Lorde and Charli XCX Remix 'Girl So Confusing': here’s the iconic history behind the collaboration

Since its debut on June 7, Charli XCX's latest album "BRAT" has been omnipresent. Murals in Brooklyn, viral TikTok soundbites, and the prevalence of lime green items like iced matcha have all become synonymous with the album's "brat summer" vibe.

"BRAT" embodies a pop star aesthetic that celebrates chaos, centered around club culture while delving into introspective themes of aging, womanhood, grief, and anxiety. The song "Girl, so confusing" stands out with its sharply focused and accusatory lyrics, questioning the sincerity of relationships and ambitions.

“People say we're alike / They say we've got the same hair / We talk about making music but I don't know if it's honest / Can't tell if you wanna see me falling over and failing.”

Fans started to speculate about a potential rift in the friendship between the 31-year-old artist and "Royals" singer Lorde. However, the duo addressed these rumors directly by releasing a remix just two weeks later, featuring the memorable lyric: “Let’s work it out on the remix.”

“Girl, so confusing version with Lorde” featuring Lorde has deeply moved fans, highlighting the painful truths of friendship rifts and misunderstandings. Experts suggest that such falling-outs are prevalent and often repairable through honest dialogue.

What went down between Lorde and Charli XCX?

Despite their distinct styles within pop music, the two artists have frequently been compared, with Charli XCX even being mistakenly identified as Lorde in a well-known interview.

During a recent Rolling Stone interview, Charli confessed to feeling envious of Lorde's success with "Royals" back in 2013.

"She had big hair; I had big hair. She wore black lipstick; I once wore black lipstick. You create these parallels and think, 'Well, that could have been me,'” she revealed. 

“I think you just read what you want into it because you're feeling insecure about your own work."

In "Girl, so confusing," Charli XCX is candid and raw. She sings, “I don't know if you like me / Sometimes I think you might hate me / Sometimes I think I might hate you,” she sings. 

Lorde, in contrast, was deeply affected when Charli expressed these vulnerabilities. On the remix, Lorde reveals that her own issues with body image and disordered eating led her to withdraw from her friendships. She sings, “I was so lost in my head and scared to be in your pictures / I was trapped in the hatred / And your life seemed so awesome / I never thought for a second my voice was in your head.”

By addressing their feelings openly, Lorde concludes the track with a reaffirmation of their friendship: “I’m glad I know how you feel, ‘cause I ride for you Charli.