By: Giulia Gutzwiller, Guest Writer

Charli xcx’s sixth studio album BRAT and its distinct green color have taken over the internet and beyond since its release on June 7. As of Aug. 24, over two months after its release, BRAT charts at No. 6 on the Billboard 200. From trendy TikTok dances to political campaign endorsements, BRAT has cemented itself as the defining album of the summer. 

Charli xcx announced the upcoming release of BRAT with the song “Von dutch” on Feb. 29,  later releasing “360” on May 10. These lead singles were well-received by her fans and garnered a lot of attention across social media platforms. Upon its release, BRAT astounded audiences with its unique instrumentals and intense club beats. 

The first indication of the album’s online takeover was its commercial success immediately following its release. BRAT debuted as the No. 2 album in the United Kingdom, trailing right behind Taylor Swift’s THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT. The album quickly became a sensation as the term “brat summer” and the vibrant green color were nearly inescapable. 

One of the more well-known songs from the album is “Apple,” which gained popularity because of a viral TikTok dance created by Kelley Heyer (@kelley.helley). Users across the platform shared videos of themselves dancing to this song, including the main cast of Twisters, late night talk show host Stephen Colbert and many other celebrities. 

Additionally, BRAT has left a profound impact on Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign. To show their support for the new presidential candidate for the Democratic party, many online users posted memes of Harris using the identifiable green background and font associated with BRAT. Charli xcx voiced her support for Harris campaign in a post where she stated, “kamala IS brat.” The X account @kamalahq then changed their cover image to a photo that resembles the BRAT album cover. 

Some of the highlights of the album include Charli xcx’s collaborations with various well-known artists. In March, she released a version of “Von dutch” featuring TikTok star and popstar Addison Rae and music producer A. G. Cook. Shortly after the release of BRAT, Charli xcx and Lorde shocked the world with their version of “Girl, so confusing,” which touches on the complexities of female friendships while also putting to bed their supposed feud. On Aug. 1, Charli xcx dropped “Guess” featuring Billie Eilish as the album’s third single. As BRAT summer draws to a close, Charli xcx will continue undoubtedly to experiment with her sound and create meaningful projects that resonate with audiences.