Lorde has taken to social media to shower Charli XCX with praise for her new album, “Brat,” amidst swirling rumors of a potential feud between the two pop stars. The New Zealand singer, who got an early listen to the album, expressed her admiration for Charli’s work, dispelling any speculation of bad blood.
“There is NO ONE like this bitch,” Lorde wrote on her Instagram Story, making it clear that she holds Charli in high regard. This public endorsement comes as fans speculate that one of the tracks on “Brat,” titled “Girl, So Confusing,” might be about Lorde. The song delves into a complex relationship with another female singer, marked by both admiration and jealousy.
The lyrics of “Girl, So Confusing” describe a tumultuous dynamic with an unnamed female artist, leading fans to believe it could be about Lorde. Charli has previously spoken about the constant comparisons between her and Lorde, which have fueled these rumors. “People say we’re alike/ They say we’ve got the same hair,” Charli sings, adding to the speculation.
Despite the buzz, Charli has neither confirmed nor denied that the song is about Lorde. During an appearance on the “La Culturistas” podcast, she remained coy about the song’s inspiration. “I haven’t quite decided whether I’m revealing,” she said. “When I wrote it, I was like, ‘I’m revealing!’ But now, you know, the time is here; I’m like, ‘Mmmmrrmm.’ Do you think I should reveal?… People are gonna guess. You probably have an accurate guess, and I’m not gonna say out loud ’cause you’ll tell by my face, but it’s probably going to be that person.”
Lorde’s Instagram post did not directly address “Girl, So Confusing” or the rumors. Instead, she focused on celebrating Charli’s artistry. “The only album I’ve ever presaved is out today… Charli just cooked this one different… So much grit, grace and skin in the game. I speak for all of us when I say it’s an honour to be moved, changed and gagged by her work,” she wrote.
Charli has been open about her feelings of jealousy towards Lorde’s success in the past. In an interview with Rolling Stone UK, she admitted to feeling envious when Lorde’s hit “Royals” dominated the charts. “When ‘Royals’ came out, I was super jealous of the success that that song got, and that Ella got. You piece all this stuff together in your brain, like: ‘She was into my music. 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.’ But it couldn’t have because we’re completely different people. I wasn’t making music that sounded anything like ‘Royals.’ I think you just read what you want into it because you’re feeling insecure about your own work.”
On the “La Culturistas” podcast, Charli elaborated on the song’s broader message. “I feel that working in entertainment, there is this kind of dance that we all do with each other. Whether you’re in music, whether you’re in your world, no matter how you identify, there is this dance. Everybody’s watching each other. Everybody’s posing in the picture, like, ‘Hey, oh my god, so nice to see you!’ But then you’re like, ‘I want what they have.’ And then the next day, you’re like, ‘They suck!’ This happens, but no one really is willing to discuss it.”
Lorde, who is reportedly working on a new album following her 2021 release “Solar Power,” has been more active on social media recently, much to the delight of her fans. Meanwhile, Charli is gearing up for her joint “Sweat” arena tour with Troye Sivan, set to kick off on September 14 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. This tour marks a significant milestone for both artists, as they perform in their largest venues to date.
As the music world buzzes with excitement over Charli’s new album and the potential drama behind “Girl, So Confusing,” Lorde’s public support serves as a reminder of the mutual respect and admiration that can exist between artists, even amidst rumors and speculation.
