernon’s beautiful voice adds even more introspection and moodiness, making this remix a haunting yet romantic addition to the original.
“365 featuring shygirl” is, in a sense, a true remix because it does not hold back from altering the original in a major way while still being a club track and keeping the original essence. The production of this remix is completely different from the original, while the lyrics in the chorus remain the same. Since it's August 1st release as a single, “Guess featuring billie eilish” has blown up and charted consistently high. Billie’s contribution transforms the song into a call-and-response dynamic, where the “you” in Charli’s lyrics now clearly refers to Billie. This is especially evident in the main line, “You wanna guess the color of my underwear / You wanna know what I got goin’ on down there,” which Billie later responds to with, “Don’t have to guess the color of your underwear / Already know what you’ve got goin’ on down there.” Billie also mirrors Charli’s chorus but switches all of the “you”s to “I”s, which further cements the back-and-forth interplay. This exchange not only enhances the song’s energy but also heightens the inherent sexiness, with the playful tension between Billie and Charli adding a new layer to the track.
The final track on Brat and it’s completely different... is “Spring breakers featuring kesha,” which features similar production to the original. Kesha’s feature continues the vibe of a “crazy girl who is a boss and does whatever she wants even if it’s violent, insane, or absurd” that the original song has. It is very unabashed and makes for a great party/club track. Like some of the previous remixes, it is less of a complete redo of the original and more of a new version simply featuring Kesha with her new lyrics.
Overall, Brat and it’s completely different but also still the same lives up to its title. It reimagines Charli’s original work with the help of her collaborators, each bringing their own distinctive style while maintaining the heart of the songs. The “Brat” era, with its ugly green and iconically simple font, will live on far into the future, and this remix album will only enhance the cultural longevity of Charli xcx’s masterpiece.
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