Leave It to Charli XCX to Make Times Square Cool

Times Square is a neon-lit nightmare of fast-food chains, selfie sticks, and creepy Elmos where no self-respecting Brooklynite would be caught dead. Except, of course, if Charli XCX announces a surprise Brat pop-up concert there in 20 minutes — then quickly, off to Manhattan. There must have been blood on the L train coming from Bushwick.

In collaboration with H&M, and fresh off her SNL performance, the British pop singer set up camp in midtown on Monday evening to perform a free 15-minute guerrilla set. Her camp announced the show approximately half an hour before the 6:30 p.m. start-time, then news spread through update accounts on X. It’s unclear how many fans ultimately attended, but from the photos it looks like a bajillion. From a perch high above, Charli XCX sang “360,” “365,” “Von Dutch,” “Guess,” and “Apple,” with “It” girls and “360” music-video alumni Julia Fox, Alex Consani, and Richie Shazam performing the “Apple” dance on camera. The Times Square billboards displayed Brat green and then flashed slogans like “PARTY GIRL,” to the chagrin of any passerby who needed an epilepsy warning.

somtimes waking up is worth it because you end up in times square at a free Charli xcx concert with Julia fox right there on a monday pic.twitter.com/3tlKl4K5tP

— yohɑnsɛ (@YohanceV) November 19, 2024

never in history will we see something like brat and charli xcx pic.twitter.com/XCSaMJzMNf

— kenzie xcx 🧛🏼‍♂️ (@kenzvanunu) November 19, 2024

The 360 girls Richie Shazam, Julia Fox and Alex Consani doing the Apple Dance at Times Square pic.twitter.com/UntwMnRPY8

— Info Charli XCX (@infocharlixcx) November 18, 2024

That so many people would race to Times Square for a 15-minute Brat set is a testament to the album’s staying power (and Charli XCX’s marketing prowess). Anyone who thought the album’s reign would officially end after Kamala lost the election was proved wrong. After all, Brat inspired fans to commute to Storm King just to hear a few remixes; for Halloween, people didn’t just dress up as Charli, they dressed up as infamous characters from her concerts. It’s safe to say that Brat has conquered pop culture. So what do you say, Recording Academy? Give this woman Album of the Year.

Related

• Charli XCX’s Remix Album Exposes the Girl Behind the Brat
• Instead of a Fashion Show, H&M Hosted a Charli XCX Concert
• Should I Be a Mom, or Should I Stay a ‘Brat’?