Every BRAT Remix, Ranked
From the new album and beyond, let's rank the BRAT remixes.
When BRAT summer came to a close, none of us could have predicted that we’d find ourselves smack dab in the middle of a BRAT autumn. Charli XCX’s latest album has been more than just a cultural phenomenon; slime-green will never be the same again. Week after week, BRAT’s relevance has persisted, even popping up as marketing for Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. Without a doubt, a massive factor in the record’s continued success has been the steady stream of remixes, and on October 11, we received brat and it’s completely different but also still brat: a collection of collaborative remixes for every single song on the original album. In celebration of this incredible victory lap — as well the sheer amount of great music we’ve been fed as a result — I will be ranking every single BRAT remix that has been officially released. In terms of criteria, I didn’t really break my back trying to determine what separated one song from another. For the most part, this ranking is based entirely on gut feeling, as well as which songs on the remix album have gotten the most rotation from me. Now, without further ado…
18. I might say something stupid featuring the 1975 & jon hopkins
In theory, including a remix on this album which completely abandons electronic mish-mashes seems like an interesting idea. In practice, however, the 1975’s version of “i might say something stupid” is boring as spit. The Jon Hopkins-produced instrumental is fairly nice, but at a whopping 4 minutes and 11 seconds (in BRAT years that’s like, a half-hour) this song completely butchers the LP’s momentum. On top of that, Charli decides to take an almost complete backseat, allowing Matty Healy to distort the themes of the original song with some weepy whines about how hard it’s sooooo to not be problematic. As an out-spoken critic of the 1975 and their toothless brand of soft rock, this song did practically nothing for me, and has been a guaranteed skip every time I’ve played back the new record.
17. Von dutch remix with skream and benga
The step-child of the BRAT remixes, this song is easily overshadowed by the Addison Rae-sized shape of the other “Von Dutch” rework. In a release cycle peppered with so many high-profile features and viral moments, the relative simplicity of this track is pretty hard to not overlook. This song is basically “remix-101,” taking the vocals of the original track and stretching them into a 5 and a half minute EDM mix. The drop is pretty cool, and would probably go crazy in a molly-rolling stadium-setting, but the fact of the matter is that the sound of popular rave-music just doesn’t really mesh with the XCX style of kitschy throwbacking. If you’ve glossed over this one in the midst of your BRAT-remix rotation… you’re not missing much.
16. I think about it all the time featuring bon iver
Before I’d even listened to the song itself, the inclusion of Bon Iver on this track-list made me pretty damn skeptical. There was certainly hope, since the “Flume” singer is no stranger to unexpected collabs (“Hold My Liquor,” anyone?), but I simply couldn’t envision a way in which his distinct voice would bring something that had been missing in my original enjoyment of BRAT. Unfortunately, my predictions were largely correct. While Bon Iver’s actual presence on the song is quite minimal, it’s still enough to be incredibly jarring. The instrumental remix is certainly nice, bringing in some effervescent vocal chops and chugging percussion, but this track is sadly not what I wanted to hear from a BRAT remix.
15. Apple featuring the japanese house
We’ve entered the territory of remixes that I think are fine, but pretty forgettable. For me, this one simply bears too much resemblance to the original “Apple” to be very exciting. The tempo is completely unchanged, and the subtle shifts in the instrumentation are way too easy to miss. Additionally, the decision to remove the original’s viral chorus is slightly puzzling, especially since The Japanese House’s new refrain is far less infectious. Once again: it’s not bad! Amber Bain is an awesome artist that deserves far more shine, and her work here is super fun… but it’s simply just a middle-of-the-road cut in an otherwise exhilarating LP.
13. Sympathy is a knife featuring ariana grande
By far the most high-profile feature on the remix LP, fans’ ears were pricked to hear what a collaboration between two pop princesses on vastly different ends of the industry spectrum would sound like. The result? I don’t know, it’s like… fine. Something about this remix just fails to really captivate me, especially since the original is one of the best cuts on BRAT. The repetitive structure of Charli and Ari’s verses is fun, but the effect wears off when they recycle so many of the same exact lines. The robotic breakdown in the last 30 seconds is definitely enough to boost this track up a few spots on this list, but aside from the clickbait appeal of Ari’s name, there’s not much compelling me to return to this one.
13. B2b featuring tinashe
Once again, this is a song which falls into the category of relative mediocrity for me. Again: not bad, but as far as BRAT remixes are concerned this one is utterly and inescapably average. Tinashe and Charli’s chemistry just isn’t quite as palpable as some of the other collaborators, resulting in a remix that ends up feeling somewhat uneventful. The bubbly new instrumental is a fun change of pace, and Charli’s Kero Kero Bonito-esque vocal contributions are arguably stronger than her work on the original track. Still, there’s just not much about this one that hooked me on my first listen, and it’s remained mostly unremarkable since.
12. Club classics featuring bb trickz
If you’ve been paying attention, the BRAT era has belonged to two people in equal measure: Charli XCX the pop-star and PARTYGIRL, her DJ persona. “Club classics featuring bb trickz” thoroughly captures the true nature of its namesake, interlinking vocals from “365” with a switch-board sampling of industrial vocal chops. Just hearing this song conjures up images of a Boiler Room set, and you can practically feel the dark shades and sweaty tank-tops through your headphones. With all that being said, this cut is pretty forgettable as an actual song. It’s certainly well-mixed, and bb trickz’ vocals add a dynamic new flavor… but I can’t help but feeling like this one really needs to be heard in a PARTYGIRL set to be truly appreciated.
11. Rewind featuring bladee
One of the most shocking discoveries I had in preparation for this ranking was the realization that Charli XCX and Bladee have only collabed once before. It’s a mind-boggling fact, because the pairing just feels so obvious. Combining two equally glitchy and saccharine styles with two of the most chronically online fan-bases ever is basically a guaranteed recipe for success. On “Rewind,” the duo give us a taste of just how natural their chemistry is. Over soft synths and stilted drum-kicks, Charli and Bladee trade auto-tuned ruminations on success, fame, and the unbearable passage of time. The outro is especially strong, capturing a genuine essence of “drain” like lightning in an empty bottle of poppers. It’s an understated cut, which means it’s slightly overshadowed by the Top 10 on this list, but there’s no doubt I’ll be coming back to this one a lot.
10. 365 featuring shygirl
I’ll admit it: the beat alone could have gotten this one to the Top 10. This instrumental is a beast, rolling unstoppably through VIP sections and dance-floors like a bedazzled bulldozer. A full minute and a half shorter than the original track, this remix is a potent high of sweat-beading, hip-shaking, and lip-locking. Shygirl’s vocal contribution is a little too fleeting — blink and you’ll miss it — but who even cares?? This remix bangs, and it’s easily one of the most show-stopping and house-shaking contributions in Charli’s entire discography.
9. Talk talk featuring troye sivan
With their joint tour underway as we speak, Charli XCX and Troye Sivan’s kinship feels like it goes without saying. As the de facto torchbearers for horny-club-classic-revival (a word-salad subgenre I just made up), it should come as no surprise that the latest collaboration from this duo is sleek, sexy, and bold. The “Talk talk” remix embodies the enchanting romance of a dance-floor entanglement, drifting through dream-like synths before dropping into a pulsing rhythm that perfectly underscores Sivan’s game-plan for an Amsterdam hook-up. It’s arguably one of the most formulaic remixes on this entire list — I feel like everyone knew what this would sound like before they even heard it — but that doesn’t do anything to limit its sheer replayability and party-time appeal.
8. Spring breakers featuring kesha
The newest addition to this list (it wasn’t even originally on the remix album), “Spring breakers featuring kesha” is pretty much everything a Charli XCX fan could ask for. As Kesha herself says on the track, the meeting of these minds is a collaboration between two of the “party girl gods.” While the majority of the song is unchanged from the original, the pure power of Kesha’s verse is enough to elevate this above the rest of the pack. Kesha sounds on, voraciously spitting out quotable assertions of her own star power and sex appeal. Combined with the unabashed self-centeredness of the song’s chorus, this remix makes for a perfect end credits for the BRAT-era to wrap on.
7. So I featuring a. g. cook
Perhaps more than any other remix on this list, the power of Charli’s “So, I” rework lies in its relationship to the original. A tribute to her late friend and collaborator, SOPHIE, the album version of this song is a crushing confession of regret in the wake of such grief. In contrast, the remix returns to that tragedy with a newfound feeling of acceptance, healing, and remembrance. Instead of replaying the missed opportunities and bitter losses of their time together, this version of the track wholeheartedly celebrates the good times Charli shared with her friend. The sentiment of the song is just incredibly sweet, and the crescendo to the climax of the second half is an emotional catharsis that has yet to fail to bring me to tears. Rest in peace, SOPHIE.
6. Mean girls featuring julian casablancas
It’s a little embarrassing to admit how much this song works for me. Already slightly controversial for supposedly targeting Dasha Nekrasova, you’d think the last thing “Mean Girls” would need is a feature from the quasi-problematic king of New York’s bygone era of indie gatekeeping. Unfortunately, the pairing is simply exquisite. Julian Casablancas’ vocoded moans feel right at home against Charli’s hot-girl affectations, somehow capturing something more tongue-in-cheek than even the most ironic corners of Twitter could have predicted. The instrumental is especially notable, transforming the piano solo from the original song into a three-minute backdrop. In short: this one is so goddamn fun, and no amount of pop culture discourse can diminish how addictive it’s been for me.
5. 360 featuring robyn & yung lean
When I first heard this remix prior to the release of BRAT, it barely made a blip on my radar. With the album version of “360” still fresh on our collective consciousness — as well as the unforgettable music video — I didn’t really think twice about Charli’s collab with two of Sweden’s biggest internet-era pop-stars. Upon revisitation, however, this remix has been a complete hyper-fixation. Somehow, this trio concocts a set of verses and hooks that rivals the original’s catchiness. Add a sprinkle of new quotables( “My lyrics on your booby”) and Yung Lean’s addictive dialect (the way he says “party” is its own brand of infectious), and you’ve got a recipe for one of the most all-out fun moments in music this year.
4. Guess featuring billie eilish
All things considered, the bonus track “Guess” came and went upon the release of the original BRAT deluxe version. Leave it to Charli to come up with a solution and make sure this song was etched into the bedrock of popular music. Sporting the first feature of Billie Eilish’s career thus far, the “Guess” remix is viral marketing at its best. The song is unabashedly designed to make headlines… and literally no one could care less. It’s fun, flirty, and feminine — three things the BRAT era has exemplified to the fullest — and I personally can’t get enough. I look forward to hearing this in the club for months to come, and it’ll remain a fixture of every pump-up playlist I ever make.
3. Von dutch a. g. cook remix featuring addison rae
In terms of sheer impact, I think the power of this particular remix can’t be overlooked. Overnight, Addison Rae was transformed from cringe-compilation-fodder to a welcome addition atop the Mount Rushmore of it-girls. It makes sense, considering that her brand of unashamed girliness — and the ensuing scrutiny she’s endured because of it — could basically be the thesis statement for BRAT’s entire approach. Behind the boards, A. G. Cook’s instrumental rework is a glossy slow build to a high octane joyride, which kicks into overdrive with the nitrous-boost of Rae’s now iconic squeal. Before the album had even come out, this remix gave everyone the exact taste of what Charli and co. had in store for BRAT, and it remains as potent and fun more than half-a-year later.
2. Everything is romantic featuring caroline polachek
Even as a massive Caroline Polachek fan, and even as someone whose favorite song on BRAT is “Everything is romantic,” I still underestimated just how good this remix was going to be. Spoiler alert: HOLY SHIT THIS SONG IS SO GOOD. Polachek’s songwriting might be the first time Charli has been out-BRATed (“Sleepyhead because the fucking foxes kept me awake last night”), and their entire collaboration brims with creative synergy and excitement. From back-and-forth exchanges on the pressures of stardom to touchingly specific depictions of mundane idiosyncrasies (“Girl throws up from the back of a Lime”), this remix does the very thing that Polachek and Charli wistfully idealize with their lyrics: it transforms the world into a sweeter, selfishly romantic wonderland… and I can’t wait to revisit it.
1. Girl, so confusing featuring lorde
Did anything else even stand a chance? In many ways, the initial BRAT wave felt like it landed twice: once when the album came out… and again when this song was dropped. “Girl, so confusing featuring lorde” is arguably the quintessential piece of BRAT-media, putting to bed years of speculated beef between two of pop’s biggest stars by airing their dirty laundry with the confessional openness of a teenager’s diary. It’s a single that resonates far deeper than the viral headlines of its premise, capturing the tumultuous struggles of female friendship while still turning a firm middle finger to the systems that pitted these women against each other in the first place. Lorde’s appearance is nothing short of incredible, somehow balancing the poetry of her own lyrical style with Charli’s stream-of-consciousness penchant for songwriting. With the BRAT era finally in the rearview, I have no doubt that this remix will go down as a defining moment of pop in the 2020’s, as well as a triumph for both Charli and Lorde’s already stellar careers.