Down Symmetrical Lines

Charli XCX “Apple”

Broadly speaking, Charli XCX’s lyrics alternate between a sort of confrontational vapidity and a willingness to be transparent about very ugly feelings. I find a lot of her songs off-putting for this reason, but I respect what she’s doing because it’s such an unguarded approach to writing pop music. It’s a “fuck you, deal with me as I am” mindset that allows for declarations of her own greatness and cultural influence that can dare you to be like “well, actually…” and expressions of insecurity so raw and indulgent that it can be cringe-inducing. Her range as a singer and songwriter is very narrow, and this only underlines the point that you’re listening to a human, and we’re all defined as much by our limitations as our strengths. But not everyone is brave enough to lean into those limitations and flaws and unflattering characteristics. She’s basically a punk rocker working in a pop girl milieu.

I think the most lyrically interesting songs on Brat are the ones where she’s pushing through her own self-involvement to try to understand other people. I hear a lot of insecurity and anxiety in those songs, and a nagging fear that she can’t connect. “Apple,” the most melodically generous song on the record, looks to her parents as a source for her worst impulses. The intriguing thing here isn’t so much that she’s making this connection but in how the catchiest part of the song is when she’s shutting down after coming into conflict with them: “You don’t listen, I leave to the airport the airport the airport the airport.” I don’t think she’s going for this joke necessarily, but it’s very literally fight or flight.

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