Top 20 Songs You Didn't Know Were Written by Charli XCX

All titles in blue just because I updated the format to include the release year




Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the songs you didn’t know were brat long before Charli XCX’s even made that a thing

Joel Corry & Jax Jones feat. Charli XCX & Saweetie
Charli XCX was part of an amazing group of artists who brought us this banging dance anthem in 2021. With such a strong team in front of and behind the track, each artist adds their unique sound, creating an unforgettable addition to our party playlists. The song saw success worldwide, charting in multiple countries and hitting No. 1 on the UK Dance charts. It also appeared on several year-end charts across Europe and the U.S. while earning certifications globally, including double Platinum in Canada. It’s the kind of track that has us pumped to go “Out Out” and dance the night away.

Sigala & Rita Ora
Brat summer wasn’t the first time this singer dominated the airwaves over the sunny season. Charlotte Emma Aitchison, better known to us as Charli XCX, is one of several collaborators behind this earworm that easily found its place in our soundtrack for the summer of 2021. It’s such a joyous, uplifting bop, which, let’s be honest, we all needed around that time! The dance-pop track was Sigala’s 10th to enter the Top 10 in his and Ora’s native U.K. and was one of his most successful tracks to break into U.S. Pop radio, too. It’s one of those songs that can instantly lift your mood and get you on your feet.

Gwen Stefani
If you’re thinking, “Wait, I haven’t heard this song before,” you’re not alone—unlike most of our list, this track was never officially released. Unless, of course, you were one of the fans who caught it during its summer 2017 leak. Charli XCX was among the songwriters who worked on this piece for Gwen Stefani’s third album, “This Is What the Truth Feels Like.” Interestingly, Stefani and Charli never actually met while creating the song; both collaborated separately with Benny Blanco. Even so, Stefani praised Charli’s songwriting, saying, “Out of all the writers out there… I really like her style the most.” That’s some high praise from a pop icon!

Blondie
In 2017, rock band Blondie released their eleventh studio album, “Pollinator.” The name reportedly came from their decision to collaborate with other artists, which was relatively unusual for them. Charli XCX was among those artists, contributing as a songwriter on two tunes: the bonus track “Tonight” and the synth-rock song “Gravity.” Blondie’s lead singer, Debbie Harry, spoke highly of Charli, calling her “an extraordinary talent, operating from a position of strength and determination in her songs.” We reckon that if Charli had been around when Blondie first formed, they would have gotten along like a house of fire! And they would have racked up all the hits to prove it.

Mura Masa feat. Charli XCX
The singer-songwriter pulled double duty on this track, both as a featured artist and songwriter. Mura Masa shared that he was keen to pitch her something “poppier” than his usual sound, which also fell outside of her usual style. Indeed, this pop song, which we are not ashamed to say we played on repeat in 2017, features a blend of genres from pop to calypso to trap. The record producer clearly saw the versatility in her voice and helped bring her underrated talents to the forefront. Together, we saw two musical geniuses whose success was likely to last them far longer than just “1 Night”.

Lady Gaga feat. Charli XCX & A. G. Cook
Lady Gaga has always shaken up her style and sound, and “Chromatica” is a prime example. Critics hailed “911” as one of the album’s standout tracks. But Gaga wasn’t done with it yet; she released several remixed versions of the song, including this one featuring Charli XCX. After some crossed wires between their teams caused delays, the collaboration finally happened. Charli co-wrote new lyrics and added her vocals, bringing a fresh twist to the track. What made her contribution stand out was how deeply she connected with Gaga’s vision, amplifying the album’s message while adding her own flair. The remix hit No. 14 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart.

DJ Fresh & Diplo feat. R. City, Selah Sue & Craig David
Known for its infectious and high-energy beat, this song deserved to be a dance floor staple. Honestly, it feels way too underappreciated. It didn’t make waves on many charts outside of Belgium, where it peaked at No. 35 on the Ultrapop 50 and was certified gold. The track features a ton of talented artists, including, of course, Charli XCX. Seriously, world, why did we ever sleep on this bop? The collaboration had all the right ingredients to push it into the mainstream, with its perfect blend of genres and broad appeal. It’s the kind of track that should’ve reached a wider audience and been a much bigger hit.

Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX
Charli XCX was one of a handful of people responsible for penning this catchy hip-hop track back in 2014 . The song’s incredible success helped transform both her and Iggy Azalea into mainstream artists; and by incredible we mean it topped the Billboard Hot 100 and was even nominated for a couple of Grammys. It didn't take long for another Iggy-Charli co-write to hit the charts either. “Beg For It”, which features Danish singer MØ, may not have equaled the success of “Fancy” but still managed to peak at number 27 on the US music charts.

MØ
The third single intended to be from MØ’s as of yet unreleased sophomore album, “Drum” is a brilliant mixture of electro pop and tropical house music. When listening to it two things become abundantly clear: the rhythm is totally unique and the lyrics are a simplistic yet dreamy. To craft “Drum’s” unique sound, MØ enlisted the help of British singer-songwriter Charli XCX. The two worked on the song back in 2016 and saw it enjoy chart success in Denmark, New Zealand and Scotland. Hopefully we hear more from this duo in the future!

will.i.am feat. Pia Mia
If you don’t get hyped up while listening to this track there might be something wrong with your senses. “Boys & Girls”, the lead single off of will.i.am’s intended fifth studio album, is nothing but fun from start to finish. Charli XCX helped the former Black Eyed Peas front man pen the track, and despite achieving considerable success in a number of European countries the song somehow did not find an audience in the North America; failing to crack music charts in the US or Canada. Not that it really matters, one listen will have you playing “Boys & Girls” on repeat for days.

Ryn Weaver
Featuring the unique vocal styling’s of California native Ryn Weaver, “OctaHate” served as the singers debut single and was included both her debut EP, “Promises”, and her debut LP “The Fool”. It received rave reviews upon release and made it all the way up to number 3 on the US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. But, you probably knew all that. What you may not have known is that Weaver and Charli XCX co-wrote the song's lyrics . You just never know where Charli will pop up!

Marina and the Diamonds feat. Charli XCX
Anyone who is acquainted with these two badass pop babes will know just how close they are. Charli XCX joined Marina and the Diamonds for a portion of the North American leg of her 2013 The Lonely Hearts Club Tour, shortly after their collaboration on “Just Desserts”. Marina calls the song “a sweet, romantic duet” and we couldn’t agree more! Charli not only features on the track but also helped write the lyrics, a skill that is slowly eclipsing her status as a singer. Honestly, we would love nothing more than to see these two collaborate on a full-length album together!

David Guetta & Afrojack feat. Charli XCX & French Montana
Not content with simply being listed as one of the song’s six songwriters, Charli XCX also lent her signature voice to “Dirty Sexy Money” as well. The track more than lives up to the hype bestowed upon it by one Billboard critic, who described it as “naughty pop music with a punch” and a “freaky bedroom anthem”. The song charted all across the world and Guetta, Charli XCX and French Montana later performed it at the 2017 MTV Europe Music Awards. Once you hear it this song is hard to get out of your head!

James Blunt
With an infectious rhythm and some seriously hopeful lyrics it’s easy to see why this James Blunt track connected with people when it was released in 2014. “When I Find Love Again” served as the lead single off of the British singer-songwriters forth album and he enlisted the help of fellow Brit Charli XCX to make it happen. Admittedly, the two seem unlikely to cross paths, but “When I Find Love Again” will sweep all of your preconceived notions about both artists under the rug in record time. If James Blunt is singing, we’re already listening; Charli XCX is just a bonus.

Camila Cabello feat. Quavo
Known primarily for her work in pop and R&B, Camila Cabello turned heads when she dropped this track in the summer of 2017. “OMG” features some truly beautiful, not to mention dreamy lyrics from Cabello that when layered atop the song’s subtle trap beat creates a sound that is both wholly unique and totally catchy. The collaboration between Cabello and Charli XCX proved to be a fruitful one for both artists, with one critic claiming that the “British singer’s bold energy can definitely be heard in Camila’s commanding delivery. It's hard to disagree with that assessment! And this wouldn’t be their only collaboration either!

TWICE
Twice’s seventh EP, “Fancy You,” was an exciting step forward for the group! It introduced a fresh sound, blending electro, pop dance, and hip-hop influences. Members Momo, Jihyo, Sana, and Chaeyoung got more involved in the songwriting, adding a personal, vibrant touch. They also brought in outside talent like Charli XCX, who helped with the musical arrangement for “Girls Like Us.” One critic even noted the “stylistic quantum leap” with its “heavier, darker undercurrents.” The album was a huge hit, charting worldwide, going double platinum in South Korea, and breaking the record at the time for the highest first-week sales by a Korean girl group. Talk about creating a moment!

Madison Beer feat. Offset
With its gritty pop sound and trap beat, it’s easy to see why Madison Beer wanted this track in her discography. She said it felt like a shift from her usual rhythms and described her collaboration with her co-writer as “inspiring.” The melody hits hard and really sticks with you in the best way. Beer’s rich, deep vocals bring out all the emotion, especially with the synth effect adding a cool edge. Lyrically, she’s calling out a cheating ex while flexing her success. Offset’s verse adds the perfect finishing touch to this already banging track. This was definitely one of those songs you just knew would blow up.

Icona Pop feat. Charli XCX
Undoubtedly one of Charli XCX’s most recognizable tracks, there are probably a lot of people out there who don’t know that in addition to providing guest vocals she also had a hand in crafting “I Love It’s” lyrics. The song was described as both “inescapably catchy" and a “feminist pop anthem”…which is some pretty high praise in our books. “I Love It” topped music charts around the world and went on to sell millions of copies en route to quadruple-platinum certifications in Australia, Canada and the United States.

Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello
“Señorita” started with a riff that came to producer Andrew Watt while collaborating with Charli XCX on her album. He then brought it to the rest of the team, which included Charli, who added melodies that helped shape the song into what we know today. Charli didn’t think the Latin vibe was right for her, but the team had another idea—Shawn Mendes. When pitched as a duet, Mendes responded, “The only person I could do the song with is Camila.” The final result is a smooth, sizzling track that blends pop with Latin influences. The song went multi-platinum, topped global charts, and won several awards, including Song of 2019 at the E! People’s Choice Awards.

Selena Gomez
“Same Old Love” served as the second single off Selena Gomez’ wildly successful sophomore album “Revival” and yes Charli XCX had a hand in writing it. She even provided background vocals! Gomez, who is a self-professed fan of Charli XCX’s work, claims to have felt a personal connection with the lyrics to “Same Old Love” the moment she read them; which is never a bad thing. Gomez infused all of that emotion into her fierce vocal performance, which garnered high praise from critics. Now if these two could just find a way to collaborate again that would be great. Thanks.





Did you guess any of these songs had Charli XCX’s magic songwriting touch? Let us know in the comments