I’m bumpin’ that back to October 11, 2024 when Charli xcx released brat and it’s completely different but also still brat, her remix album of the original. It features remixes to each song with various artists and twists on the original tracks. With its similarities and contrasts, let’s rank the bops and flop(s) of this remix.

16.

“I might say something stupid ft. The 1975 & Jon Hopkins” is easily the worst song on the album. What attempts to be a soulful piano ballad to contrast the electronic autotuned nature of the original comes off as boring and unoriginal. It’s sandwiched between “sympathy is a knife” and “talk talk” which makes the song seem even worse than it already is. Also, considering lead singer of The 1975 Matty Healy’s past controversies, it’s not just that he might say something stupid, it’s that he has said something stupid. 

15.

“I think about it all the time ft. Bon Iver” is an interesting blend of Xcx and Iver’s sound. The lyrics describe how death is always approaching, and that fear is hard to not let consume you. It isn’t much different from the original and doesn’t leave a memorable impression. There’s no reason to listen to it instead of the original because the same message is conveyed in both. It’s not bad; it’s just boring.

14.

“So I ft. a.g cook” contrasts the original in a positive way. It describes the good memories that Xcx had with the late SOPHIE instead of the grief she felt after the artist’s death. It’s such a sweet tribute and shows the ways one processes the death of someone close. The only reason it doesn’t rank higher is because the instrumentation is a bit boring compared to the heartfelt message of the song.

13.

The first half of “Club classics ft. bb trickz” is somewhat anxiety-inducing. You can hear the repeated ‘that’ from “360” combined with a synth line that sounds like the Mii theme. But the second half with bb trickz’s verse and repetition of chunks from “365” are really interesting because, with this inclusion of other pieces from other songs on the album, Xcx is emphasizing how she is a club classic herself.

12.

“365 shygirl” is a more intense version of the original. Shygirl’s verse is super catchy and adds a lot to the song. Keeping more of the melody from the original would’ve put it higher on the list because the minor key of the remix is a bit off-putting and not as catchy. 

11.

Eilish’s verse on “Guess ft. Billie Eilish” is a great addition to the original. It’s catchy and perfectly matches the energy of Xcx’s verse. It just doesn’t do anything new with the song, like some of the other remixes do, and there isn’t much difference between listening to the original track and the remix. 

10.

Choosing Ariana Grande as a feature on “Sympathy is a knife ft. Ariana Grande” was a great choice and makes a lot of sense for the song. I love the repetition of “It’s a knife when…” throughout the entire song to describe the different things that cut deep into both Grande and Xcx as women affected by the media. I just wish Grande got an individual verse, because you can barely hear her on the track and it’s not as impactful as the original.

9.

While Rae’s scream and the verses in “Von dutch a.g. Cook remix ft. addison rae” are extremely iconic and catchy, it doesn’t pack the same punch as the original. My favorite thing about the original is the buildup to the chorus, but this remix starts with the chorus. It would be better if they blended the original and this remix by keeping the car sounds, putting the “you just wanna scream my name / on and on” lyric before where the chorus is in the original, and finding a different spot for the scream. It would be more effective in conveying the true message of “living that life Von dutch.”

8.

“Mean girls ft. Julian Casablancas” does an excellent job of blending Xcx and Casablancas’s style. The instrumentation is super interesting and the artists balance each other out very well. The problems are the verses aren’t super compelling, and, for this remix, Xcx should’ve collaborated with a mean girl. Casablancas is great, but he is not a mean girl and would’ve shined brighter on a different track on this album.

7.

In “B2b ft. Tinashe,” Xcx and Tinashe’s new verses are super compelling and add new layers to the original song. They both reference other well-known songs of theirs from earlier in their careers, Xcx’s “Boom Clap” and Tinashe’s “2” While both artists have been making music since the late 2000s, they’ve reached new levels of recognition this year. This song is a celebration of the success and hard work they’ve put into their careers. 

6.

The use of repetition in “Rewind ft. Bladee” is what makes it so strong. Bladee’s “I must confess I’m under stress” line underscores Xcx’s verses reflecting on the need to always be working as an artist in order to be successful. It shows how the ‘grindset’ is so harmful and this message  is furthered by the instrumentation’s build up to a full stop at the end, possibly alluding to burnout that comes with being an artist. Super catchy and very true to the reality that a lot of people are living.

5.

“360 robyn and yung lean” does a great job of balancing all three artists while maintaining the integrity of the original. It does a great job of setting up what the rest of the album will be. Lean’s repeated “Super-sonic push up on it” verse will be stuck in your head for days. The track is another celebration of each of the artists’ success and lives they are living. 

4.

The way Polachek and Xcx break down “Everything is romantic ft. Caroline Polachek” and build it back up is so funky. I love how it romanticizes the big and small aspects of life, hence the name. This track is another one that has a perfect balance of both artists and their styles. While this remix is definitely not for everyone, it works because the contrasting sounds blend together instead of fighting against each other.

3.

“Talk talk ft. Troye Sivan” is the right way to do a remix. It keeps most of the original while adding verses and instrumentation that create a new perspective of the song. The beat drop before Sivan’s post-chorus and ‘Copacabana-esque’ underscoring of his lines make this remix unforgettable. Additionally, the milder first verse builds up to Xcx’s chorus better than the original and it helps the song make more of an impact overall.

2. 

“Apple ft. The Japanese House” doesn’t have the iconic dance section from the original, but digs into the message behind the lyrics splendidly. The repetition at the beginning of, “I’ve been looking at you so long / now I only see me” emphasizes the effects of generational trauma that this song is about. Taking smaller parts of the melody and making that the throughline is such a great way to reuse verses and make it something new. 

1.

In “Girl so confusing ft. Lorde,” resolving old drama, while describing how the music industry pits women against each other, while also being the best track of this album and the original is an impressive feat.  This remix just can’t be beat and truly speaks to the experiences of women all around the world. I have no doubts this song will remain a staple in pop culture for eons to come.