Grammys would do well to nominate Charli XCX’s ‘Brat’ in top categories
If there’s one word that defines 2024, it’s definitely “Brat.” The sixth studio album by British singer/songwriter/producer Charli XCX has dominated the cultural conversation this year on just about every corner of the internet. Whether it is politics, music, or branding, it seems like “Brat” has tapped into the zeitgeist more than any other album this year, even albums that are technically more commercially successful. The record seems to be the full package, earning critical acclaim, moving a lot of album units each week, notching multiple hits songs, and becoming an essential piece of 2020s pop culture. After all is said and done, awards success might be its biggest achievement yet.
SEECritics adore Charli XCX’s new album ‘Brat’: Will this be her Grammy era?
“Brat’s” first indication of awards potential was its ample critical praise. While Charli XCX has always had a good relationship with critics, she’s never experienced acclaim to the degree she has with “Brat,” which is sitting at a whopping 95 on Metacritic. That makes it the most acclaimed album of the year (at least, so far) as well as one of the top 20 most acclaimed albums of all time on the site. So a lot of Grammy voters might support it, regardless of their musical background, due to how universally beloved it is. The Grammys usually love having one or two critical darlings in the mix, even if they’re not the biggest commercial hits; just last year we saw this benefit alternative rock band Boygenius, and before that artists like Haim, Janelle Monáe, and Arcade Fire have made the Album of the Year lineup, among others. The raves also suggest there’s a lot of passion for the album, which could help it overcome some higher-profile projects. Sometimes it’s more important for an album to be deeply loved rather than a filler commercial pick.
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But “Brat” is also a commercial success. The album has been stable in the top 15 on the Billboard 200, and surpassed major releases by Ariana Grande (“Eternal Sunshine“) and Beyoncé (“Cowboy Carter“) in its duration in the top 10. But “Brat’s” success is extra special considering Charli’s vision was not compromised by trend-chasing or top-40 appeal. Hyperpop and rave music have long been buzzed about on the indie scene, so it was likely that these dance subgenres would cross over to the mainstream eventually, but Charli has far exceeded expectations. The fact that the album has held its own against other major releases, in spite of its more abrasive, electronic sounds and themes, just goes to show the impact it’s had on listeners. And voters likewise might be excited by something new and refreshing like “Brat” over been-there-done-that releases from this year’s dominant stars, even acclaimed ones (like Billie Eilish’s “Hit Me Hard and Soft“).
It’s also important to note that “Brat” has achieved all this as a dance piece, even though the genre has seen a bit of a commercial decline in recent years. That’s not to say “Brat” has single-handedly resurrected dance music, but it has definitely brought dance to the forefront of the music conversation for the first time in a while. If the album competes in Best Dance/Electronic Album at the Grammys, it’s likely to be a serious contender for the win precisely because of this. Even if it ends up in Best Pop Vocal Album, it’s still likely to get a nom.
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But to top that all off, “Brat” has managed to infiltrate the singles charts in a big way. The album has launched four Hot 100 hits so far, an impressive number considering Charli has been absent from the list for quite a while. “360,” the album’s lead single, has been one of the year’s most quoted songs (you might’ve heard the phrase “so Julia”) and was followed by the hit “Girl, So Confusing,” remixed with Lorde and resulting in more quotable lyrics (especially the “work it out on the remix” meme which has yet to die). “Apple” also found viral success on TikTok due to its dance trend, and “Guess” features Billie Eilish in one of the hottest and sexiest songs of the summer.
One hit would have been a significant achievement for Charli given her track record, so four just goes to show the hold that the artist has on our current culture. Charli’s official Grammy submissions are yet to be revealed, but it’s likely she’ll have songs in both pop and dance categories, and she might be competitive for the win in a couple of those. Grammy voters, after all, appreciate a hit, and they might appreciate it even more if the song seems to have defied the odds to get there.
So “Brat” has everything it needs to give Charli XCX her first real Grammy breakthrough. Few albums these days have had such an indelible impact. At the very least, the album should be in the Album of the Year Grammy convo, in addition to the aforementioned possibilities in dance and pop categories. And we might even see Charli up on that stage once, or twice, or thrice even. But even if Charli ends up being too edgy for academy voters, it feels like the Grammys need “Brat” more than “Brat” needs the Grammys. In an industry full of trend-chasing and manufactured music, Charli XCX has made what feels like the first true classic of the 2020s.
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