Charli XCX fans think ‘Brat’ song ‘Girl, so confusing’ is about Lorde
Charli XCX’s new song “Girl, so confusing” has fans thinking it’s about Lorde. (Getty)
Charli XCX’s new album seems to be her answer to a meme comparing her to Lorde.
To us, the lyrics to track 10 on Brat have more than one meaning. “Girl, so confusing” refers both to how “confusing” it is to be a woman, and how confusing Charli finds some of the women in her life. One of those women, according to fans, could be Lorde.
“People say we’re alike, they say we’ve got the same hair,” Charli sings, making reference to a meme about Lordeās 2013 hit, “Royals”.
When a journalist told Charli said she was a huge fan of her music ā accidentally mentioning “Royals” ā Charli went with the flow. Ten years later, and the meme has stuck, with the Cambridge-born artist talking about it on numerous occasions.
“We talk about making music, but I don’t know if it’s honest. Can’t tell if you wanna see me,” she sings on “Girl, so confusing”.
Ardent XCX fans have linked the lyric to a post Charli once shared on her not-so-secret Instagram account @360_brat, after one follower asked whether sheād collaborate with Lorde.
“I want to. We speak about writing a lot but it never seems to happen and I donāt know why,” Charli responded. “I sort of go round and round on it in my head. Like why doesnāt this happen? Itās actually something I want to ask her about.”
And on “Girl, so confusing” she sings: “One day we might make some music, the internet would go crazy.”
Speaking to queer comedians Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers on their podcast Las Culturistas ahead of Brat’s release, LGBTQ+ ally Charli declined to name the musician in question, but hinted that it is who weāre thinking it is.
“I havenāt quite decided whether Iām revealing,” she said. “People are gonna guessā¦ I think you both probably have an accurate guess. Itās probably that person.”
But other fans have surmised the song could be about “Froot” singer Marina Diamandis, or “This Hell” musician Rina Sawayama ā both of whom Charli has collaborated with, but with whom she has also butted heads.
Quite who it is about remains to be seen, but either way, “Green Light” singer Lorde doesnāt seem to mind. Writing a rare post on her Instagram Stories yesterday (6 June), she revealed Brat is the only album sheās ever pre-saved ahead of its release.
“Charli just cooked this one different. So much grit, grace and skin in the game,” she wrote. “I speak for all of us when I say itās an honour to be moved, changed and gagged by her work. There is no one like this b*tch.”
Lorde, or whoever “Girl, so confusing” is about, doesn’t seem to be the only musician sings about on Brat.
On track three, “Sympathy is a Knife”, Charli sings of “one girl [who] taps my insecurities” ā and according to fans, itās pretty clear that itās about Taylor Swift.
“Don’t wanna see her backstage at my boyfriend’s show,” sings Charli, who is engaged to The 1975 musician George Daniel. “Fingers crossed behind my back, I hope they break up quick,” she continues.
And which other singer was in a relationship with a fellow member of The 1975 for a short period in 2023? Well, there we are.
Brat is out now.
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