Barack Obama insists he’s really a fan of Charli XCX: “She knows what she’s doing”
Barack Obama has doubled down on his fandom of Charli XCX – see what the former President of the United States had to say below.
Last month (August 11), Obama shared his annual summer playlist, which featured Charli’s ‘365’ off ‘Brat’. It also featured over 40 songs from artists such as Billie Eilish, Shaboozey, Beyoncé, Tyla, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones and much more.
Now, speaking to the I’ve Had It podcast, Obama elaborated on his decision to include the track on the playlist. He said: “I just put out my playlist, and ‘365’ is on it, and [‘Brat’] is a great album.”
He continued, at the same time confirming that he curates his own playlists: “People question sometimes whether I’m actually listening to all this music. As I’ve testified before, I am. Charli XCX, she knows what she’s doing.”
Barack IS brat pic.twitter.com/wGCRaWyl1V
— I've Had It Podcast (@ivehaditpodcast) September 5, 2024
Charli XCX’s seventh album ‘Brat’ has been at the centre of its own cultural phenomenon since it was released back in June. Its simple lime green artwork became a meme, while fans on social media have embraced the record’s hedonistic aesthetic and attitude.
Charli XCX tweeted “Kamala IS brat”, following Joe Biden endorsing Kamala Harris as his successor in the 2024 US presidential race, leading to political pundits embarrassingly trying and failing to explain the ‘Brat’ phenomenon.
‘Brat’ was also nominated for the Mercury Prize and received much critical acclaim with a string of five and four star reviews – but ultimately lost out to English Teacher.
Earlier this week (September 3), Charli bid farewell to ‘Brat Summer’, writing on social media: “goodbye forever brat summer.”
She has also teased that she has been working in the studio alongside the likes of Bon Iver and Danielle Haim, and that a “full-length other project,” is in the works but didn’t confirm if it would be a remix album. “But it’s definitely in the bratosphere, so to speak,” she said.
In a four-star review of ‘Brat’, NME wrote: “It all paints a picture of who XCX is in 2024. Growing pains, grief and aching doubts come alongside self-confidence, celebration and the knowledge of the place XCX holds in the musical landscape – indeed, she kicks off ‘360’ with the knowing: “I went my own way and I made it / I’m your favourite reference baby”. With ‘Brat’, XCX demonstrates that going her own way will always sound pretty good.”
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Surej Singh
NME
