On the heels of the release of her sixth album, Brat, we celebrate our April ‘Pop’ issue cover star’s illustrious discography with a roundup of the Vogue Singapore team’s favourite Charli XCX tracks.
‘Boys’
Oh, what a cutesy Super Mario Bros sample could amount to. Upon first listen (and delightful watch), ‘Boys’ might seem like a frivolous bop where Charli XCX vocalises her obsession with the male specimen—featuring a smorgasbord of her greatest fantasies come to life, where Ezra Koenig and Mark Ronson are brushing their teeth and Stormzy is chowing down cereal. But behind this false notion that the men have all the power is the realisation that all 60 male stars fell in line for one Charli XCX, who self-directed the video. — Janice Sim, digital editor
‘Beg for You ft. Rina Sawayama’
In my opinion, Charli XCX is at her best when she is referencing and collaborating—fitting musical puzzle pieces together like the creative mastermind she is. A departure from her hyper-pop signature sound, ‘Beg for You’ presents Charli in new light: coquettish, wanton and, dare I say, a little diva-ish. In this stylish update interpolating September’s 2008 dance hit, ‘Cry for You’, the original track’s sarcasm is replaced with unabashed desire and open desperation for a partner who is about to leave. The exquisite pairing of Charli and Rina Sawayama’s individually outstanding vocal prowesses takes this over the edge. — Chandreyee Ray, associate lifestyle editor
‘Speed Drive’
This Barbie is a pop genius. Not only is ‘Speed Drive’ one of Charli XCX’s catchiest tracks, it’s also one of her most musically interesting—playfully interpolating both Toni Basil’s iconic ‘Mickey’ and Robyn’s cover of ‘Cobrastyle’. The scene in the Barbie movie that the song accompanies is just the cherry on top. — Jesslyn Lye, writer
‘Ringtone (Remix) ft. Charli XCX, Rico Nasty and Kero Kero Bonito’
I say this with all my heart: the remixed version of 100 gecs’s ‘ringtone’ is the only version that matters to me. Granted, whilst the experimental soundscape that the 100 gecs duo brings us into is an addictively glitchy one, it’s really Charli XCX’s hypnotic voice on the refrain which elevates the re-worked track. It was first love with just one listen—a welcome reminder of how the singer-songwriter wonderfully melds the pop genre with her own electrifying brand of spunk. — Azrin Tan, digital writer
‘Boom Clap’
‘Boom clap’ is pure pop fun—I love how everything about it embodies what Charli XCX is about: insouciant, addictive energy that doesn’t take itself too seriously. — Emily Heng, associate beauty editor
‘Welcome To My Island (George Daniel & Charli XCX Remix)’
This high octane and house-infused remix of Caroline Polachek’s ‘Welcome To My Island’ feels like an entirely different song from the original. This is the next best thing if I don’t have caffeine in my system. — Nicholas See, fashion stylist
