Top 10 Best Charli XCX Songs

Charli (2019)

Charli’s collaborations are always top tier, and this is no exception. Appearing with Christine & the Queens on her eponymous 2019 project “Charli,” “Gone” offers a different perspective on her usual themes. While her lyrics are normally in support of a perpetual party, this one focuses on another angle — being in a room where you’re not sure you’re wanted. It captures the anxiety that comes with being in a group of people you don’t connect with and is the very definition of cathartic. This track is made for introverts and outsiders, and it’s done without feeling pretentious or preachy. Both acts’ unique vocal stylings are highlighted beautifully, leading up to a breakdown at the conclusion that will leave you aching for more.

how i’m feeling now (2020)

Love is a powerful thing, even when it isn’t being experienced outright. “Forever” captures this effortlessly, with emotionally-intense lyrics about how love will always remain, even after it's long over. It’s a different, more mature take on the concept of true love, acknowledging that it continues even beyond the physical plane. The song was released during a time of mass isolation and loneliness, making the message even more poignant. It goes beyond the confines of romantic love, with the ability to apply to family and friends as well. The distorted production throughout the track beautifully exacerbates the feeling of yearning, effectively redefining the way emotion can be portrayed in music.

You’re the One (2012)

Although Charli’s most recent work has earned plenty of praise, her beginnings can’t be ignored. First appearing on her EP “You’re the One,” the gorgeous “Nuclears Seasons” was also included on her first full length project “True Romance.” This track perfectly captures the vibe of the early 2010s, with a slightly darker tone and moody lyricism inspired by what she felt was a lack of youth culture. Peppered throughout are small audial details that add to the piece and keep the listener drawn in the entire time — an early indicator of her more experimental side. It’s a different take on the standard break-up song, and while it wasn’t a hit, it serves as a perfectly palatable introduction to the rest of her discography.

Charli (2019)

While her most recent work is defined by her maximalist production, she does sometimes allow her voice to do all the heavy-lifting. This is most apparent on “Next Level Charli,” an otherworldly album opener that highlights her stellar vocals. Over a steadily layering beat that accompanies her voice without overpowering it, she crafts the ultimate Charli track, complete with lyrical references to her past work. It showed a level of maturation in her work that stood out to longtime listeners, a true indication that she had found her signature sound. It appeared to be the natural end result to everything she had made up to that point and set the stage for the rest of her self-titled project.

How I’m Feeling Now (2020)

While her intense songs receive plenty of attention, Charli can take on a more understated piece as well. The themes in “party 4 u” are painfully relatable to many, centered around throwing a party just for the chance of seeing one specific person. The production starts out light, allowing her voice to do most of the work. Her prowess is further shown off with the varying tempos throughout the verses, including an impressively quick verse after the first chorus. Then, the climax kicks in — Charli self-harmonizing over a pounding baseline as her daydream reaches its peak. It’s no wonder why fans had been begging for this for years before it was finally released.

Brat (2024)

What better way to kick off Brat summer than this intentionally-aggressive tune? Coming off the relative commercial success of “Crash,” Charli had a lot to prove, and “Von dutch” helped her re-enter the public eye in the most dramatic way possible. With lyrics all about accepting one’s status as a gossip-worthy star over an insane beat, it’s the perfect mix of petulance and pure fun. It’s nearly impossible not to listen to it without wanting to dance along, with the vibe emulating one you might feel at a rave or festival. It’s the very essence of “Brat” bottled up into one song, and it was the perfect way of introducing the era to the world.

How I’m Feeling Now (2020)

If there’s one thing to know about Charli XCX, it’s that she knows how to close out an album perfectly. “Visions” ends her beloved pandemic album “How I’m Feeling Now” with a bang. The track mixes lilting, artistically auto-tuned vocals over a synth instrumental that only becomes more intense the longer it goes on. After the second chorus, things really kick into high gear, with a driving beat that becomes more and more distorted and passionate. The ending is abrasive in the best way possible, forcing the listener back to reality. It perfectly captures the frenzied feeling of the lockdown and serves as pure escapism from it all at once.

Brat and It's Completely Different but Also Still Brat (2024)

When “Brat” first hit the airwaves in the summer of 2024, some cuts jumped out as immediate standouts, including the confrontational “Girl, so confusing.” After some speculation, it was revealed to have been inspired by Lorde, a fellow modern pop icon. While some stars would’ve been offended having such a personal track written about them, she went the opposite route by offering to work it out on the remix. After three days, it was finished — and even better than before. Lorde’s verse offered an entirely new perspective, complete with raw, personal lyrics explaining her mindset at the time. It was the perfect way to both mend their friendship and showcase the complexities of working relationships between two artists.

Vroom Vroom (2016)

An artist introducing a new sound is always a risk, but when done well can lead to even more opportunities. Up until 2016, Charli had been a standard pop artist with a couple of radio-friendly hits. The mid-2010s brought on a shift that nobody was anticipating. She was working with all new producers to create a more experimental track, leading to “Vroom Vroom.” With a pumping instrumental and unapologetically sassy rap verses interlaced with a poppy chorus, it was a complete departure from her old work while still being 100% her. Her creative risk ended up paying off in spades, with it even going on to later define the hyperpop subgenre.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

An Unapologetically Fun Number That Survived the Scrapping of “XCX World”

Puts Her Artistry & Sense of Humor on Full Display

An Unexpected Hit That Took TikTok by Storm

A High-Profile Collab That Popularized Brat Summer Even More

Helped Define the Very Essence of the “Crash” Era

Pop 2 (2017)

This is proof that streams don’t equate to quality. Collaborating with music legend SOPHIE, Charli crafted “Track 10.” The completed version was released two years later as a collaboration with Lizzo— but it’s this earlier version that has stood the test of time. It opens with the sound of glitching and interference, before morphing into a densely-layered, synth-filled track. Even the use of auto tune doesn’t take away from the emotion. The repetition of the lyrics is masterfully done, emulating the feeling of endlessly blaming oneself for a relationship gone wrong. It all builds up to an intense musical climax that will leave any listener aching for more. It’s an amalgamation of everything that makes her one of the most unique artists working today.


Which Charli song do you think defines her the most? Let us know in the comments below!