On Saturday, April 26, the millennials, girls and gays amassed at the Target Center in Minneapolis, waiting for the arrival of one of pop’s greatest acts: Charli XCX.
The half-Gujarati, half-British star rose to fame in the 2010s with her fresh take on hyperpop, leaving a mark on an early internet culture of “Tumblr girls” and Instagram influencers. Her 2012 hit feature “I Love It,” by Swedish duo Icona Pop, became an anthem for the generation, encapsulating the carefree and ebullient energy of youth in that era.
Her most recent album, the 2024 summer hit “Brat,” topped charts and welcomed a global Charli resurgence, debuting with 75.4 million streams in its first week on Spotify. In November 2024, the Brat Arena Tour was announced, a five-date tour with stops in Austin, Minneapolis, Brooklyn and Rosemont, IL.
At her Minneapolis gig, the second of the tour, 15,000 fans filled the seats. To an outsider, the event could appear rather cult-like. Crowds of people dressed in bright green attire formed a homogenous army of fans. Many went along with the club theme that “Brat” has coined as one of its central musical inspirations (the song “Club Classics,” for example, captures this mood).
Rather than have any openers or special guests, Charli took on the show completely by herself. At approximately 9 p.m., the lights dimmed and out of the speakers blasted the 1997 rock hit “Bitter Sweet Symphony” by British band The Verve, followed by a bright green display and “Brat” in Arial font. This time, the text was crossed out in a messy scribble.
Strutting out wearing a ruffled white top and matching shorts, Charli flashbanged the audience into the album’s opening track “360.” Fans shouted along with the electro-pop beat, as if Charli were inviting them along to the party with her.
Other songs included “Brat” hits like “Von Dutch,” “Apple” and “Guess,” along with some callbacks to older albums like “Unlock It” from “Pop 2” and the 2020 single “Vroom Vroom.”
Anticipation built up for the performance of “party 4 u,” a song originally released in 2020 off the album “How I’m Feeling Now” that has recently received critical reception online.
At the bridge of “party 4 u,” a bright neon, glowing rope stretched down from the ceiling to Charli. The rope created an almost heavenly visual, painting the singer as a god-like figure while the melancholic lyrics of the song juxtaposed with her powerful harnessing of the rope. It was as if she were taking control of her own narrative.
Although “Brat” — and much of Charli’s music in general — has often been characterized by its emphasis on individuality, rebellious nonconformity and careless attitude towards criticism, underneath lies a much more complex story of identity and authenticity from the artist.
Charli’s outfits, for example, were full of deliberate and purposeful choices that reflected this sentiment. As the night progressed, costume changes allowed the singer to don various slim-fitting crop tops, sequined belts and high-heeled boots. With each outfit, she exposed herself more and more, stripping away her garments to reveal her most vulnerable self.
At one point in the show, Charli made a shoutout to her critics. “I see the stuff online sometimes where people are like, ‘oh my God, she didn’t even have any dancers, it’s just her up there throwing herself around. How boring,’” the singer said. “And I’m like, ‘bitch, you get up here and do it then, motherf–cker. I’d like to see you try!’”
At the concert’s climax, Charli’s performance of “track 10” surprised the crowd with a different but passionate feeling, a cathartic shift from some of the earlier songs on the setlist. Kneeling at the center of the stage, heavy rain poured down on the singer, as if she were the only one in the room.
And, of course, it couldn’t be a Charli XCX concert without the pop anthem “I Love It.” Fans of all ages chimed in with the lyrics, ending the event on a high-spirited note.
The music of Charli XCX has proven to reach across generations, something many artists find difficult to achieve. While some may look at “Brat” as simply a trend, that is exactly the idea the singer is rebelling against.
Perhaps this is what the tattered and muddied banner is about. What makes someone “Brat” isn’t just neon green and an Arial font. It’s about staying true to yourself.
