Charli XCX Brings Back “Von Dutch”

Club crawlers everywhere: buckle up, and REJOICE! Dance-pop and songwriter supreme Charli XCX originally hails from the underground scene and has decided to return to her roots. Shortly after hosting a record-breaking and unforgettable Boiler Room promotional event, she released the single “Von dutch.” It is the first single off her highly-anticipated sixth studio album BRAT, which she calls in an interview with The Face her “most aggressive and confrontational.” This description ignites excitement in her fans, who can expect more edge and raw energy than her 2022 album, CRASH.

“Von dutch” is a bravado house track featuring sharp, high-energy synths and catchy, reverberating vocals. The song begins with a simple house drum beat and a wonky, metallic loop sample. Charli begins,

It’s okay to just admit that you’re jealous of me

Yeah, I heard you talk about me, that’s the word on the street

Charli XCX, “Von dutch”

Thick bass synths kick in for the chorus, adding depth and power. The single’s bridge chants “I’m your number one,” reminiscent of mcbling era club hits.

Camp-y self-obsession is not new to music, but this track resurrects it. Such forms of expression, especially by women, tend to either be taken too seriously, or dismissed as vapid, or not artistic. “Von dutch” fulfills the need for chaotic, euphoric fun in pop music. Are all of the lyrics true? Who cares! That is part of the joy.

Always ahead of the curve and forging her path, this single and the upcoming BRAT offer social commentary through nods to high fashion and art. Aside from the obvious reference to the 2000s streetwear brand, Von Dutch, Charli also seems to reference the “really volatile” pop music attitude of the 2000s. In the music video, she unabashedly prances and struts around the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, from the boarding gates to the runway, to the baggage claim. Along the way, she bleeds, her clothes tear, and she falls. But she still works it.