As the fall months begin, it’s time to take a look back on the trends and phenomena that occupied this summer. Arguably this summer’s most notable popular culture phenomenon was the inescapable "brat summer,” which was inspired and named after “Brat,” the sixth studio album by British pop sensation Charli XCX, which was released on June 7.
The album cover, a neon-green square with the word “brat” in lowercase arial font, was heavily praised by critics for its ostentatious simplicity, with Charli herself calling the artwork “confrontational." The album’s music was also heavily lauded. Pitchfork rated it 8.6 and included the album in their list of the best new music. Anthony Fantano of YouTube channel theneedledrop gave “Brat” a perfect score, declaring Charli “truly a generational pop artist” as well as commending the boundaries pushed by the music and aesthetics.
All this is relevant for music nerds, but what about "brat summer"? Well, the concept of "brat summer" is heavily connected to the music of “Brat.” The music is glitchy, abrasive, and lyrically disruptive. The album embraces self-confidence, being a “mean girl,” dismissing those you deem irrelevant, and “bratty” behavior. Charli brings these themes to life with lyrics like, “It's okay to just admit that you're jealous of me / Yeah, I heard you talk about me, that's the word on the street / You're obsessing, just confess it” from the song “Von dutch” and “When you're in the mirror, do you like what you see? / When you're in the mirror, you're just looking at me” from the song “360.”
The album has a principal theme of self-empowerment and expression through accepting and embracing aspects of one’s personality that have not typically been considered socially acceptable. Charli highlights these themes in songs like “Mean girls,” an anthem celebrating and supporting a lifestyle lush with partying, Lana Del Rey and substance use, and “365,” a club song that touches on dancing, being fashionable and even more substance use.
Throughout the summer, “Brat” became more than just an album, encompassing a style of fashion and an ethos that was initially engaged by Charli’s fans before exploding into the mainstream. Social media was saturated with fans sporting black leather, intense eyeliner and the iconic neon green associated with “Brat” as well as internet trends like the viral “Apple” dance, which was inspired by a deep cut from the original album. The album’s opening track, “360,” was hailed as a song of the summer candidate. In terms of virality there is no better example than Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, endorsing "brat summer"—and Charli XCX’s tweeted approval: “kamala IS brat.”
The attitude around "brat summer" has its own set of positive attributes. An undeniable positive was the empowerment that came with it. In the Western world, women are achieving and succeeding increasingly more, and a movement like "brat summer" takes women’s empowerment to another level. Celebrating women for their accomplishments, and celebrating oneself in moments of perceived imperfection, is an idea everyone should subscribe to. Letting loose and having fun is another reason the overall attitude of "brat summer” was notable and attractive, as stress can get a hold of everyone and expressing ourselves through manners of defiance has its place.
However, on the negative side it is the defiance that defines “brat summer” that one should approach with caution. While there is nothing wrong with embracing yourself and enjoying life, temperance is key. There is a fine line between being confident and being conceited. While the core message of "brat summer" appears to be the rejection of societal norms, the word “brat” at its core (“an ill-mannered annoying child”) is not something to aspire to. Coincidentally, "brat summer" exploded in virality near the same time the word “demure,” a word that signifies class and modesty, resurfaced into the mainstream. While these two words and the lifestyles they represent butted heads, there seems to be no collective agreement about the “correct” lifestyle or moral option.
But should we make a decision in this clash of ideals? Why not include a bit of both? One can be classy while embracing our idiosyncrasies and immaturities. As "brat summer" comes to an end—with new trends sure to replace it—let us enjoy these passing styles and manias with a keen perspective and regulated discernment.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.