The Insane True Story of Charli XCX

[@Volksgeist]

Cop CHAOS and HARMONY, my NEW Spirit World pieces (and the best ones we've ever made) spiritworld.store spiritworld.store/chaos

[@calleeriecreations]

Hey man! Was looking to check prices but every link i click simply leads to an empty store page! :_(

[@ElijahMCMalik]

Mach-Hommy Next

[@Bolsty7]

Here, I'll save you all from watching. Her story: well connected parents jewish brit school the end

[@threemanband]

@@Bolsty7 shes indian, wasnt that well connected, and dropped out of school. sounds like someone wanted to save people from watching without watching himself.

[@madamex7_]

MAKE A VIDEO OF MADONNA LIKE THIS TOO

[@audreysopoco]

Having supportive parents is suuuuuch a huge deal.

[@y00bz]

Especially when they're rich 😂

[@pankace3296]

Not to be insensitive since I know she hates doing it, but I find it really funny that Charli is so talented that she occasionally feels forced to make a massive mainstream album that she knows will be a hit, just to fund her next string of cult classic experimental masterpieces

[@consequentlyurgently]

THIS

[@endre4342]

You can notice that pattern with crash/brat and charli/how im feeling now 😂

[@nickmaisano5770]

@@endre4342which one of that those is Charli? Dont think that fits the description, and i dont think CRASH really blew up like that

[@neeyku]

Her entire career is contrived by PR. Her call to be an artist has become her shadow self, to make the music she's always wanted to make has and will always take a back seat as long as she allows her sexuality and PR team to construct her "success". I pray for her peace, that she finds success through art, instead of listening to those who clearly don't have her best interests in mind, only how to sell her, not her art.

[@rolfanderson3925]

Crash was not a “massive mainstream album.” It was not a commercial success.

[@kylem6165]

Obligatory RIP SOPHIE. She would've loved seeing her friend dedicate a song to her on an album that took over the summer

[@str4wwberries]

Rip sophie❤

[@Capszuleh]

Rih Steven

[@nxtlvlzeph]

Loved the video, but I’m surprised there was no mention of XCX World, since it helps contextualize most of her releases post Vroom Vroom. the 5 year gap between studio albums wasn’t a choice, in reality the label just sat on her music for years. Vroom Vroom was a huge shift in sound at a time when there was very little audience for the kind of music she was making, and the label was clearly spooked by her collaborations with SOPHIE. pretty much the only reason Number 1 Angel and Pop 2 exist is because the label kept pushing back the album, and in response she just kept creating music on her own dime and honing her craft with A.G. whilst Atlantic tried to figure out what to do with her. Obviously this was a blessing in disguise, the mixtapes helped her cultivate an audience for the kind of music she was making, eventually leading to the label green-lighting the release of her third studio album, Charli. but the road there was VERY rocky, and a huge part of her narrative as an artist was that label termoil, so much so that it was quite the shock to learn that she had re-signed with Atlantic after finishing her deal with CRASH. while I don’t think we would’ve gotten Brat or the “hyperpop queen” Charli of today without the shelving of XCX World, it’s a shame that all of her collaborations with SOPHIE had to get axed in the process, since the material on it was truly brilliant and deserved to be shared with the world-and she has expressed on several occasions that she had fully intended to release that material. it’s a shame that people around her had so little faith in the art she was making at the time, but she stuck to her gut and well…the rest is history.

[@loumoon3744]

Thank you I was just about to mention this I was like wait they forgot about xcx world and everything that went down around that time before vroom vroom was a thing, like when she performed live on tv and the audience didn’t care for the song that was up coming from xcx world and a little bit after that whole album got leaked before the released date and that time everyone heard and wanted the official song for taxi to be released, it was very messy, sad and crazy to see all that happen before vroom vroom but I’m glad we got that ep and mix tapes they are such amazing work of art! I love Charli and wish her all the best always and forever!

[@rolfanderson3925]

XCX World was abandoned because of the leak(s). Not to defend Atlantic but you can’t leave that part out.

[@rolfanderson3925]

XCX World slaps though, RIP. Way better than Charli.

[@brineferry7032]

Your writing is excellent ❤

[@TheMiniWitten]

Loved Number1 Angel and Pop 2

[@estevosss]

btw It's crazy how Charli was relatively absent and reappears out of nowhere, consolidating herself as one of the main names in the electronic/pop genre in my opinion) this for me is a big W fr tho

[@roboelectrooverlord6346]

She resigned with Atlantic records likely due to a clause from her old contract restricting her to work with them again if she is not offered a better deal from a competitor ( it’s called right of first refusal it’s in most standard recording contracts). She wasn’t absent she has had string of critical hit span the last few albums.Atlantic gave her a bigger promo budget for this two album deal to increase the amount of people listening to her old work they already own. Typical label behavior when you resign.

[@PiePiePie07]

Whoa she never went absent. True Romance, Sucker, Vroom Vroom, N1A, Pop2, Charli, HIFN, Crash and Brat? She's been consistently releasing music.

[@joao8182-t5t]

​@@PiePiePie07ok but she spent some time without releasing anything until she came with Brat, it's really crazy how from one moment to the next she consolidated herself among the main names in pop, in music too

[@krisuler7734]

you keep misusing the word consolidated btw... you mean to say establishing herself.

[@extrashotofespresso_]

@@PiePiePie07 Exactly! She even made a song for the 2023 barbie movie. I think people just have short attention span lol

[@stay_puft]

Pop 2 is still my favourite album of hers. "Unlock It" trending 4 years later was a surprise.

[@rolfanderson3925]

The right opinion

[@miss_jess]

my fave album and track of hers (though I prefer the jay park-free version on yt, his rap sucks)

[@Rayaann]

It’s a mixtape, not an album-

[@iLikeCok]

⁠@@Rayaannliterally nobody cares but you

[@iLikeCok]

@@miss_jessRIGHT

[@synchronartcity5919]

Wait vroom vroom is one of her best tracks!

[@kalvinocoria5142]

Agreed. That’s when I first was like “hold up. I really like her. This is someone with vision” it’s femme, super gay friendly and aggressive at the same time. Without vroom vroom, I would’ve never paid attention to her again until probably brat, but so glad I followed along. How I’m feeling now got me through the pandemic as I was doing deliveries out of my car. It was my motivation to keep going and make a party of my mundane routine when I wanted to just give up and cry.

[@jelke997]

best quality comeback EP

[@7wmeli219]

No frl

[@AXFN_]

I don’t know about other countries but I feel a lot of nostalgia with Charli’s choice of samples September’s - "cry for you" for “Beg for You” on Crash, or Bodyrox & Luciana - Yeah Yeah for “Von Dutch” on 'Brat' - I lwk always thought Charli sounded like Luciana. Those dance hits may not have crossed over to America, but we heard them on our radios in the U.K. doing our homework after school in the 00's. You can hear how that period of UK & European dance music influenced her.

[@DivaStylez.]

Those songs did cross over to the US 😂

[@RanjanRai-jr9on]

Yeah her songs has nostalgic feelings like I feel like it's 2008 or something maybe because that was the best time of my life maybe that's why I remember that

[@extrashotofespresso_]

As an American black girl, I freaking Love September's Cry for you. I used to workout to that song when I was a teenager. Kylie Minogue is another favorite I have been listening to since I was a kid. I love music. I unfortunately don't think dance/house music is as appreciated in America as it is in Europe. I will never forget when Kelly Rowland from Destiny's Child made a DANCE/House album and if "flopped" in the US. People only wanted her to do r&b songs which is so boring imo. However, she was heavily embraced in Europe and she hit a lot of charts over seas.

[@consequentlyurgently]

I’ve been following her the entire timeline and I’m so proud!

[@toweringmother]

Me too ! I remember her MySpace days and thinking she was so cool when I was a teen. How fucking cool is it that she defied the odds and now 10+ years later is putting out one of the biggest records of the year. Iconic.

[@Daniel-m4p6r]

You missed one of the biggest chapters of her career - XCX WORLD!

[@JordieMotive97]

Charli has done the complete opposite of falling off. She just keeps getting better and better lol. I gotta admit I've played 360 too many times, even on full volume lmao

[@sarahmcdonald6980]

The album cover is pretty understandable- neon and that font are iconic 90s rave references. The font is often used to label house records which was then used on 90s rave flyers

[@ntuneric]

what also sets her apart is how amazing and plentiful her collabs are, especially on pop 2 and charli: carly rae jepsen, caroline polachek, troye sivan, dorian electra, cupcakke, brooke candy, pabllo vittar, kim petras, christine and the queens, haim, big freedia, sky ferreira, tommy cash no wonder every time she collabs with someone the internet goes crazy

[@Pikachu-ms8qy]

shes one of the only popstars i truly like as a rap fan, huge W

[@extrashotofespresso_]

I can't imagine only listening to one genre of music, it sounds so boring and close-minded. I am so glad I can appreciate all forms of art and not box myself as only a "rap" or "r&b" fan. If the music is good I couldn't care less what genre it is in. But... that's just me!

[@sleepdealer10]

I'd love to see you make a video like this about SOPHIE

[@5600block]

Charli xcx is a result of great parenting and hard personal work.

[@SquidFiction]

Agreed, hearing about her mum work so hard and still support Charli with her dreams made me tear up a lil 🥹

[@hanuka3292]

nepotism actually

[@hallyuniverse]

@@hanuka3292 How is she a result of nepotism, neither of her parents are famous or connected in the entertainment industry.

[@kierand9410]

@@hallyuniverseher father was literally a talent scout.

[@kierand9410]

I’d hope to raise a child that came to see me if I had cancer.

[@WillGittins]

Saying that she disappeared between 2014 and 2019 is CRAZY becase that’s when she released all of the music that she’s known for today. That along with saying she’s from Cambridge and pronouncing her surname so wrong.

[@BreadburrEnt]

I love the fact that she originally wanted to make rap, and now in some of the songs on Brat you can hear some straight bars (ex. 360, 365, everything is romantic, club classics, spring breakers) damn she can flow and she’s got so much potential in that genre, I love her sound of HyperPop and synthpop with some rap-esque lyrics

[@justhaku9240]

Its funny, as someone who isnt a fan of Charli or most pop in general (and not in a hate kind of way I'm sure she deserves all the respect and credit, more in a preference kind of way) this was a great watch regardless, yet another banger

[@bigcheese2128]

I challenge anyone to listen to sympathy is a knife or club classics and not enjoy it at least a little bit

[@justhaku9240]

@@bigcheese2128 I mean hey I'll give it a shot, thanks for the rec

[@justhaku9240]

@@bigcheese2128 I mean hey ill check it out thanks for the rec

[@KN93_]

Volksgeist videos are so relaxing

[@LucyAyler]

great video but really really wish you’d talked more about SOPHIE

[@cloudburstlia456]

TRUE ROMANCE IS AMAZING been obsessed since 2013.

[@landonbailey23]

Love this video! Charli deserves all the flowers for her craft

[@CoconutGirl333]

I first heard her in Nuclear Seasons in 2013. then she was in Fancy and I was like oh damn she blew up. I’m so happy for her. she really popped off this year. Well deserved

[@justindenney-hall5875]

Usually when I hear the term "Workaholic" it's only used in a half serious context, but with her case it sounds like she actually has an addiction and I hope she finds balance, because in general life needs balance.

[@Mel-qs8wx]

crazy to me how an artist could have mainstream hits the go released albums and they go unnoticed from the public (outside fandom) just YEARS later to have a hit album and Era like omgg

[@alexdaniel4340]

the thing with true romance is...If you get it, you get it but if you don't...idk it was ahead of it's time

[@Oskar-2896x]

This. I own cd and vinyl for a reason.

[@favOriTe-v6e]

14:30 EXCUSE ME?? this is basically blasphemy, vroom vroom will forever be iconic. It literally influenced other artists, like the kpop group aespa (''savage'' sounds extremely similar to vroom vrrom and it was a hit in korea)

[@ethanvilla4418]

Loved her since I heard "Nuclear Seasons" years ago, so it's so good to see her still doing her thing.

[@masterkruiger8169]

Babe wake up volksgeist just dropped!

[@kavier4444]

If you know music you know Vroom vroom was one of the best projects to come out in 2016 idk why people didn't receive it well. Secret, vroom vroom and trophy are amazing and SOPHIE IS THE GOAT

[@iced_latteZ]

Saying vroom vroom isnt fun to listen to is criminal. I dare you to go on the highway or in a club and listen to that song. Itll change you

[@hellbyshortcake1321]

Vroom vroom IS LITERALLY ONE OF HER BEST SONGS WYM

[@juwy0116]

true romance was such an important album to me as a young teenager, i still love it

[@Rayaann]

15:10 dont ever disrespect the vroom vroom ep

[@Jamellii]

about time somebody's shown appreciation in lorde's art

[@LoganT]

I’ve said this many times before: if you wanna know what pop music will sound like in the future look at what electronic music is currently popular. That’s basically what Charli XCX is doing except she’s doing it now. It’s very clear she has a massive amount of respect for electronic music culture and she’s not just doing it because it is trendy.

[@DerkmanX]

I didnt know much about Charli XCX before watching this but tbh i like her vibe and will probably add her to my music rotation even though i dont really listen to pop like that

[@xbeauxyeux]

lol

[@Mia-cc9bm]

Her parents were very supportive

[@NicK-vd3hj]

Full episode on SOPHIE

[@Samyye12]

I thought I was hallucinating in the first upload 😂😂

[@gyd1714]

What was different

[@Samyye12]

@@gyd1714 he uploaded the video but I guess he deleted to rectify some things he didn't like about it

[@bicuriousdirtbikeboi2594]

I knew Charli was probably gonna have a comeback after CRASH because that album just sounded like it was a turning point for her

[@Dodong716]

Bro reloaded the video

[@Volksgeist]

Had to, noticed a tiny imperfection that I couldn't live with

[@maj02jr]

i was so lost when i was watching the original upload and youtube just nuked it from my screen 😂

[@mazzy6559]

You missed another one at 33:44 where the text says 2024 and the voice over says 2020. Great video though, super entertaining

[@800spades]

Good

[@kaos7116]

@@Volksgeistwhat was it ?

[@adam2345]

I love Crash, it’s definitely not just regular pop music, it’s still got her twists

[@DippedInInk]

Crazy how she hates her own work that's a fireball. These hits break airwaves.

[@TonyGue]

I'm honestly surprised she only is now getting her flowers. She's been an influential artist in my opinion, but I guess people are just now realizing her talent with brat

[@yzu_]

u got the best music docs man

[@natillymacartney1412]

Her nomination for MTV's 'Brand New for 2012' alongside the likes of Lana Del Rey and Lianne La Havas was also a pretty big turning point in her career. I remember her being all over the TV and people talking about her music.

[@Ghoulx13]

Make a deep dive into SOPHIE next please!

[@pixluxxbuiltthewave]

I strive to have my own volksgeist documentary one day

[@arang_ba]

She is a top tier song writer and producer

[@extrashotofespresso_]

I had been paying attention to Charli on and off since I was in high school over a decade ago back in 2015. I always new at least 2 songs from her different eras but never listened to a full album from her D: The song and music video that I kept going back to was her song "Boys" released in 2017. I could listen to that song all day everyday and watch the music video too. Charli finally started to stand out to me after 2 years of me being aware of her music. I wanted to hear more of her music but never got around to it. Fast forward to August 2024, I am in my mid 20s, pretty much over music and pop culture and not really paying attention to anything. My little sister who is 11 years younger than me begs me to play a game with her called Dress To Impress. We have been playing this together throughout the summer but this time I see this bright lime green and read a familiar name that is collaborating with the game "Charli XCX" I have this rush of excitement. First, because Charli is someone that's been around since I was a teenager a decade ago. And now she is in a game my little sister plays? Well, she is not "in" the game but he lobby of DTI played her music and I was SUPER intrigued I really liked the sound of the snippets I heard in game. I had a great time playing DTI during her collab with them and meant to check out her album but I did not get to it. Finally, a YT short found me and this was one of the many shorts that featured her music from this new album and this is what finally pushed me to listen to a full studio album of hers. After 10 years of being a passive fan of her career, I can say Brat was the first album I listened to fully from her and it is worth everything and more. Albums give me anxiety because there is always that one song you like but then the rest of the project tends to fall short, at least for me. However, Charli XCX'S Brat album is nothing like that. I did not skip a SINGLE song and though I have my favorites, I can relisten to the entire album if I wanted to. I always feel like Charli music and singles find me every 2-3 years but I could never commit to listening to a full album of hers until now. This is different, this feels different and your video helped me gain perspective. Though she has been giving us hits for decades, the never felt like her until now. Though she has been vulnerable and authentic I think this album is her raw, uncut, unadulterated form of authenticity which is what finally made me listen to a full project of hers. I am glad she is here to instill confidence in millenial, zillenials (me) and gen z women and girls. This video is well executed and perfectly maps out her career. Though I am surprised her 2017 song BOYS was not mentioned. She had a lot of star studded famous males behaving super cute in the video and I think the song got super popular for a bit maybe on music.ly? or the early days of tik tok? Vine was not around anymore so I don't think it was that platform. Anyways, I am being longwinded. I am just happy for her is what I am saying.

[@purresley_]

Nuclear seasons is one of my favorite charli songs. It's so whimsical def a top pick for me on true romance!!

[@kierand9410]

Not going home to see her father who had cancer is dark.

[@whyfinn]

i went into this not even knowing who she really even was, but I'm coming out super excited to listen to brat and loving charli... thank you volksgeist.

[@h8dali]

pop 2 got more than one meaning

[@rubydown3329]

Real ones were here before the first one got privated

[@shelbyduncan9940]

I hope everyone watches this im so tired of everyone calling her one of the new pop girls 😭 she dropped right at the perfect time of the pop renaissance a true business diva

[@sherrensteal2635]

I actually loved the early 2010s Charli XCX! In fact it was those times that I discovered her. Her single, YOU, was the first ever song I heard and loved it immediately, since then I followed her career! ❤

[@Sophia-pt3yq]

the way you glaze over SOPHIE is disrespectfull. SOPHIE had such a big impact on charli yet you basically only talk about ag cook

[@eddieb2032]

clock itt

[@nutellaluvr]

no fr clock it

[@LucyAyler]

@@Sophia-pt3yq I don’t wanna pull the transphobia card but it was pretty damn weird how he labeled ag cook as the one who changed charli’s career when that was literally sophie like wut are you actively avoiding discussing her?

[@res4522]

​@@LucyAyleryet you're doin' it here

[@TheSwauzz]

@@LucyAyler 🙄🙄🙄 Yes, of course. You got him. He's a major transphobe. Did you use your genius powers of reading into things to figure it out?

[@me_meyou_youus_us]

Great doc man

[@Oskar-2896x]

I love Charli but True Romance is her BEST and most underrated album. Her masterpiece.

[@braceletboi01]

Charli XCX forever😎 long live XCX World.

[@sarahmarie_e]

Vroom Vroom is ICONIC.

[@ollerehnfeldt9731]

Take a shot every time the East-London warehouses are mentioned !

[@MEELOSH86]

Charli XcX is such a badass real artist. I fell in love with Stay Away, What I Like, Nuclear Seasons then when her mixtape cd came out I was hooked since. Plus she is hot as fuck.

[@sheldoncooper8199]

Gone turned me into a Charlie XCX Fan i cant Stop Listening to that Song

[@jameskaplan1637]

She is truly an amazing artist and extremely versatile. A trend setter and future icon.

[@jesusshuttlesworth8231]

Boom Clappp was My Ringtone

[@lizzydeluca]

crazy how u made a whole video on charli xcx but never mentioned gay ppl... like queer narratives deserve to be heard. charli has always had a queer fanbase and shes collabed with so many lgbtq icons i would argue thats central to her art and practice

[@Draco_Nex]

Discovered Charli xcx a week ago. I just love 360, Guess and Sympathy is a Knife. ❤

[@sheldoncooper8199]

Great Video for me a NEW Fan

[@levitatelondon]

I really enjoyed this. Though the pendants at the end, beautiful though they are, felt like a big swerve from the high you’d just spent the entire film building to. Just my two cents 😅

[@RihFlood212]

Vroom Vroom and Paradise are two of her best songs 😢

[@kamokardashian1307]

omg that gap sounds like she wasnt doing anything, she gave us two beautiful mixtapes and an icon ep called VROOM VROOM

[@Susu-pz5pw]

38:13 Haha, i see where you went with those puns

[@JamesD-iw6pr]

Marketing and more marketing. She is good at what she does, but no better than she was to begin with. The difference this time is the branding. She has been branded as an underground artist who is creating art, a lot of money has been spent achieving it, and people have bought into it. It's called manufactured authenticity and it is a tactic used for many artists nowadays.

[@kubus888]

May i ask what editing software do you use?

[@willjust7099]

just say you don"t get vroom vroom

[@sophiag4518]

Was totally on board until you said Vroom Vroom "isnt that fun to listen to"?!!!!?

[@alexdaniel4340]

No XCX World mention is bad ass..It could have changed pop music

[@JustamomCarrie]

Vroom vroom is ICONIC !

[@iamswarms]

I was a huge fan we she first appeared. Nuclear Seasons is a masterpiece. Like most artists, after she signed a deal everything changed.

[@justindenney-hall5875]

I had no idea she was Bi-racial.

[@chasehavensmusic]

Bro saw that I got the first comment and decided to reupload the video lol

[@Volksgeist]

didnt want you to win

[@danebrane]

you totally skipped over number 1 angel! lipgloss is the original WAP

[@petzezos]

You should have dedicate more time to the Charli album. Those collabs are lit man!

[@bradgarling463]

Her dad had cancer and she couldn't see him for 2 YEARS? Hmmmmmm

[@503.00]

I think it’d be interesting if her or other artists were born earlier and how their career would’ve went.

[@lynnna5136]

vroom vroom is her signature song, an absolute fan favorite. I hate how that’s glossed over in this

[@consequentlyurgently]

I'll be waiting patiently for the Bladee video in a few years

[@gyd1714]

Legend for knowing Bladee. The whole sadboy Gang is so underrated

[@consequentlyurgently]

@@gyd1714 some of the most innovative and talented producers in generations

[@gyd1714]

@@consequentlyurgently exactly they genuinly are some of the Most creative and inventiv Artist/Producers

[@ZoellaSalazarr]

even though i hate her voice i respect her, she's hardworking and unproblematic. edit; so her new songs are just chef's kiss, her voice sounds different, like i thought she sounded like "fancy"

[@smoothiethepotato]

i love crash soo much it’s my fav album ever it’s so good i’m kinda sad she doesn’t like it

[@user-tk2ej4iq2l]

I'm early for once sup Volks

[@Jchot]

BUDDY, not all that long ago, 5 years was pretty close to "normal amt of time" between albums

[@ImLemonadeCandy]

Weirdly enough I didn’t know she had albums until way later. Just like Carly. But you’re right boom clap is still a bop 11:11

[@pinklean]

Finally video bout our queen

[@Rayaann]

As someone that’s been listening to her for 5 years, I’m beyond proud of her, she’s come so far pioneering a specific sound, what a star

[@jeyhott162]

Kinda weird to say this but I love how Charli also hated the song I dislike the most on Crash😂When I heard Yuck I immediately thought it didn’t sound like something she would make at all